Prepping for the 2013 South Trip

Hi everyone!  Getting ready for the trip, we are leaving on March 15.

The entire trip will be spent in the Okefenokee Swamp.  Broken up into 3 different trips from 3 different entrances.

Here is the paddling schedule so far

Sunday March 17 - Monday March 18.  Paddle from Kingfisher Landing to Maul Hammock and back to Kingfisher Landing.

Tuesday March 19 - Thursday March 21   Paddle from Suwanee Canal Entrance to Monkey Bay, then to Coffee Bay, back to Suwanee Canal.

Friday, March 22 - Saturday, March 24.  Paddle from Stephen Foster to Minnies Lake and back.  

And that pretty much shoots the week, with one of the most extensive tours we setup for the swamp. 

Now for the equipment checklist.  I would really like to use my green Penobscot 16, if I can get the center seat setup.  Walt thinks we can get this done on Friday morning.  

Second, I would like to take the tent cot, a perfect setup for Oke paddling, except for the fact it will stick up like a sail in the back of the boat.  Can I put up with that?  Or maybe store if flat, on top of the gunwhales?

Went to Dick's to get a fresh can of Coleman Fuel - $14.00 for a gallon!  And Dick's was its usual charming place.  I had to supply a birthdate to buy the fuel!  And then they wanted to know the last 4 digits of my debit card - what the hell does that prove?  I would far rather supply a photo ID!  In all, I found my 15 minute visit to Dick's to be just unpleasant. 


2013-03-15 Equipment List

16ft Penobscot Canoe <
Zaveral Paddle
Red canoe paddle <
Black Walnut Warrior paddle
throw bag <
iodine <
long bungee cords
life jacket <
sun hat
rain hat<

In grey drybag

• 3 nesting pots <
• big pot <
• utensil bag <

coleman stove <
gallon of fuel <
Tent Cot??? <

iin yellow man-o-rubber drybag

• river clothes
• meds jar
• cold weather clothes bag
• warm hat
• gloves

in yellow drybag

• sleeping bag <
• Big Agnes <
• sheet sack 
• pillow <

in grey drybag

• tarp and poles <
• kermit chair <

in tall bucket

• breakfast
• lunch

in med red drybag- tent

• eureka purple tent
• floor savers
• stakes
• mallet

Personal stuff

• headlamp
• camera
• phone
• books
• wallet
• on water snack kit
• lithium batteries
• first aid kit
• TP & shovel

My dinner night, in Blue drybag

• mushroom & rice mix
• imitation beef
• 2 cans mushroom
• Tod Yum broth
• cilantro

March 14th was spent prepping the green canoe.  Decided to use my center mount seat frame O bought years ago, and glue it to the floor of the boat using construction adhesive.  It was just barely warm enough to use the stuff, but it seems to have worked.

Went to visit Bruce and use his saw to ACCURATELY trim the seat supports to lower my seat position in the canoe.  It was good to see Bruce as well.

Current River Trip, October 7th - October 12th 2012

Keith Finn, Jeff Haven and Michael Lange headed out of Columbus on October 6th for an intrepid trip down the familiar confines of the Current River.   For Michael, it would be his first trip down the Current.  Jeff was taking his "slow" boat, the Big Red Pig.  I was taking my new Cobra Fish & Dive, a sit on top kayak.  First camping trip in the new boat, and my first multi day kayak trip in a long time - the first since I found out about the injuries to my collarbone joint that had mandated a switch to canoeing a decade ago.  I was also using some old stuff, my 12 year old Eureka backpack tent, and my 20 year old Coleman PeaK One backpack stove.  Both worked just fine for the entire week!

The river was also very low, the lowest we had paddled it.  And the weather was very cool, unseasonably so for early October.  

Michael and I had wanted to put in at the uppermost navigable point of the Current, just below Montauk State Park.  The guys at Aker's talked us out of this, saying the river was very low up there.   Even from Cedar Grove on down was scrappy until you passed Welch Spring.    We decided to go ahead and put in at Akers on Sunday, and paddle down to Powder Mill with a estimated trip end of Friday afternoon.  

