Kayaking - West Fork River w/ Ethan

West Fork River 5/27/13                        Miles Traveled 10 miles, Total 60.1
Barkers Mill to Billy Dunlop
Julie & Ethan, 11:30-2:00, Average Speed 3.82 mph, Sunny 75degrees

We looked down the steep embankment under the bridge in dismay.  It was very steep here, had many rocks and lots of brush.  We weren't sure why Blueway Adventures was advertising this route.  I saw a woman out in her yard.  Her property was right there by the bridge and I went to talk with her.  Her name was Victoria and she was very nice and friendly, but obviously perturbed by Blueway Adventures Group.  Apparently they are dropping people off here taking them down the bank and she didn't feel it was safe.  She said she's seen many people overturn their boats right from the start.  She was very gracious to us and allowed Scotty to drive the truck down her property to drop off our boats.   She said the property here had been in her family for hundreds of years.  The old mill wheel was there in her yard.  There was a pretty red building which she said had once been a general store.  She told us she appreciated us asking to let in.  She was going to be contacting a lawyer the next day about Blueway Adventures.  It will be interesting to see how that relationship continues.

Very soon after we had put into the water, Ethan knocked his water bottle into the water.  I was behind him and said I'd get it.  I started to turn my boat and knocked MY water bottle into the water.  Ethan had also started to paddle back and rescued both.  Thank goodness, it would have been a long trip without water.  We learned NOT to put our water bottles up on the dashboard anymore.  It was a wonderful day of paddling.  It was fun to see all of the sitting areas that homeowners had arranged overlooking the river.

Kayaking - West Fork River

West Fork River 5/18/13                                Miles Traveled 12.6, Total 50.1
9:30-2:30, Average Speed 2.4 mph
Julie, Ethan, Beatrix, Dick
West Fork River to Red River to Cumberland River
Put in at Billy Dunlop, Take out at McGregor Park Ramp
75-80 degrees, Sunny, Nice!!

The first 5 miles or so had a nice current.  About the 5th mile, the current was very slow.  About the 5th mile down, we encountered a HUGE strainer.  It was completely blocking the river and the banks were so steep and muddy that we couldn't even portage our boats, let alone climb up the banks.  For awhile, it was quite funny.  We paddled around in circles wondering what to do.  Ethan went to the left of the strainer and Dick went to the right.  Finally, Ethan started pulling out logs, sticks and debris andwas able to make a small path.  It was a nice day, but not nice enough when he fell into the water!  He was able to pull our kayaks over a submerged log.  He was the HERO of the day.  We were here about 45 minutes.  We paddled parallel to the Clarksville Greenway.  The current in the Red River was very slow and the last 3/4 mile we had to paddle up the Cumberland River.  Ethan and Beatrix were tall enough that they were able to stand up and get out on the McGregor floating dock.  It was not such a pretty picture when Dick and I pulled ourselves up belly first onto the dock.  It was a great day!