Yadkin River, Shoals to Donnaha Access, May 28, 2012

We put in at the Pilot Mtn. access at Shoals and got out at Donnaha access on 67.  The run is about 6.5 miles and it took us 2 1/2 hours.  It was a beautiful day on the Yadkin.  The water was up higher than I have seen it on my previous canoe trips so this was pretty easy to manuver. The river gauge was 3.9ft.  It was pretty fun the first 2/3 of the trips.  It has many little rapids.  Since the water was up there was very few rocks exposed which was totally different than past trips.  Paddling this in a kayak is much easier than a canoe too.

The last third is flat water and I mean flat.  It feels like a lake so you have to work to finish rather than let the river just move you.  I usually see a bald eagle or two but this time I only saw ducks.  Dennis has decided if we do this again he will use his recreation boat, Perception Sport instead of the Liquid Logic Coupe.  It is harder to paddle in flat water.

The access at Donnaha and Hwy 67 is in bad shape.  The path to the river is muddy inches deep and washed out.  In the past this was in much better shape.  You can see the results of flooding on all the small islands.  The points of the small islands are piled 10-15 feet high with debris.

Hart Access to Moores Springs campground

Fun run.  The gradient is 12ft/mile. That day the water gauge was a 1.83 ft.  I do not think you could run this much lower.  It had many shallow spots because of the gradient change.  This is my second favorite run on the Dan River so far.  It is about 8.3 miles long.  Dennis paddled his Liquid Logic Coupe and I used our Peception Sport recreation boat.  This is a beautiful run with such pretty surroundings.  It is so enjoyable because of all the rapids even though they are small they are frequent. Even though it has action and beginner could do this fine.

The only negative is the out access at Moores Springs road.  You have to call the campground and get permission and it cost $10 to park there even if you are not camping.  You get out at a creek which is nasty and the road is washed out to the access so you have to carry your boat 100 yds to your vehicle.

I hope the water gets up again so I can do this again soon.

May 19, 2012 First run on Jessup's Mill run on the Dan River

So close to home and so fun...The gradient was 23 ft/mile, fun, fun. We started at Jessup's Mill off Collinsville Rd and got out at Hart's access off 704 on the Dan River.  The temp was 75 degrees water temp was about 55 degrees.  Dennis paddled the new Liquid Logic Coupe in his wet suit.  I paddled out Perception sport rect boat with a splash skirt.  I could have paddled without the skirt but I would have had top dump my boat  a couple of times because of splash during the many class 2 rapids (at least 6). I did not wear a wetsuit and wore my rash guard shirt and shorts and was comfortable. This was the first time I used the splash skirt and it was warm.  Dennis' boat did great mine did fine too.  I was thankful the river guage was 2ft.  That made this run perfect.  If it was lower it would have been much for difficult because there are shallow places.  This run is 6.5 miles.  Loved all the class two rapids.  Dennis took a swim when his boat ran up on a rock.  He is sold on a sit on top kayak now.  I may want one now but 5 kayaks may be enough for now. I want to try this run with my creekboat.

May 7, 2012 The Natahala in a Ducky

We decided to make an adventure out of taking Casey to the airport in Chattanooga TN.  She was leaving for Africa for a mission trip for 20 days.  On the way home Dennis and I decided to stop by the Natahala and take a ducky trip.  It was about 73 degrees and we decided to wear our wet suits but no splash jackets.  The water was cold but we were comfortable in our wet suits.  The Natahala had plenty of class 2's and 1 class 3 rapids. I hope to bring my girls to do this again. In a raft it would have been fun but a ducky added another level to the fun.  I would do this again!!!  Beautiful and exciting this was the whole ride.  I was a little afraid of the last class 3 rapid but made it fine.  You just run right down the tongue of the Natahala falls and avoid the right side with the hydralic.  The video is of me doing the Natahala Falls.