My World: Tubing by the Stanley Tavern

[Michael_Stones]

On warm days in summer, a popular destination from Thunder is the nearby village of Stanley, where by the river is the localy famous Stanley Tavern. As well as so-so beer, the Stanley Tavern serves Stanley Burgers and fries, a feast guaranteed to quell your appetite for the rest of the day and never mind what it does to your arteries. Here's a view of the Stanley Tavern from the riverside.

For the young at heart, however, there's something they must do before before feasting at the tavern: they must go tubing. The tubes are inner tubes from truck tires belted together so a group of tubers stay together while drifting down the river. The number of tubes is the number in the party plus one, with the extra tube called the 'booze tube'. While the purpose of booze tube needs no explanation, just let me say that boozing while leisurely drifting with the current on a hot day is as near to heaven as anyone can imagine.

The journey starts at a rental shop near the tavern, where you get your tubes. Then the tubers and tubes travel in a clapped-out yellow school bus to a starting point a few miles upstream. During the bus ride, the driver instructs them on the rules of tubing. There are only two rules: desist from profanities that might upset the residents of cottages by the riverside; don't drink alcohol because doing so in a public place violates some law or other. Needless to say, law enforcement officers keep away from the river while on duty, although some are likely avid tubers in their spare time.

The photo below shows journey's end back by the Stanley Tavern. The two young couples were soon to enjoy a Stanley Burger to complete a near-perfect afternoon.

Cheers, Mike.

 

[Doug Kerr]

Hi, Michael,

Lovely shots, and a nice activity.

Many years ago I did almost exactly the same thing (in fact described as "tubing") on the Comal River near New Braunfels, Texas (south central Texas, between San Antonio and Austin). Indeed, tube N+1 was the "tender".

In New Mexico, "tubing" often refers to using inner tubes to slide down snowy slopes.

Thanks again for the great shots and nice story.

Best regards,

Doug

 

[Asher Kelman]

Mike,

I saw this post appear and promised myself a treat later to take in the modern art I had imagined, "tubing" represented. It was a great surprise to see no tubes at all! Then I remembered that the part of the tire that can be inflated at the garage is known as an inner tube. I suppose these make excellent flotation devices, albeit with little directional control.

Now I'm ready to appreciate fun!

Asher

 

[Asher Kelman]

For the young at heart, however, there's something they must do before before feasting at the tavern: they must go tubing. The tubes are inner tubes from truck tires belted together so a group of tubers stay together while drifting down the river. The number of tubes is the number in the party plus one, with the extra tube called the 'booze tube'. While the purpose of booze tube needs no explanation, just let me say that boozing while leisurely drifting with the current on a hot day is as near to heaven as anyone can imagine.

The journey starts at a rental shop near the tavern, where you get your tubes. Then the tubers and tubes travel in a clapped-out yellow school bus to a starting point a few miles upstream. During the bus ride, the driver instructs them on the rules of tubing. There are only two rules: desist from profanities that might upset the residents of cottages by the riverside; don't drink alcohol because doing so in a public place violates some law or other. Needless to say, law enforcement officers keep away from the river while on duty, although some are likely avid tubers in their spare time.

Mike,

This does sound like a great way to relax. Is there a picnic place on the way to tie up and spend private time with friends? Do they provide paddles and how many folk simply drift past the destination point?

BTW, this would seem a good spot for bird photography too.

Asher

 

[Michael_Stones]

Mike,

This does sound like a great way to relax. Is there a picnic place on the way to tie up and spend private time with friends? Do they provide paddles and how many folk simply drift past the destination point?

BTW, this would seem a good spot for bird photography too.

Asher

Tubing is lots of fun, Asher, as Doug attested, too. You should both visit Thunder Bay next summer and we can tube the river and take some bird or scenery photos along the way (so long as you have waterproof housing for the cameras)

There are lots of picnic places along the route. Although the rental outfit provides a paddle, the tethered tubes make paddle-steering pretty useless. However, the current provides steering that is fairly effectively. Because the river is shallow in most places, the problems for motion may occur because of grounding near the riverbank. Then you jump out and push/pull the tubes clear.

There are a couple of spots to land if you overshoot the Tavern or simply decide to float a mile or two further along. The rental company sends a bus to collect the tubes after the tubers have walked back to the Tavern.

The history of the Tavern is interesting. The Stanley Hotel was established in 1899 when the village of Stanley was a bustling railway and farming centre. The original hotel burnt down about 50 years ago, with the present version built by the same spot. True to its heritage, the new Tavern does have rooms above the bar that haven't been rented in decades. Stanley village is now mainly inhabited by commuters to Thunder Bay and nearly townships.

Cheers, Mike.