Kayaking on Little River

Got up EARLY yesterday and roused the troops to go canoeing with the JSU Field School on Little River.

They go a few times a year, we have not been before because we don't have boats.  The trip leader e-mailed that he was able to borrow some (from Legacy!) and they would be going Wednesday.

Heading over Guntersville Lake just after the sun was up.

When we arrived, we discovered-no canoes!  Just kayaks.  We have not been kayaking before and were a little wary.  Then the folks who have been before started talking about the different sets of rapids and which ones they wiped out on.

We nearly bowed out, but I decided in the end that we all needed a little adventure.  Besides, the kids have never been phased by 55 degree water.  I figured we'd come out okay, even if there was a dunking.

It was SUCH a pretty day-sunny, 75 was the high and the clouds melted away as the day warmed.

My vessel for the day!

The kids were in smaller kayaks, which we decided were not what we want-they had to pull over and flip them when they got full.  Mine had holes, the water drained out-but it also came in when the boat smacked down over any rapids and my butt and legs were soaked all day!

They let us launch straightaway, paddling upstream for about 20 minutes.

I had a horrible time getting going, but finally got it figured out.

My boat was hard to keep straight, it was very prone to catching the current or the wind and going off course. I got that worked out, the rest of the day was much better-either that or going WITH the current and the wind was easier than against it.

The folks who had their own boats were helpful and very kind with the advice.

I paddled a long way and finally saw the goal-that rock-and started looking for the kids, who had launched well ahead of me and not floated directly into a bunch of bushes with briers.

As I rounded the little bend, there they were, under the rock!  Chan had found a bird nest and they were all hanging out in the still water by the shore.

Ben, being a stinkhead.

Stuck the camera in the water and pointed it all around while we waited for the rest of the group.

Ghost leg and foot!  

We formed an armada to get a group pic, which was taken from the top of the big rock by Larry, the group leader.  But I could not resist one from my perspective!

Here are 2 of his pics from the website:

I am in the only red boat!

Chan and Ben appeared from under the cliff for this one but Jake stayed put.

Jake has been doing better the last couple of days, so he decided some salt for that wound would be great and spent the night before reading their chat history.

I made him come anyway, spring sun is a cure-or at least a balm.  It took a while, but he perked back up.

Heading down, we could hear toads calling on the banks.

One of the folks went to investigate and picked up this guy below.  We think Fowler's toad:

He was very happy in her warm hands!

The kids all said they like kayaking more than canoeing.  Chandler said it was good because she could go explore side streams without having to coordinate with anyone-then proceeded to call Ben over to join her at several of her stops.  hehe

They saw lots more toads!

Our lunch stop at Dragon Rock.  Testing out the legs, it had been about 2.5 hours of paddling by here.
I had to crawl out of my canoe, my ankle was having none of it.

Watched people get flipped here, though we all made it fine, yay!  

Up on the dragon head.

Ben, tired of waiting for the spring water to refill our bottles (we had our water purifier!)

decides to cross the streams and use his hand to direct one trickle into the bottle while catching another nearby.  Quite smart! 

Dragon Rock!

Full of pep(peroni) and back in the boat!

Little River is SO clear, it was hard to tell how far under the rocks were in places!

This was an awesome triple-drop, SO much fun!

I REALLY liked the foot rests, they were on a little track, so I moved them up through the day to give my legs a break when they got tired of being in one position.

Figured out if I pushed against my legs, my strokes were much stronger.
Though today my sides ache!

Little water snake saying hey as he passes through at the takeout.

Camping, Spring, Hikes, Doooo-dads!

All of my favorite things on the planet are coming together in one fantastic wave of yahoo.  Camping, with friends, in the warmer weather.  Swimming, hammocking, hiking, canoes, the beach AND the mountains, backpacking, fireflies, photography, wildflowers and of course *insert fanfare* looking at do-dads.  This year is going to be the best one yet.

I have three camping trips and one canoeing trip ON THE CALENDAR so far (as in already booked) and several weekend backpacking trips plans awaiting the perfect weather.  I am giddy.  I have whittled my list down to just a few final items, which is never totally finished as I can always think of more stuff I am sure we will 'need'. Though I can roll my eyes at men who already have a TV and who instantly want a bigger TV, I do understand that itch, I get it looking at 'accessories' in the camping section.  We might need bear bells. We do need flashlights, and check out the machete-surely that's vital! Though I know I won't do any bushwhacking, that 'what if' alarm buzzes.

Really-my worst weakness is in first aid because, I need to think I have things under control.  Band-aids are like crack, I cleaned out the shelves in my bathroom and there were over 200 in there.  *shame*  Then, I nearly immediately bought a box (2 boxes) of sparkle band-aids. And then some with Marvel characters and I use the Hulk ones on wounds I am most pissed about getting. And I am nearly out of Hulks. 

I know he's not a pirate, but it's not like anyone had a pre-made pic of Hulk complaining about burning his finger.  TWICE IN A ROW.  You get the yargh because that is my Hulk noise.

