Yak Attack

Well, we FINALLY bought a couple kayaks.  I have no idea why it took us so long, but it did.  And now we have 2 and I am thrilled! 

We still need some stuff, most notably a carrier for them.  Right now I am hauling them laying on a blanket tarp strapped to the roof rack rails.  That's not the perfect solution I had envisioned.  They bounce a little in the wind and tend to move enough that when we loosen the strap, they slide off the side of the van instead of waiting to be pulled off the back.  So we need a better solution.  I only have rails, I don't have crossbars, so those J-hooks for the kayak to lean against will not work.  I'm open to suggestions.

For our maiden voyage, we went to Wheeler and put in at one of the many boat ramps they have.  We paddled around for a couple of hours, then headed for home when the clouds started gathering. 

The next day, Gina asked if we wanted to go again, and we did.  We met back up at the same spot because she had stalked me and saw us the day before.  That made it easier to plan anyway.

We arrived only barely late (Matt can only get to work on time, everything else-time is a suggestion.)   

Gina was already there and had bought...the exact same kayak we had and in the exact same color.  STALKER. 

Or, it might have been the really good kayak sales going on for Memorial Day.  3 other friends also got 'yaks this past weekend. No clue if they are as awesome as ours, but I'll plan a float day soon and scope it out.

The launch was successful!

We had to get boats, paddles, life jackets...mine is purple, of course.

Next day:

I love cypress trees!

Gina yelled that a rattlesnake was going to fall on me. 
For anyone who has NOT seen the update on that story, the snake did not fall from the tree, it was swimming along, the man thought it was an alligator and yanked it up out of the water and proceeded to agitate it until it bit him.

We discussed how nearly all reported snake bites are males bitten on the upper torso, arms, or face.  Here's a tip-don't pick up a snake.  Just leave them to it and get on with your day.  If you have to set down a beer first, that goes double.  

I liked the swampy feel of this spot.

Caught this osprey bringing in a fish for the (giant) chick in the nest.  It even shredded it up for the baby.  (blurgh)

And, the best part of having kayaks, chillin' out on the water with friends.

We paddled nearly 4 miles this trip, just tooling around the backwaters of the Tennessee River.  I'm hoping for huge gains in the arm strength sector.  So far, I just have a blister on my thumb.

Tubing from Swann Bridge to Powell Falls

After the Panther Run, we grabbed lunch and decided to go check out the conditions for a float trip.  Gina and Jeff had to head back and Kurt and his crew were meeting up with their family at the beach, so Melanie and Ben joined us for the afternoon.

We arrived at Swann Bridge and it was PACKED.  We had to park way up the hill from the river, but the water levels looked great!  We got our floats ready and hopped in ASAP.

The water level was 1.9 and it was agreed it needs to be closer to 2.5 next time.  A little bumping went on betwixt rumps and rocks!  The flow was slow, too, we ended up paddling down the still bits, which were many.  It was still a REALLY pretty float trip, the bluffs alongside reached 60 feet high in places and there were many sandy beaches to pull over at.

There was one feeder stream and that water was COLD!  We scooted over to check it out and along with the stream flowing in, there were several springs popping up in the river itself nearby, some so strong they were making a little jet.  We took turns floating over those and freezing our hineys and screaming.

I wore my shoes in the creek, then walked back barefoot.  Carrying my shoes.  So did Ben.  We talked about that this morning-WHY? hahaha!

Elan uses the 2 hour float to try a new look.

Powell Falls is a double falls with a wide flat rock between the cascades.  The water falls about 8 feet, it's probably a 4 foot drop if you just jump off into the pool below.

When we arrived there were guys fishing off the rock. They pointed out a 'water moccasin' and got in their canoe and kept going.  We went to check out the snake-Northern water snake.

Talking about the snake!

I could not decide on which I liked more.  The bottom one has Benny in the middle!

We play with the cameras.

Sitting in waterfalls is a major favorite event around here.  We were happy that Young Ben was just as into it!

The boys quickly headed to the bigger, faster falls to sit a while as well.

You can float on down and get out at a bridge crossing further down, but we opted to just hike back since there was a trail.  It's EASY to follow from the falls until THIS point above.  You see the bridge and think, "nearly back!  Wow, that was like 20 minutes!" and then the rocks happen and it's just as long to get through this stretch as it was to walk the mile from the falls!  Matt was way ahead of me and crossed the river and walked on the other side.  We slogged through the rock scramble.

Next time, I will cross over, too!  GAH!

It was a really fun trip and the walk back, other than the rocks, was flat and easy going.  I'd love to head back early in the morning and stay allll day so we could stop and play on some of the beaches!  That stretch needs some rock art.  

Drama cloud!