Watch the congress street bats from the best location,  the water. 

 Location Change- Meet at 1-35 boat launch, no rentals available

The water is flat so there is very little skill involved, you just need to be in good enough shape for an hour of semi vigorous exercise. I''ll help any first time paddlers get started. If you are not a strong paddler or are a beginner and not very atheletic, please consider a double and a partner. There is some current on town lake and its a good workout on the way back for a single.

If you want to learn more about the bats, visit Bat Conservation International''s website at  http://www.batcon.org/home/index.asp?idPage=122

If you have your own boat there is no no charge. You can put in at the boat launch just south of the dock and then paddle up to meet the group. If you want a double or canoe indicate that in the comments and who your partner will be. Price is per person not per boat.

Rental includes a life jacket and paddle but you MUST bring some illumination i.e a  flashlight or blinky. You can get ticketed for being on the water at night without a light and APD does patrol. Plus its better if the paddle boats and other large craft can see you. In order to take the rental boats out at night TRC requires we stay together in a guided group. I am their guide and lead the group from behind so that I can help any slower paddlers. I ask that you not get so far ahead of the slowest paddler that you can not hear me if I have to give you instructions.

There a a few  simple points of paddling  etiquette that help keep everyone safe especially when paddling at night.

  1) just like on a highway traffic moves on the right. That means staying towards the barton creek side of the lake on the way down, and on the downtown side of the lake on the way back. Leave the center for the larger paddle boats and faster moving  crew boats and racing kayaks. ( i.e stay out of the fast lane).

  2) Make it your responsibility to stay out of the way of the crew boats. They can not mover as easily as you can and the travel backwards., The joy of paddling for their operators is to GO fast. Since we will be meandering and enjoying nature, lets be nice and move out of their way before they have to slow down.

  3) Turn on your illumination at dusk. It is not to help you see but to make sure you are seen. There some large paddle boats on the lake at night.

  4) We need to make sure that we have the boats back by 9:30 at the latest. TRC is very good about not only letting us have the boats for half price but also for staying open late just for our group.Lets not make them wait any longer than they agreed to.

The meet time is 7:00, we depart at 7:30. So please try to arrive around the meet time not just at 7:30 or you might miss the group.