Kayaking 8/25-Caney Fork River - Nature All Around

Kayaking - Caney Fork River - Nature All Around                 9 miles

Put in at Long Branch Boat Ramp, Took out at Betty's Island

Me, Scotty, Laurie, Jack, Ann, Clyde, Jim

2 hours 7 minutes paddling time, 4.2 mph

While we waited for the others to come back from shuttling, we watched a fiasco with some other kayakers. An outfitter came and dropped off some people and no more than 50 yards from the launch, one of the kayaks tipped. He had a really hard time getting his boat to the bank so that he could dump out the water. We did notice that once he got on shore, that is when he put on his life jacket. He struggled for quite a while and got back in. He tipped again and the outfitter driver and Clyde went to help him steady the boat so he could get in. He was off and then no more than 10 feet of paddling he tipped again. So another from their group got into the kayak, paddled 10 feet and he tipped. Clyde who was with our group came back and said that the boat was extremely unstable. This is not the river to be paddling on with an unstable kayak, without a PFD, and if you’re new to the sport. The water is so cold it is possible that you could get hypothermia. This went on for quite awhile and then their paddle went floating downriver with the outfitter running on shore to try and get it. The second kayaker came back to the launch and said that he thinks one of the screws was loose in the kayak and would immediately fill up with water. The outfitter is going to switch out boats with them. They finally got a more stable kayak and were able to start their float.

Our other 3 came back from shuttling and we began our float down the river.  The gates on the dam are open from 11 to 6 which is when they generate power. As a result there’s a surge in the water level in the flow picks up tremendously.  when the gates are closed the water level goes down in the current decreases so you have to time when you go on this river. We had an absolutely beautiful day with bright blue skies and puffy white clouds. The water is clear here and you can often see the big trout below you. The banks were lined flowers and today we saw Queen Anne’s lace, ironweed, and cardinal flowers. As far as wildlife we saw an Osprey fly down the river before us. On the shore we saw a blue heron, a fawn drinking from the river, cows, and Canadian geese. this river twists and turns and you actually cross over it when you’re on I-40 several times. we had our lunch break on a gravel bar under the first I 40 overpass where it was shady although it was loud. There were six of us on the paddle today. We paddled with Ann, Lori and Jack before, but this was our first time paddling with Clyde and Jim. Although it’s a long drive to get to this river for us, we thoroughly enjoyed the day.

Watching these kayakers with their unstable, leaky kayak!

Long Branch Boat Ramp - I could see the water flow increase after 11:00.

Beautiful cliffs along the way.  (Jim)

Cardinal Flowers and Ironweed

Osprey

This fawn posed for a photo.

Canadian Geese

Look at that clear water!  (Laurie)

Queen Anne's Lace

Osprey Nest

Our Lunch Spot

 

We passed under I-40 3 times.

Kayaking 8/17- Harpeth River

Harpeth River                                                                  10.2 miles traveled

Started at Highway 70 bridge by Foggy Bottom, ended at Harris Street Bridge
Me & Scotty, started at 77degrees & ended at 87 degrees, 3 hours traveling time 3.4 mph, 2 feet level
Didn't feel oppressively hot, nice in the shade and blue skies & white clouds



Another pandemic paddle. With our options to travel limited, we sure are happy to have the opportunity to paddle. It was a Monday and we did pass several other kayakers today. The water flow was good and the temperature started at 77° and got up to 87° by the time we were done.  We had lunch at our favorite creek spot and then we paddled up to see the waterfall.

Kayaking 8/9- Red River with Ethan

 Red River with Ethan                                       11.6 miles
78degrees up to 89degrees, Porter's Chapel to Red River Canoe, 3.9 mph avg speed, 3:46 elapsed paddling time
Ethan finished his work this week and had Friday free so we headed over to the Red River.  We've discovered during the pandemic that the rivers are much busier on the weekends.  We're lucky that we're able to kayak during the week.  We put in at Porter's Chapel Road and kayaked down to Red River Canoe Rental.  We didn't see the cows today.  We did seem to follow one heron down the river for quite awhile.  And at one point, we saw a large bird flying overhead with a white head.  I'd like to think it was an eagle, Scotty thought it may have been an owl.  But, this time, it was not one of the nasty buzzards that we so often see.  We ate lunch in our 'secret creek'.  The river was low so we weren't able to kayak very far up into the creek.  Beautiful blue skies, fairly calm river, relaxed and happy kayakers - all while the world is going to heck!!!!