Life at 60, (mph)

The Current River – Eminence, Mo.

Water Clarity – 9+

Natural Quality – 9

Difficulty – Beginner to Moderate

Perception – Weekday

The Current River was the first stop on my ‘leisurely’ drive from the Carolina’s to California; it is located within Missouri’s The Ozark National Scenic Riverway and I would consider it a ‘must-do’ paddle for any serious novice paddler – you will grow from your experience  with this river.

Passing up a planned stop in Kentucky, I arrived at Pulltite Campground a full day ahead of schedule (the lake in Kentucky just didn’t ‘feel right’ plus with a gained hour in time, I drove on)….

It was evening as I passed through the small town of Eminence, Mo – (GPS – 117 Stewart Dr, Eminence, MO) I considered staying at a lower campground – but again moved on to the more remote campground at Pulltite; darkness fell as I parked. Pick your spot.

Pulltite is off the ‘beaten’ path, so much so that I found NO cell service, and of course no internet – so if you have contacts to make; do so before arrival… but hey, thats kinda what paddlin is about (getting away from all that stuff).  On the positive side there is a pay phone (if you remember how to use one) at the site – most of the shuttle folks have ‘800’ numbers – so in the end it all works.

As for me, I did not check in the night before with my shuttle folks and being two days early I went to sleep contemplating my next move – ahead of schedule I could wander the little town the next day and make solid contact and return to paddle the following day – or – leave my vehicle and paddle-on chancing cell-contact down river; or, simply try the pay-phone again in the morning.

Preparations were made and the kayak was loaded in the dark, with @35 miles to the two rivers campsite I was prepared to spend a night on the river, when/if I got on it.

Tossed and turned all night dreaming that I couldn’t fall sleep on the river; go figure.  Arose early and after a shower was surprised to make contact (888#) with Two Rivers(Anita) just after 7 am.  Things fell into place from there and I was able to ‘shove off’ by 730 am.

Sitting comfortably in ‘traveller‘ and headed down river I felt comfort with thoughts of the lakes recently paddled – I appreciated the pleasure of the ‘free-ride‘ that the Current was now providing.

The water clarity of the river surprised me by pushing Silver River’s bar (my personal standard for rating), the setting of the morning was quiet and perfectly peaceful.

Less than a mile downriver was the Old Pulltite Spring, lots of history here and with a short walk down a path there is more to see.

The old cabin was put together using logs in a vertical fashion, nothing much inside except a chimney and lots of graffiti.  Because the logs appear to be creosoted and co-joined, I wouldn’t guess the current construction to be more than 50 years old – just my hunch.

– a short walk back to the river.  It was about here too that I was telling myself to slow down on the pictures – everything looked ‘picturesque’ and battery supply was limited.

As I was sizing up the water, the Natural Quality of the area also remained on my mind, soon the wildlife began adding up; turtle, herons, plus an Eagle with its white tail (I had seen 28 on the Mississippi), but there was an Osprey too – one which took my lead all day.  Made me think of an old indian story where an Osprey had led a young boy out of the woods and to safety.

In observation this Osprey had a strategy to stay ahead, it was to grab any morsels that might sense my approaching movement and forget about looking up; a meal.

With the ‘free-ride’ of the Current – I had plenty of time to watch him at work.

Martin Bluff on the Current – banjo music?

There were plenty of campsites along the river, places of comfort.  What I really learned on this trip was to come prepared to spend a night on the river, camp – not so much because of the distance in paddling, but as-to actually enjoy the miles more (my return link).

Instead of being in ‘the-cog’ moving down river at the same rate as others – stop, camp early and watch ’em all pass – I think that would honor this river’s atmosphere as it should be appreciated.

On this date the current was not overpowering and was ‘easy to read,’ I could easily understand how so many could just relax and enjoy the ride.

I do not take lots of use from weekend tubers as a negative; as with Juniper Springs,  a positive is that users kept the passage ‘beaten down.’  True that the older trees were a bit scarred (‘beaters’) but in the scheme of things those were simply indicators to watch for the tricky currents.

I was pleased with the lack of trash and unnatural debris on the Current this date, an even larger positive.

Still plenty to ponder as you paddle, or just float by.

or take a walk into…

Making it to the Hwy 19 bridge in a little less three hours and thinking it was half-way to Two Rivers – I figured I might just do this paddle in a day; with the overcast I was probably more prepared to sleep than to ‘camp’ (sleeping bag, no tent).