This was the wise choice.  The river was lower than I had ever paddled it, and we were on the lookout for shoal water until the take out.  I ended up having to get out of my boat and pull over a shoal on the last day, within sight of the takeout!  That has never happened before.  Also, for the first time we saw no power boats - didn't miss them either!  

While the weather was cool, it was sunny for the first 4 days.  The sun was warm enough for short sleeves most of the day.  If a wind came up, I would put on my Frogtoggs anorak, and that kept me comfortable.  I think Michael was chilly for most of the trip!  

The trip in time of year is always special, and it is the colors of the river that make it so.  The warm, golden tan of the gravel bars, the multiple shades of green on the hills, with the autumny colors breaking out...  The clear / green / turquoise / blue gradients that shade the river are the hardest to describe, and the pictures do not do them justice.   The sky is often the deep blue we don't get to see much in the east, except on those cold, dry winter days.  And the cliffs of the Ozarks, the varied shades of greys, browns and whites with the spattering of lichen!   A feast for the eyes!

I have run the Current so many years now, it is difficult to break the trip down day by day.  We no longer worry about finding a good campsite, or how much progress we are making. 

Favorite campsites are the gravel bar below Pulltite Spring (nice spot, and you can walk to the hot shower building at the Pulltite Campground)

Another favorite is where Sinking Creek joins the Current River.  There is a National Forest Service Campground a short walk away, which gives you access to a pit toilet.  There is nice fishing as well.  

And my favorite, Ain't Bee Bluff.  I thought this was the actual Bee Bluff on our first trip, and a few years later found out it wasn't.  Thus, Ain't Bee Bluff.  

This is where I caught my fish of the trip, a small Rock Bass, in Missouri these are called Goggle Eye.

Thursday morning the clouds came in and did not leave.  That day it was chilly all day - we even stopped at the Two Rivers campground in the afternoon to get a warm shower!

Thursday camp was on a gravel bar that is usually being occupied by Sucker Spearers (seriously, people take out big Jon Boats at night with huge light systems to spear suckers on the bottom of the deep river pools!).  I speculate the cold weather and threat of rain Thursday night kept the Sucker Spearers off the river.   I was careful to set my tent up away from the tire tracks in the gravel!

We did get rain Thursday night, right after we had cleaned up the dishes and were sippin our Wild Turkey Liquor.  A series of thunder storms rolled in for hours, with heavy rain but not much wind.  My old tent kept the rain out just fine!    

My load was carefully calculated for my boat. A small tent, minimal food, a one burner backpack stove and one pot.  I also had my creature comforts, the Big Grizzly take down cot, and my Kermit chair.  

My old tent

inside my tent, with my old Big Grizzly cot, and my old, very big, very warm Big Pine sleeping bag

dinner cooking on my old stove

Jeff in his Kermit Chair

We had a short paddle out to our take out on Friday.  

The MO-106 Bridge - we will take out just after the bridge on the left

trip is done

loading up

 When loading up, I found a note from the guys at Aker's that my trailer had a flat tire!  They fixed it!  These are really great people!   Aker's Ferry Canoe Livery

we get Walt's Pizza in Marion, IL.  The pepperoni and onion was Very Good, reminded me of TJ's back in Lima

We visited the Garden of the Gods in Shawnee National Forest as a detour on the way back to Columbus.

Here is a photo album of the river trip.  Current River 2012

Here is a photo album of the visit to Garden of the Gods. Garden Of The Gods October 2012

October 2012 Current River Canoe Trip Pre-trip report

So far just me, Jeff and Michael on the current river trip. 

Fishing maybe?

We can take my car and trailer, the trailer is open to the elements so waterproof bags or containers would be a good idea.  I have extra NRS Bill's Bags if they are needed.

Since there are only 3 of us, and guys, fishing may be in order.  Also, we could run the upper part of the river from Baptist camp put-in on down.  This would require a short portage at Cedar Grove over a low water bridge, but the portage is short and easy and the 3 of us can probably carry each loaded boat in turn.

