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.

Paddle Time at the Dan River, Moratock Park to Snow Creek access

Today was a beautiful day, January 28 and 60 degrees.  This is my kind of winter.  We got a late start so Dennis and I decided to take a shorter kayak run today.  We put in at Moratock Park, in Danbury NC and we took out at Snow Creek access near Dodgetown rd. The run was between 4-5 miles long.  This was a beautiful section of the river with many little rapids but only a couple that might be a 1 + but with so many it kept the trip entertaining.  We did not have to paddle much before the current did most of the work, not a great deal of flat water here.  It was fun going over little ledges.

 The water gauge level was 1.88 ft and the cfs was 195 at the water gauge at Fransisco.  The level was nice and fun but we did have to manuver through shallow sections.  I do not think this section would be very easy to paddle much lower.


 The most eventful part of the trip was at put in Dennis and I decided to video each other at the first rapid so I went first then pulled to the beach to get out to film him.  When I stepped out of the kayak on the sand where I had beached my boat on the shore I sank over my knees instantly in the sand and mud like quick sand.  If I had not moved quickly I probally would have sunk much deeper and I would have had to crawl out.  I could barely raise my legs because of the suction.  That was a first.

The most enjoyable part of the trip was how pretty the day and scenary was.  We saw 2 grey herons and many wild ducks and well as many other water birds.  I wished I had my camara with me not just Dennis's phone.

We discovered it is much better to park near the Snow Creek access sign and take out by paddling up snowcreek a ways than to take out rather than near the bridge at Dodgetown Rd  a little farther down too.  Can not wait until the next trip.

Wonderful Day on the Dan- Hwy 89 at Big Creek to the DRC

We started the day at 11:00 at the DRC and ended at the DRC at 2:15.  This stretch is between 6-7 miles http://www.danrivercompany.com/ 

He gave us a shuttle to his private river access at the Hwy 89 near Big Creek.  It was about 54 degrees at put in and reached about 62 today and sunny.  Beautiful day to be paddling. Followed a blue heron much of the way.

The river conditions :  Gauge 2.00 ft    CFS 235

It was a gorgeous day.  We dress in our paddle jackets, rash guard and wet suits to stay warm just in case we went for a swim and were perfectly comfortable.  This run was calm with several small rapids but rather calm compared to the others we have done but very pretty.  My mom would like this run.

There was one fun rapid that I decided to run again and portaged my boat up river to run again.  I discovered Dennis does not know how to use his camera or video on his IPhone.  He took video when he was trying to take a picture and shot the video sideways when he was trying to video.  Oh well we are living and learning.  Here is that paddle video:

Dennis has always been concerned that our PFD's and wet suit may not work so we tried them out today after taking our boats out.  We decided to jump in the river and float to see if they would work. 

Well the PFD's worked great but the wetsuit was mighty COLD in the water but out of the water we were comfortable.  I guess if we have to take a swim it will be as short as possible during the winter.

After today I really got rapid fever.  It was such a calm run I want to try something a little more exciting.  Looking for helmets and whitewater kayaks very soon!

December 30, 2011 - First Trip Log tomorrow on the Dan River

I am so excited to be chronicling my kayak trip adventures starting with Dennis and I kayaking the Dan River section from Hwy 89 at Big Creek to the DRC.  The DRC will be our shuttle so we can use his access to this section.  Tomorrow will be my 4^th different section of the Dan River in Stokes County and my 6^th trip since Thanksgiving 2011 and it is only December 30^th.

I have bought paddling jackets, booties, dry sack, throw ropes, paddle leashes, wet suits, rash guard shirts, PFD’s, 3 paddles and 3 recreation Kayaks.  Who would have thought you needed so much stuff to go kayaking and I just discovered I need more stuff.

 Who would have guess how possessed I would get over kayaking either?  I love adventure and every time we are on the river it is an adventure and never the same.  The guy who sold us the boats said I can tell you will want whitewater kayaks soon and he was right.  I never thought at 45, I would want to learn not only how to kayak but want to learn how to whitewater kayak but I’m hooked on kayaking and the beauty of nature!  Next I will be looking for whitewater boats and helmets too!

I am so thankful my husband Dennis is willing to join my adventure.  It took me 2 years of seed planting to finally get our own boats.  He is my favorite adventure buddy.  Right now I’m dragging him in December kayaking. “No, Dennis is will not be too cold.  It will be an adventure.”  “ Hard section?  No Dennis this section will be easy, at least that is what the book says.”  We will see tomorrow.

  (He is a little cautious after swamping his boat by wedging it against a rock and the river right before Christmas in another section.  We do not want to do that again!!! Pulling a water filled boat off a rock against the current of the river had both of our backs aching the next day.)  Adventure h