Turns out that from the bridge to Two Rivers was a five hour ‘ride.’  When 4:30 pm came – I really didn’t want it to end.

There were lots of kingfishers, woodpeckers, the Osprey that worked the trees all day ahead of me,  turtles aplenty, the catfish appeared to be camouflaged, an Otter, lots of the smaller mallard-like ducks with white eyes and blue markings (like female wood ducks), egrets, and herons, and the usual crow or two – maybe I should get a ‘bird-book;’ that might work – I’ve always been better with pictures, and they work well as notes too..

Plenty to look at along the river; it just keeps coming and coming –

Along the way there are many little ‘divits’ (my name) or coves along the river; subtle little areas of natural peace – where the wildlife hangs out and the river’s water stands calm

–  life’s a little slower back there.

The Current’s alternating depth provides plenty of rapids as well as some placid areas too – its easy to imagine this river and the power of the same clear glacier run-off causing this, plus the native life that this river supported long before we were around…

I made numerous stops to stretch, make a sandwich, and simply ‘calibrate‘ to it all

The Current continues to throw the natural quality at you….

I hadn’t seen any more than two folks all day, then I ran into some canoer’s – in talking with them they mentioned this was their 33rd annual trip from Illinois to enjoy the Current river.  I have found others many miles away that have also discovered this river through paddlin it. A canoe would work well on the Current

Around the corner the local outfitters were having their ‘end-of-the-season’ bash (until late into the night) they deserve it for putting up with all the doggone people each year…… that’s probably why I’m paddling too – a break from a lifetime of telling those doggone people that they were always ‘right!’….

but all that’s water under the bridge….

The Current River, a free ride.

Well there are still places that Facebook, the internet, and cell service can’t reach – and the Current River between Pulltite and further down than Two Rivers happens to be one of those areas.  It’s a shame that one cant go and enjoy to the fullest without the feeling that contact needs to be made, but I tried – plan to ‘disconnect’ on your visit.

It’s my guess that there are no cell phones nor internet in heaven either – The Current is a little taste of that.

I was told that an overnight was necessary between these points, while I was prepared it didn’t happen, my regret.   It was a leisurely paddle with stops – just kept the kayak in the current (like going down the Mississippi in 32 days) while enjoying the view, feet-up!  I made it from Pulltite to Two Rivers in 9 hours… 730 – 430. 

With this experience; an overnight stay is the only way to fully appreciate this river.

The river’s easy to ‘read’ and gentle enough for anyone that you want to put on it, no wonder the canoe/tubing industry is thriving here in the summer – plus its just an awesome place with the cliffs and the region’s wild life.

The river went on and on, didn’t want it to end.

The Current River has plenty of it’s own unique character just waiting for you to enjoy, do so.

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Akers Ferry to Doniphan on the Current

Lake Summit – NC

@300 acres

elevation – 2050 ft.

Water Clarity – 7+

Natural Quality – 7 (homes/highway)

Difficulty – easy to moderate (wind)

(GPS; 15 Huggins Rd Zirconia, NC)

Day Trip – Weekday

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At about 7 miles South of Hendersonville, NC. Lake Summit is just off of Hwy-225 (old 25 at Huggins Rd).  It is one of those private lakes that allows non-motorized transients to paddle or fish her waters (it’s the water is public, land/docks are private deal).

The ramp and parking lot are just off of 225, the gate is normally closed and operated with a card by homeowners; what remains is an opening allowing access for walkers and paddlers.  I have been on Summit several times before; once fishing on a power boat (with a power fisherman), other times while dive training and kayaking.

Launch from the ramp, Lake Summit info

Note; I recently received feedback that a large group of paddlers went to Summit and created a disturbance at the gate, then a resident told them that they couldn’t paddle there…   My perspective is not a group view-point – this is one of the reasons. For solo and less than 3 paddlers – Summit is inviting….

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Front the ramp to the main body of water where its either Left (east, toward the dam) or Right (west, toward the bridge and up the river).  I think of Summit in two ways, the lake part with the houses and humanity, and then the upstream ‘headwater’ part with a little more natural setting.  It helped to have been here before because today my plan was to work the left shore all the way to the dam as it was cool, then utilize the and shade of the southern shore back to the bridge – this would leave time to continue up the river taking full advantage of any river canopy available.

