Kayaking - Percy Priest Night Paddle

Percy Priest 6/18/13                           Miles Traveled 4, Total 89.7
From Hamilton Marina to Goose Island
w/ Paddle Adventures Unlimited group, Julie, Ethan, Beatrix, Alicia

Ethan and I were in Nashville this day at the Apple store, then Cheesecake Factory so we decided we'd try this paddle.  We drove with the kayaks atop the Highlander.  We had them strapped onto the 2 2x4's.  They seemed secure until we picked up speed, then the green one on the passenger side tended to bounce up and down at the tip.  So we drove down on the old Clarksville Highway.

We thought we'd be late, but got there just at 5:45.  Others were very late so we didn't put in until much later.  There were probably about 22 paddlers, 5 of us were from Clarksville.  Beatrix and her daughter Alicia were there.  It was fun seeing Beatrix paddle with her little dog Sammie along for the ride.  The lake was very calm.  It was an easy paddle out (and back).  Within the group there was also a stand up paddler and also a gentlemen trying out a very small kayak that he kept rolling.  When we got to the island, we hung out for awhile.   Most people had a snack or a drink with them.  The best part of this paddle was heading back to the marina.  We all put lights on our boat and the moon was just starting to come out.  It's always beautiful out on the water, but tonight was extra nice watching the lit-up kayaks glide across the moonlit lake!  I'd love to do another moonlight paddle, but this paddle is only 4 miles and I'm not sure it's worth driving over an hour to get there.  But, I'm glad I got to do it with Ethan.  He's a great companion!

Kayaking - Red River, Father's Day

Red River  6/16/13                              Miles Traveled 8 miles, Total 85.7
Adams to Port Royal, 1:50-4:15
Scotty, Julie, Amanda, Ethan

It was a great Father's Day, minus Richie who had to work :(  This is a very wide river and has a good flow.  We saw lots of people out on this river, maybe because it was Father's Day or maybe it's just a busier river.  There was a tree down soon after we got onto the river.  Scotty and Ethan cut off many of the big branches.  I broke off some branches by hand.  We managed to clear a path to the left of the river making it easier for others to get through.  While we were working on it, a husband and wife came through and seemed appreciative of our work.  I saw lots and lots of turtles on this paddle.  But, as hard as I tried to get a picture of a turtle, I never succeeded.  We saw the cave that the Davis family told us about.  But, they had just been in it yesterday and saw two large raccoons at the very end of it.  That and the fact that you have to belly crawl into this cave was not at all enticing to me.  Ethan and I merely looked into the entrance.
On this trip, Dick was kind enough to let us borrow his 2 kayaks.  He has a 10 foot Pyranha that treks really well down the river.  I learned how important the skeg was when Ethan quietly pulled it up on me at one point.  My boat started to go in circles!  The one, huge drawback to this boat is that it has a very narrow opening and I found it very hard to get in and out.  I'm reassured that my kayak is the perfect boat for me!

My times with Amanda are fleeting and so I love my times with
her and I love photos like this!

Kayaking - Harpeth River

Harpeth River, 6/15/13                                      Miles Travled 9.6, Total 77.7
w/ Aquaholics, Julie, Scotty, Dick and Paul, Trish, Ann, Allie
Put in at Hidden Lake, Take Out 249 bridge, 9:00 -12:40, 2.1mph

This was a wonderful day with a great group of people - only 7 total.  The river had a nice flow, there were a few rocks sticking out.  We had a 40 minute lunch break and saw lots of big fish, possibly carp or catfish.  We saw a large bird with a white tail and a white head, we think it was a bald eagle!

Kayaking - Red River

Red River 6/1/13                         Miles Traveled 8, Total 68.1
Scott, Beatrix & 55 others with Paddle Adventures Unlimited and Red River Valley Outfitters
Put in at Adams to Port Royal, 10-12:30, 2.5 mph

It rained like crazy driving there and waiting for the shuttle bus to the starting point.  There wasn't any rain during the whole paddle.  Stream cleanup along the way.  Barbecue lunch was provided at the finish.  Finished eating and it started raining again; and it rained all afternoon!