I may have found a solution to my continual browsing and occasionally buying (usually x5) via get cairn dot com. I will update when the box arrives, I sent myself a single month as a gift-though I would love a longer subscription to see a variety and may go for a 3-month stint.  I really like trying out new stuff, I hope this will scratch that itch. Though-like a man and his TV, I will probably be back at the store perusing the newer model anyway.  After all, I probably need to pick up some bandaids.

Beyond the usual yearly stock-up (sunscreen, bug dope, pain meds, moleskin, solar lights (not usually an annual thing but Henry ATE MINE, bulbs and all) and paper products) I made new backpacking cooking pouches which I will blog about later when I actually finish them (it's Matt's fault they are not done yet) and I bought one new thing based on nothing more than seeing it and thinking, 'oooooo' and that was a Luminaid solar lantern.  Go check them out, I got the brighter version, though I kind of covet the newest one with the color changing lights.  I have my ghost lights that do that, so...I went with a regular light-light.  Though I have a birthday this year, so feel free to hook me up, it will be available in April.  hahaha!

Our scheduled trips so far-Florida with friends to swim at the springs, the Smokies with Katy to see the synchronization of the fireflies (I was so super lucky to get a spot!!) camping at the lake with the homeschool group and canoeing a 6 mile stretch of Little River Canyon with JSU.  And that's just the start!  Dayhikes, more backpacking, lounging days with friends and hammocks and creeks-swimming afternoons, stargazing, the drive-in, wading! I LOVE Spring and Summer, bring it on!!

Summer Day Two: Canoe

When we lived in Tennessee, the kids and I spent a good bit of time in the South Cumberland Rec Area, hiking and camping and swimming.  Since moving to Alabama, the area has become a state park with a headquarters and many little satellite pocket areas that contain some of the most beautiful spots in the world, if you are into breathtaking waterfalls, mossy logs, crystal clear creeks and giant trees and boulders that is. 

The park puts out a list of events each month, they have some all year, but summer explodes with activity.  One of our favorite outings is the canoe trips, we have gone a few times before, the last time was 2 years ago, so it was time to go again! 

I called and reserved our spot and sent out the info in hopes that friends would join us.  The Lackeys decided it sounded like a good idea as well and signed up, too!  Everything is more fun with your buddies. (I typoed 'biddies', which is also true).

The weather was perfect-a few clouds and 85 for a high, it would be cooling off by 4, when we headed out on the lake.  We met up at the Dutch Maid Bakery in Tracy City, it was 2 hours and 5 minutes for both of us.  After nabbing some yummies for after the canoeing, we went on over to the Grundy Lakes and stopped at our favorite picnic spot on the upper lake and had some pizza and got hydrated.  We fed the fish and turtles the crusts and enjoyed being still for a few minutes after the drive.  Soon enough, it was time to head to the lower lake where we would canoe!

They had lots of catching up to do after being apart for 13 hours!

Coke ovens.  These were operated by convicts, converting coal into coke.  They stopped using them in 1896.

ring necked snake

Me and my co-captains, Grunt and Snort
We were lead canoe!

When they first launched, Matt and the girls tipped right over, Matt of course had not only his camera, but his phone and GPS. 
The phone and GPS were okay, but by the end of the day, his camera had glitched until it bricked.  It's in rice now.  I hold little hope.

Since they were already wet, we got a demo of how to use a t-bone technique to flip a canoe in the water.  Using a second canoe, it lifts the flipped canoe out of the water and drains it, then, you just flip it back over and hop back in...

I handed my camera over to Ben, who was in the middle of our boat and he took all the photos while on the lake.  No, I learned nothing from watching Matt kill his electronics.

Brief hand-off to Chandler, who took this one of us!

This is a bryozoan

On their race back, Chandler is clearly cheating by using her shoes to help paddle.

We swam across the lake and back afterward, one of my very favorite things to do!  I yelled at other people's kids for SHOVING Brit off the swimming platform-after she JUST swam across the lake and was wiped out and told them she did not want to play.  We opted to leave, the inbred bath day was a little more than we were interested in bearing witness to.  Hell is other people. 

There are many, many places to go in the area and all are beautiful, but I was thinking 'close and quick', so I suggested we go to Foster Falls, which is less than 10 miles from the lakes with a short walk to the overlook.  The kids all piled in our van, so I ran off to ride with Bobby and Gina!  We used swear words!

We got there, and the falls were flowing well!  But this was our view from the overlook!  Sad!
I suggested the easy hike down to the bottom to everyone and they fell for it, I mean went for it.

2 hours later, after having to kill a bear, we arrive at the base of the falls.

I LOVE swinging bridges.  The monogamous kind are super dull.

The easy walk out!

more easy walking!

If I could go back and do anything differently, I would have had the 4th kid we both wanted.
Thank goodness we can borrow friends to fill that void!

Another perfect day!  We rode along for miles with the full moon shining on us, skirting the lake for an hour of the drive home.  It was lovely, I am so thankful for times like this.