Kayaking

beautiful day, with a friend, camera drops in the water, it happens

My buddy called me up and invited me to do a run with couple doing their first whitewater run, class 1/2, quick learners, and good people we enjoy company and nature. Only on the river am I truly free!

Thanks to Chattanooga Adventures for Guiding and Jason Dagger Green Boat Specs Length: 11’9” Width: 24.25” Volume: 95 U.S. gal Weight: 50 lbs Weight Range: 140-260 lbs

NOC gauge 3.97ft 1510cfs May 10th 2024 My Personal First Decent in hard Kayak, I ran it twice once in my Zet Director and again in the Dagger Green Boat, I forgot how fast the Green Boat is and had to paddle drag alot, otherwise I would run into Rafts and other Kayaker, want to thank the group that gave me the lines to follow. My first run was in the Zet Director, which I went completely blind and by myself, was an interesting run and a painful one at the same time. I found the biggest hole after I buffed off a rock, only to find a hole waiting for me, which I got stuck in, I turned my Director on it's side, with the edge design of the boat, it bounced me out of the hole. I buffed another rock that had a sharp drop ofa few feet and landed flat, the shock went up my spine to my brain, giving me an instant headache and spots in my vision. I felt better in the Dagger Green Boat the nice day, and the semi displacement hull gave me a softer landing. I am considering selling the Director and replacing it with a semi displacement or displacement hull. A group of Veterans, took some 60 JRTOC Cadets down the NOC, us veterans served as safeties, in front center and rear. Head on a swivel, but still a great time! Looking at the Zet Torro, LL Alpha 90, LL Stinger, ( I do love a long boat ), Dagger Phantom or Dagger Code "M" If you run across anyone selling one of these boats or a trade, let me know. Celebrating 61 yrs of life, 48yrs of Kayaking, 3 yrs of FREEDOM!

Final Vid of NOC, nothing but Splish Splash, taking a White Water Bath

Yes I was born by the river

Rhode’s Pond Adventures, Myself, Gene and Garret decided that, “ What The Heck”, moment and decided to try something new. The early kayaker catches the downfall, and so it went for the first mile, there was a lot of downfall , and I will say, it was not looking good, the water was barely moving, and we was doing the same, but once we got to the end of the first mile things opened up, and quickly closed, when I say Closed, I mean, Closed, we had to paddle in single file, the water was that low ,and there was not so much the knolls , but from combination of water, knolls, water level, branches and downfall, I was thinking, this was quickly becoming the “ Adventures of the 3 Stooges ”. Larry, I mean Gene, lead the way, I figured let the chainsaw man in front, than Garret took front and they changed back and forth. I will say it was interesting and very peaceful, and was really a test of your kayaking skills, many quick turns, reading the water for flow, as well as all the “cat’s claw vines”. I stopped counting beaver dams after 25 and that was all in one miles We also invented a new kayaking sport, “ Beaver Dam Sliding”, which we did this, 3 times and all enjoyed, but the beavers, one was spotted giving us the middle claw. I thought I heard beaver tail slapping, like to signal others we was coming, I do not know if this is a thing . We found dry area around the power lines and took a 30 minute lunch, stretching our legs, we was thinking of taking a nap, we got back in and back to navigating through all this, some how Gene got away from us, myself and Garret thought maybe, Gene paddled ahead and called in a Sliver Alert for us. We did run into a Heron Rookery, we paddled very slow and even stopped a few minutes under several nest to watch the majestic birds, I was hoping none of them would do a bombing run. Following your fellow kayaker was not an issue, was we left a broken trail of yellow pollen for others to follow. We did come to one interesting area, a small bridge, for foot or small vehicles that was blocked , but had a drain pipe on the right side, I thinking we could have pass through it, but there was downfall at the end, too risky, so we ended up ducking and weaving and pulling ourselves through. All and all, it was really a great trip and seemed very remote with a large variety of wildlife that did not seem too concerned about human presence. We agreed that this would not be a could paddle later in the year, as it is a snake heaven, poison ivy, ( already showing up) , lots of cat’s claw, nor would this be a good run for beginner kayaker, at there was a lot of turns and knolls sitting height enough to “rock the boat baby”, and some really tight spots you actually had to lean you boat over hard to squeeze through. 6 inches more of water would have been a very easy run, but river connecting to Cape Fear, are like the Cape fear and drop up to a foot aday. Gauge Dunn 1ft, Gauge Aurtyville 5.4ft Put-in 0915hrs Take-out 1400hrs 4:45 on the water Distance 6.8 miles Rhodes pond, ( Black River/ South River ) Shuttle was Gene and Myself Paddles: Larry, Moe and Curly GOOD TIMES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SRGross

In The Mist By Hermann Hesse Strange it is, walking through mists! Lonely are bush and stone: None to the other exists, each stands alone. Many my friends I kept calling when there was light in me; Now, that my fogs are falling, none can I see. Truly, only the sages fathom a darkness to fall, that, as silent as cages, separates all. Strange it is, walking through mists! Life has to solitude grown: None to the other exists: each stands alone.

Trip report will follow once it is complete, Enjoy, God Bless you and yours for all your days