Paddle the Dan River, Jessup's Mill to Hart Access

Fun day on the Dan River it was August 17th and had rained all day the 16th.  Paddling the Dan in August is a treat because the water is usually too low.  This section putting in at Jessup's Mill on Collinstown Rd. was a special treat because we do not get to do it very often because of low water.  I have never paddled this set ion below 2 ft on the Fransisco water gauge and heard it was very boney below that.  Today the gauge was 1.85ft and 195 cfs.  It was a little challenging to find a line down river without getting stuck but was still very enjoyable.  We will be definitely be doing this section at 1.8ft and up again.  Also be sure to check with the owner of Jessup's Mill to check if there are any strainers.  The owner of Jessup's Mill also runs a shuttle if you contact him the day before.  The river narrows at a place called lunch rock and strainers get lodged there and it can be very dangerous.  This section and many class I and II rapids.  FUN!

Jessup's Mill to Hart Access on the Dan River

Today Dennis and saw the river gauge at Fransisco at 2.18 and we thought it would be a good time to do Jessup's mill run on the Dan River.  We dropped a car at the Hart's access and put in at Jessup's Mill.  It is around a 6 mile run.  The folks at Jessup's Mill are very nice, tubing and let us park our car there.  I can not wait until they get everything fixed up there.  It is a work in progress.  Jessup's Mill has camping and music a couple of times a month. http://jessupmill.com/?page_id=538

When we got into to the water I noticed the painted river guage on the bridge said 1.9ft and the water was very muddly from the rain last night.  This was a fun run but I would have liked it at a 2.00ft or higher.  It is very hard to read the river lines in shallow water when the water is so muddy.  We bumped and scraped our share of rocks that we could not see coming.  Came the closest I have come yet to flipping today, twice.  I did a 360 degrees spin on two occasions stuck on a rock as well.

I found a new fishing technique today.  Just paddle our orange liquid logic coupes down the Dan River and trout just jump out of the water into the back of your boat, at least that what happened to Dennis.  Discovered that the river guage for Fransisco is close to the Hart access. It stated a 1.9 when we got out. I'll have to remember that.

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.