Beloiters conquer the 320-mile rock river trail
beloit ties
Perry Folts, Terry Meyers, and Gary Meier are an adventurous trio with ties of 45+ years in Beloit. Proud Beloiters, they all share a passion for various outdoor activities year-round, from hiking and cycling to enjoying outdoor music. You can often spot them exploring Big Hill Park, Turtle Creek, the Rock River, or cheering on the Beloit Sky Carp at ABC Supply Stadium. To them, all of these activities embody the community spirit, diversity, and vibrant cultural scene of Beloit. They were able to make an impact in these activities in July of 2018 when they were awarded for completing the 320-mile Rock River Trail.
About the Rock River Trail
The Rock River Trail is a beautiful 320-mile National Water Trail that spans 11 counties and 41 communities across Wisconsin and Illinois. It starts in Theresa, WI, located about 100 miles north of Beloit and just north of the Horicon National Wildlife Refuge. There are various ways to explore the trail. While this Beloit group chose to paddle, others can enjoy it by driving, biking, hiking, horseback riding, and more. The trail ends in Rock Island, Illinois, a little over 130 miles south of Beloit, where it flows into the Mississippi River.
planning
As anyone could imagine, 320 miles is a large circumference to cover, especially by kayaking. There were many plans in place to accomplish this challenge. Even though Meier, Folts, and Meyers were experienced kayakers, they had never considered taking on this type of challenge, but they were prepared to tackle it! Gary Meier said, “We did a lot of research and planning of everything from equipment to acquire and where to put in and take out of the river.” Although the planning took time, they soon found themselves passionate about completing the trail. They initially aimed to finish the journey in seven days but included extra days for flexibility in case of weather issues. Equipped with detailed maps highlighting campsites along the way, they also decided to drive along the trail beforehand to scout out campsites and potential challenges.
journey highlights
Day 1 – Phase 1: After all the intense planning, the big day came on June 3rd, 2017! The Beloit kayak adventurers set off on their journey as they launched their kayaks at the John Rose Kayak & Canoe Launch in Beloit. The group had paddled throughout the day and landed themselves just a short distance up the Kishwaukee River. The first day of their trip was quite the adventure, as they paddled 33.5 miles. As they settled into their tents to relax after a full day on the river, their planning skills came in handy, as they experienced a heavy thunderstorm.
Day 2 – Phase 2: The next morning, they had a startling awakening. They heard loud noises and realized that they had set up camp near the runway of the Rockford Airport. After packing up, they started their second day of adventures, approached Byron, IL, and needed to find a spot to replenish their ice supply. The group passed a lady working in her yard and asked if they knew of somewhere to get ice; she mentioned the marina in Byron. Terry notes, “As we were paddling by the Byron marina, a lady is waving us in, and it was the lady we passed earlier and our first “River Angel”, so she brought us ice!” River Angels live along the river and are good samaritans to paddlers. They were very grateful for her; it positively impacted their first few days of the adventure.
Day 3 – Phase 2: The next day, they faced a big obstacle as they navigated through “Hell’s Hallway”, the stretch of the river between Hustisford and Harnischfeger Park. They encountered five tree dams that required difficult portages, forcing them to carry their kayaks over the obstacles. Terry recalled, “The heat was stifling, and we were a hot, muddy mess.” After a hard day’s work, they decided to treat themselves by “ordering more pizza than they could eat,” as Terry put it.
Day 6 – Phase 2: Another highlight that added to the trip’s adventure was the paddle across the very rough Lake Koshkonong. There were strong headwinds that day, which made for choppy 2-3 foot waves coming over the bow of each kayak. Terry recalls Perry saying, “The seas were angry that day, my friend.” Thankfully, their planning paid off as they had secured their spray skirts on the kayaks to keep themselves as dry as possible during the rough crossing.
advice & reflections
The Beloit kayak adventurers journey was completed in two phases. Their first voyage was completed on June 3-9, 2017, as they took on the lower part of the Rock River Trail, which was about 158 miles from Beloit to Rock Island, IL. The second portion was completed the following summer from July 7-13, 2018, where they paddled 160 miles from Theresa, WI to Beloit. Each of the phases took approximately one week to complete.
Both trips stood out to the group beyond their paddling journey, as they explored various wildlife animals along the river and shoreline. They spotted deer, white pelicans, Blue Heron, ducks, eagles, and Sand Cranes. The historical and cultural elements of the landscapes enhanced their experience as well. Terry said that he “was constantly reminded of what the early pioneers and Native Americans must have endured,” as the geologic history of the river has created beautiful landscapes like carved-out vistas and unique formations.
Throughout both trips, the Beloiters obtained plenty of advice during their paddles for anyone who is interested in taking on an adventure like the 320-mile Rock River Trail. Gary recommends, “Do some research on accessibility features of the trail and purchase or borrow a significant amount of gear and supplies.” He also advises “investigating the water levels at different places” to ensure you are ready for unexpected surprises. Of course, you won’t want to miss capturing the beauty of the water and landscapes through pictures and note-taking!
Overall, completing the 320-mile Rock River Trail has had a significant impact on Folts, Meier, and Meyers. For Terry, the achievement is meaningful, as he sees it as “a reminder of an experience with good friends that we will never forget.” Reflecting on the journey, Gary notes, “Certainly, people can tackle various legs of the trip, but it’s a different story to complete it consecutively over the course of a week.” Because of this, they all “have plenty of opportunities to tell our story.”
For more information about the 320-mile Rock River Trail, please visit their website.
