REFLECTIONS ON RIVER LIFE

As we celebrate the placement of slow, no-wake buoys in the Narrows on July 1 and hear that most boats are honoring the new safety measure, we mourn the drowning death of Sercan Besbinar, a summer worker from Turkey, who lost his life off the Birchcliff Beach on the night of July 18. Safety will always be an issue on the Dells river corridor.

There is a legend that a cardinal flower blooms for every life lost on the Wisconsin River. The cardinal flowers started blooming last week in the backwaters north of Louis' Bluff.

Cambrian Overlook

The Cambrian Overlook opened to visitors on the July 4 weekend. It's on the site of the old Cambrian Lodge, which later became Paleha Rida. From the overlook you can see Sunset Cliffs and Louis' Bluff across the bay. In a few days, you will also see a Stewards' display board on the information kiosk, which was designed by Tom Scharbach, printed by Baraboo Tent and Awning, and will be installed by Jack Andersen.

To find this little gem of a park, drive north three miles on County N aka Stand Rock Road which intersects the main highway through the Dells at Pedro's/Timber Falls at the stoplight on the west side of the bridge. Go past the RGN railroad, Upham Woods, Sandstone Pub, and Stand Rock campground. At 61st street, County N turns a sharp left, and you should go straight—past the Donna and Jim Timm farm into the parking lot of the overlook. Bring your mosquito repellent and your camera. You can carry a canoe or kayak down to the beach west of the overlook.

Showboat Saloon

Our raffle kayak, donated by Jack and Mary Waterman, will soon be hanging in the Showboat Saloon, where Jesse DeFosse and his staff will be selling tickets to raise money for us.

August Potluck and Legislative Update

Pat and Jack Andersen have graciously invited us to hold our August 25 meeting at their house on Mariposa Lane. We will have a potluck picnic dinner and hear a legislative update from Rep. Fred Clark. This also provides us an opportunity to thank him for helping with the emergency ruling on the slow, no-wake zone in the Narrows. Save the date, and you will soon hear more details about times and driving directions.

Bennett Re-photography Exhibit

If you haven't seen the Bill Pielsticker HHFastforward display of his Bennett re-photography project in the Bennett Studio, be sure to stop by, as it will come down on August 8 for a move to Reedsburg. It's an amazing show!

July Stewards Meeting

I hope to see you all at our Stewards' meeting next Wednesday night on July 28 at the Kilbourn Public Library at 7 PM. Helen Mork will be reporting on her trip to a national River Rally last spring. We will also hear from Nathan Stanford, who works for the Leopold Foundation, about some networking possibilities between our groups.

Debbie Kinder
President
Stewards of the Dells of the Wisconsin River