Lake Summit has many boathouses with each their own character (reminding me a little of Lake Burton).  The Northern shore catches the beating sun on summer days nurturing several patches of kudzu – but those areas are small in size and Summit’s shore has all the natural characteristics of a mountain lake – its just squeezed in between the homes.

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There happened to be another vehicle parked at the ramp when I put-in, it was this paddler pulling a troll line and fishing (deepest point of Summit is @120′).  We spoke a moment near the Norfolk Southern trestle and then continued our separate directions.

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Just beyond the RR trestle access ends with the dam in a little cove area…. the Green River continuing through the gorge creating some awesome white-water paddling before calming once again at Lake Adger.

It is at this end of Summit where a rope swing dangles, the ground of bear clay ‘beaten down’ where I could imagine those ‘cut-off blue jeans and dated bathing suits‘ awaited their turn…

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In one corner of the cove was a ‘rustic’ looking house appearing long-forgotten.

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It had taken an hour of leisurely paddling to make it to the trestle, time to have a sandwich and cool-off.  It would be my guess that the farthest paddling point of this water (up the river) is about four miles away – no reason to hurry, its only 9 am.

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Just more coves to explore with homes to look at, I wondered if folks cared that I took pictures of the houses – then I thought hey, I’m really just taking a picture of the shore, the setting, and the atmosphere – a structure just happens to be in the way.

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Closest thing to a waterfall is this little mountain stream trickling into the body of the lake, the Green River furnishes the volume of water, clarity was real good – I gave it a 7+ on the lake end.

In paddling the entire shoreline including coves, it had taken 2 1/2 hours of easy paddling to make it to this point near the bridge, its idle speed (for boats) and few go beyond this point – now was the river portion, the best part..

Its a gentle paddle against a soft current, there is some over-brush, but that just makes the ride interesting.

I have yet to make it past the third bridge, today was no different – a new tree down just before it.  This was my mark though, from the spillway to the third bridge, it was now 1130, 3.5 hours total, but who’s keeping track?

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The good part was that in turning around, this was my view………….

Peaceful paddlin; perfect.

Back to the bridge and waterfront civilization.

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Right, or should I say left back to the ramp.

and back to the truck before 1:30, 5 1/2 hours of paddlin – awesome!

As for wildlife today – I saw Geese, an Osprey,

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……..and a ‘Crane.’

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Other places to paddle;

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Quips, thoughts, quotes….

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“The hardest thing about paddlin; is getting out the door.” tgh

“The best time; – is right now!”tgh

“Accepting death is like having to follow a slow motorist; acceptance is maturity.” tgh

“I Love my earth-time.” tgh

“Dear Karma, please be good to me.” tgh

“The thumb is good for most everything except picking your nose.” tgh

“You want to keep some good tires under that gal.” tgh

“It’s like picking up a Kleenex with wet fingers.”  tgh

“Over the years I have seen many folks in the worst parts of the cities that ‘lived under bridges,’ I am grateful each day to live in my own modest circumstance.”  tgh

“Keep it on the positive side of negative.”  tgh

“Do you want the world to change, or do you want to change the world?”  tgh

“If you’re quiet, long-enough; others may just figure out just how much noise they ‘really make….” tgh

“I waited so long, that I figured it out.”  tgh.

My Mom was an authoritarian; “Saturdays were about ‘cleaning’ the house, every other day was about keeping it straight.” We cleared weeds by hand.  tgh

“I could be wrong, but I’m financing this lifetime..”  tgh

“She looked a whole lot better running down the road, than standing still..”  tgh

“I’d rather be around nothing, than negativity..” tgh

“In planning to go somewhere, give yourself enough time for the wrinkles to hang free of your garmets.”  tgh

“Some have the ability to look through a dirty windshield, I don’t”  tgh

“Dislikes; the edges of conformity”  tgh

More than a tombstone

“We’re all different, and they need every one of us..”  tgh

“Don’t waste your time with opinions, there are just too many of them.”  tgh

“How do you expect to motivate others if you cannot motivate yourself?” Get on with your life.    tgh

“The first French word that I learned; Latrine”..  tgh

“I have found that first thing in the morning; a shower, and being dressed is as good as any cup of coffee…”  tgh

