Neches River Rendezvous

In this segment of “What’s So Great About East Texas” Mike shares his experience at this annual event held by the city of Lufkin and other sponsors.

I received a call from a friend a few weeks ago asking if I’d like to go on a canoe trip. The last time I went on a canoe trip was in November and the water was very cold. So, I thought a canoe trip in June sounded like a good idea. If I got too hot, I knew from experience there would be plenty of cool water around.

I arrived at our meet-up spot, the Temple-Inland Education Center at Boggy Slough, that morning eager to meet my party. My canoe partner was a fellow named Jim Lemon. Jim and his son Forest canoe and kayak regularly, so I knew I was in capable hands. An inexperienced canoer, I wasn’t much help when it came to paddling, but Jim made up for it.

The event coordinators and volunteers, who included local friends of the Neches River, Boy Scouts, radio operators and other local citizens, worked all day to make this event go really well. They had us scheduled for launch times all morning with a trailer and shuttle to carry us to the launch spot about ten miles up river.

At the launch spot we did our best to load our canoes without tipping over. A word of advice here, when you come, pack a few necessities like sunscreen, snacks, cold water, a waterproof disposable camera, sunglasses and a hat; and secure it all in plastic bags with bungee cords. After our initial flip, we dried off everything and got off to a great start.

Getting used to the balance of the canoe on the river took a few minutes, but I was soon settled into the boat, ready for the trip. The Rendezvous attracts several experienced canoers, so I recommend novices find someone with experience to go alongside. They know how to watch for obstacles, pick out places to park and rest, and explain the sights. My guide, Jim along with his son Forest and friends Jeff and Emily made my trip pleasant. I learned about different trees and wildlife, the history of the river, threats to the river by urban and rural development, and basic geology.

Although the weather was warm, most of the route was shaded, which made it even more pleasant. There were bends in the river ideal for parking to stretch out and take a dip in the water. This stretch had few obstacles, none of which were difficult to negotiate.

Around two miles left, I realized our trip was almost over and already anticipated coming back next year to enjoy the trip again. The Boy Scout troop and other volunteers were ready for us at the pick-up spot. We had a short trip to the Temple-Inland education center, where we had met up that morning. The organizers had a lunch ready for us – large hamburgers, chips, beans and cobbler along with fountain drinks.

The registration fee was reasonable, especially for early birds. It included the trip from the meet-up spot to the launch, a t-shirt, packet and lunch for two. Other expenses for the trip included canoe rental (which should be arranged well in advance), miscellaneous refreshments (i.e., peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, water, ice) sun screen, waterproof camera, and gas: Altogether, a modest amount for such a memorable experience.

Contact the city of Lufkin, Texas for more information about the Neches River Rendezvous. Learn more about attempts to preserve the river and other resources at …