Murpy Flowage Campground, Rusk Co., Wisconsin

[Davydd]

Two weeks ago Wednesday we headed out from Minnesota for Michigan. Instead of waiting for the next morning and a long drive we struck out in the afternoon with no plan, no destination, no idea of where we would land after about 2 or 3 hours of driving. All we knew is we would make it into Wisconsin. We got as far as Weyerhaueser, WI on Highway 8 just west of Ladysmith and realized there wasn't even a Wal-Mart parking lot within any appreciable stopping distance. We stopped at a Cenex to top off our diesel tank and noticed a brown sign pointing to a county campground. The attendant and another customer testified that it was a nice place.

So we headed 15 miles north on County Rd F to the Murphy Flowage Campground. What a find. It was a small campground with level sites, electrical hookups, water, decent grill fire pits and clean pit toilets. It was located at a dam with a boat landing and fishing dock. There was NO one else camping there. We had the place to ourselves. One local couple put a boat in and went fishing and another family came for a short time to swim off the dock.

These are the kind of places you do not find in the camping guides or on the maps. There seems to be many places like this run by local town and county governments. So if we don't document them they can get bypassed.

[julievojo]

Looks like a nice spot Dave.

We've found many, many nice county park campgrounds all around the midwest, and they're usually among our preferred places to stay.

We were in Madison WI a few weeks ago (for the birth of the newest grandbaby) and stayed at a county park campground on the west edge of Madison. What a rip-off! It was $36 to camp for the night, right next to the noisy highway and infested with mosquitos. Skip the campground in Madison if you ever go by!

[Davydd]

Every time we end up at places like Murphy Flowage I ask myself why I did not buy those inflatable kayaks.

We are heading up north of Brainerd tomorrow and will be boondocking at a private 90 acre lake without electricity. From the county road to our eventual destination it will be a one mile gravel road excursion. There are 9 cabins on the lake but they all run on solar power. The association owns 440 acres surrounding the lake and don't allow motor boats. We will park in the yard out my wife's cousin's cabin. And of course, I will ask myself why we didn't buy those inflatable kayaks.

[julievojo]

We used Dennis and Lavenia's inflatable kayak up in the Boundary Waters a few years ago. It was lots of fun to paddle around, but you get very, very wet, which is OK if it's really hot out. They would be much less comfortable in cooler weather. Keep in mind that they're also quite cumbersome to paddle.

You're always welcome to come and borrow our wooden kayaks. They need to get more use. You would likely need a trailer to bring both of them however. We can fit one in the back of the B.

http://chino.com/sl/?p=1463

[Davydd]

We have two hard shell sea kayaks but there is no way I want to trailer them. Last week we camped in four different campgrounds on the water's edge and no way to fully enjoy it. This weekend the thought of being on a private non-motorized lake where you can follow the loons around was just a bit too much. It did not take much prompting for Nancy. We ran down to REI Coop and bought a 10.5 foot Advanced Elements Advanced Frame inflatable kayak - the only one available in town. If we like it, we might buy a second one.

http://www.advancedelements.com/advancedframe.html

[ennajean]

Thanks for the info on this campground will make a note in our travel log about it. Looks like a place we will have to visit.

[julievojo]

So..... Dave..... will you be bringing the yak to Moab? The Colorado River flows right through the campground. I would sure like to see how those yaks get assembled.

We're probably heading back up to that park by Cannon Falls sometime this week. That will be the perfect place to try our grandson out on camping with us. It's not too far to drive home if it's not working, and they had a nice beach and campground.

[Davydd]

We tried out the Advanced Elements Advanced Frame 10.5 foot kayak and pronounced it a winner. We took it up to Little Bass Lake northeast of Brainerd and gave it a work out. Since it was sort of a family reunion gathering quite a few people gave it a try. So we will be buying a second one and our next trip will probably be at a national forest campground at the end of the Sawbill Trail on Sawbill Lake part of the BWCA.

We long ago decided tandem kayaks were no fun for us. So it will be two. Now we have to work on getting a hitch installed and a Stowaway carrier because I would prefer not to clutter up the inside of the B.

[julievojo]

What size does it pack up to and what is the weight?

JV

[Whiskyecho]

Davydd:

I've sent a PM to you - please find it and read..