When someone refilled my Dad’s drink, he would always say – “Just cover the ice.”  wth

” Never own the same car twice”  wth

“I don’t want to be a distraction, only the simplest part of the entertainment”  tgh

“I’d rather do nothing and complain about it, than complain about nothing to do.”  tgh

“Concise is nice.”   tgh

“I have pulled a trailer on most all my driving occasions, what I have learned is that its not about ‘pulling’ the trailer, but simply easing up to speed and ‘rolling ‘ down the road with it.  Thinking ahead, working together.”  tgh

“Three puffs and I’m gone…”  tgh

Life/baseball; “Getting to first base = 15 years, second base 30 years, third base 60 years. I just left third – home stretch….” tgh

“I love this time of life, I just wish that it would last forever”….. tgh

“Throughout our lifetime we acquaint ourselves with a multitude of folks from various backgrounds; I’m inclined to believe that as we grow, we include positive tidbits of personality that we liked from those- and incorporate them into our own personalities. In essence, we are each a product of those friendships along the way.”  tgh

“Approach everyone as though they are a best friend; from there – it’s your choice whom to hang-out with”…  tgh

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Water Clarity – 6+

Natural Quality – 8

Difficulty – easy

(GPS; @210 Staton rd, Hendersonville, NC)

Perception – Weekday

Cascade Lake is a small lake, known by a few flat-water paddlers in the Asheville/Brevard area of Western North Carolina, it is located 14 miles from Hendersonville on the fringe of DuPont Forest.  DuPont Forest is a protected setting for a number of activities such as horse-back riding, hiking, and dirt-biking, plus waterfalls more spectacular than that of Hooker’s, the one just above Cascade.

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I have paddled this small lake a several times (@ 2 miles in length), it’s simple and especially nice in the winter for its peaceful setting, water clarity, and of course that convenience of just ‘getting away.’

On this date I put in at Hooker Falls (named after an old Grist Mill Owner rather than a profession), putting-in here requires a portage of a little better than 1/4 mile. Its a park-use trail with a natural area and the stream flowing alongside (2020 note: trail has been modified away from along stream, a little more intense of a walk and portage).  I have heard that for five bucks you can put in at the Cascade Lake Camp Ground but having for me (and my ‘dollie’) the portage here is easier than the complicated drive there

(Note; campground closed Nov 2015 – check for reopening – update 2021, Lake not open to public).

New Trail goes by the Hooker – Moore 1800’s cemetary, interesting.

There is a video on You-tube of folks going over the 14′ falls in whitewater kayaks…

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Once in the water I wasted little time heading downstream………..

finding more of what I came here for, – peaceful paddlin.

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About halfway down the lake is the only human habitation on the lake, a campground – the rest of the shoreline is wooded and natural.

On occasion, the stealth of paddlin allows one to slip up on “wildlifes daily-life,” – which I like.

Human camp-life surrounding some campsites can be amusing too…

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A little further down the lake is a restricted area just before the Dam, an early 1940’s effort of hydro-electrical power. There is a dirt road (Cascade Lake Rd.) that skirts the lake -which provides a better view of the falls from the road.

– and the long forgotten wooden conduit that once carried the water a few miles downstream to the old power plant.

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The 3 pictures above are from a previous drive along Cascade lake road, it’s a pretty impressive gorge below the dam.

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On the return is a cove with a cement shore line, leading to an even older foundation of some sort – I even spotted the ‘lil Dipper in the daylight.

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I am unsure of the history of this particular foundation, possibly another mill (maybe Hooker’s?).

But back to paddlin…

How about a dinosaur spine?

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There were foraging deer in this one marsh area, also a beaver dam with signs of activity.

It was a relaxing morning paddle; tranquility base, ez pace.

Appreciating the opportunity of the moment, and that it is a small lake with limited access. Few really know about the lake part of it.

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But many more know about the falls.  Back at Hooker falls it was a different story. As I rounded the corner in a peaceful state of mind, it was a different story. It was August heat Friday – and, the Falls were alive with people; folks having fun. Noise, – happy noise.

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After sitting in the mist of the falls, I parked the yak and jumped in the water with them……

– it was ‘fresh!’

and worth the walk for me.

Cascade Lake was a simple paddle, not a totally ‘mundane‘ lake – alot of it has to do with Why? you paddle.

If time is a factor, the entire lake can be seen in three hours or less. If not, make any paddle worth the effort that you have put into being where you are, Yes! I’m saying “appreciate the opportunity that you find yourself in” – anytime of year.

‘Feet-up’

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Lake Adger – NC

@450 acres

Water Clarity – 7

Natural Quality – 7

Difficulty – easy to moderate

Perception – Weekday

The upper Green River of North Carolina feeds several WNC lakes and is known as a ‘peaceful place to cast a line’….

‘The upper green’ is also known for the World Class whitewater activity which takes place through the ‘ gorge.’

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 Lake Summit sits atop the green river, then the whitewater kayak and tubing sections of the river which ultimately flow into Lake Adger, another mountain lakeside community.

(GPS – @ 669 Lake Adger Rd, Mill Spring, NC)

Lake Adger is about 40 miles south of Asheville, NC – nearest to an interesting little ‘railroad’ town to visit, Saluda, NC (try the music/beer/pizza of the Purple Onion or Green River BBQ).  The shortest way to Adger for paddlin is from Exit 59 on I-26, left on Green River rd (down through the 17 ‘switchbacks’) @ five miles or so to the end and another left on Silver Lake rd, and a right after the bridge to the Lake Adger Marina (4585 Lake Adger rd – for those with those Garmin GPS things) – the lake is also accessible from Hwy 9 below Lake Lure. NC.

From the Marina you have the choice of two paddle sections, Right for a shorter paddle through the wetlands and up the gentle current of the Green River (Adger option) for a several miles while enjoying the cool shade, clear water, and schools of bass swimming under you – or Left onto Lake Adger proper – on this date I took the lake paddle, Left.

As I paddled across the width of the lake a fellow in a fishing boat mentioned that he had seen an eagle – I did not see an eagle but there was a heron in the general vicinity – just up from a small babbling ‘brook’.  Lake Adger is not a wide-bodied lake as one might imagine but one in which the main channel winds through the land above the ancient river bed.

I simply followed the Southern shore and used the shade while exploring every cove possible, two of the coves went much further than I had anticipated with each ending in a ‘wetlands’ setting, turtles were numerous.  The water was very smooth and I was both surprised and impressed with the tranquil nature surrounding these coves.

Continuing along the Southern shore all the way to the Spillway, it seemed every other dock had kayaks on them – I could feel that these waters were appreciated.

When I made the lake’s spillway there was not a ‘clear’ or absolute barrier; plus not feeling any imminent doom or a quick case of stupidity, I eased along the shade right up to the cement barrier…

and sat alongside this barrier – the dam.  A foot away was about a 100′ drop…

So I held the camera out and down – I didn’t feel ‘in-danger,’ but I did feel ‘the-danger.’

It was a long way up, and not a good place to be playing around because I certainly couldn’t out paddle a sudden breach.  So I moved on; sometime or another I will travel highway-9 and get a picture looking back.

Back to the trees, turtles,

– and turkeys! There were six lounging around in this particular area and three more in Jackson Cove to the North.

Now following the opposite shoreline I paddled a cove, then into a short creek and back out to a beach to rest.  Sometimes you just have to jump in…. the ‘dip’ and a snack were refreshing – this is where I noticed more wild turkeys in the field above.

With more than 4 hours of paddling behind and now late in the afternoon I started thinking about the marina and heading that way. The day had been just right – overcast just enough to keep the blaring sun off of me, yet sunny and warm enough to jump in too.

Of course I love public boat ramps, it is the cheapest of entertainment – from something much more comfortable than a lawn chair...

My memories of Adger had to do with the wind in the main channel, what I found was that on any given day the coves should provide areas of protected paddling without the wind or whitecaps.   The water of Adger held that ‘fresh’ feeling and quality that mountain lakes are known for, it is populated – but not over populated.  The natural quality is present within the coves, the fishing, the turtles, turkey and other wildlife that are present or simply passing through.

The Lake Adger folks that I encountered were the most polite and ‘wake-conscious’ of all.  The lake had a good feel to it and seemed the most kayak friendly lake that I have paddled yet.

It was now 5 pm, and my 5 1/2 hours of paddling had made this day ‘complete.’

Upstream, right from Marina – Lake Adger Option

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