Jeff is an excellent teacher of fishing!  

Here is a website about fishing the Current River - Fishing-the-Current-River

Here are photo albums I have from previous trips - 2008   2011   Can't Remember

Here is link to river map and trip descriptions.  current river canoe map

We will be parked at Akers Ferry, and get a shuttle up to the put in of our choice.

Lures for Smallmouth Bass on the Current River

• * Rebel Crawdad, deep diving
• * Spinnerbaits, 3/8 ounce to 1/8 ounce
• * Marabou Jigs (olive, White, and Black), 1/32 ounce to 1/8 ounce
• * 3 inch green tube baits, texas rigged
• * Rooster Tail Spinner 1/24 ounce through 1/8 ounce (also works for trout)
• * Rebel Pop-r
• * Small Jitterbugs
• * 5" Zoom Curly Tail Worms (Green Pumpkin), Texas Rigged
• * Nightcrawlers
• * Minnows and Crayfish* (they work well, but you'll have to catch them yourself using a minnow trap)

Current Conditions from the folks at Akers - current river canoe conditions

Levels, October 3

Montauk looks too low

this is a fine level

Food for Current River week.  Think Jeff!  Must be compact!

1. Lunch - mainly jerky.  What for carbs?  Tortillas, maybe Naan?  Naan better than tortys, IMHO.
2. Supper - can chili?  No, hamburger-rice packs!
3. Breakfast - protein bars worked before.
4. Drink - hawaiian punch packets, I have lots.
5. some hot chocolate
6. Irish cream liquor
7. M&M's or Hersheys?

Had idea last night about supper for trip.  Way long ago, I went on a week long trip and tried an experiment.  Using Success Rice and dried hamburger, I made prepacked meals of hamburger, rice and various dried or freeze dried veg added to the rice and hamburger. I will prepare six ziploc bags of the mixture, adding hamburger, rice, dried tomato, onion, mushroom and Fox Point seasoning to each bag.  This mixture will just have to cook in hot  water for about 10 minutes to be ready.  I have a small backpack stove, but not sure if it still works.  The last time I tried this I used a Sterno Stove.   

drying peppers and tomatoes for canoe trip dinner

drying cooked hamburger for canoe trip dinners

getting the litttle stove ready for the trip

Dehydrator bounty going on the canoe trip.  Apples, tomatoes, plums, beef jerky

dried dinner - Success Rice, dried cooked hamburger, dried tomatoes, onions, celery, parsley, and various spices

2012-10-04 Equipment List

Cobra Kayak, with seat back and thigh straps
Werner Kayak paddle
Red canoe paddle
short canoe paddle
throw bag
iodine
long bungee cords
life jacket
sun hat
rain hat

in red extra long drybag

• cot

in yellow man-o-rubber drybag

• river clothes
• meds jar
• cold weather clothes bag
• warm hat
• gloves

in yellow drybag

• sleeping bag
• Big Agnes
• sheet sack 
• pillow

in extra long red drybag

• tarp and poles
• kermit chair
• fold up table

in small blue drybag

• stove
• pot
• bowl
• fuel bottle
• lighter & matches
• spoon
• cup

in med red food drybag

• jerky
• dinner mix
• protein bars
• dried tomatoes
• dried apples
• dried plums
• roasted peas
• soup cubes
• can cheese
• drink mix
• hot chocolate
• booze
• M&M's

in med red drybag- tent

• eureka purple tent
• floor savers
• stakes
• mallet

Personal stuff

• headlamp
• camera
• phone
• books
• wallet
• on water snack kit
• batteries
• first aid kit
• TP & shovel

First test pack went OK, but the big NRS Bill's Bag not fitting on boat as well as I would like.  

So, going to leave behind the really big oversize thermarest, and take the Big Grizzly cot, Big Agnes air mattress and sheet sack. Also will use the Man-O-Rubber  drybag for clothes.  That one is absolutely bombproof.    Kermit chair, tent pole tarp system and small stove table fit in one extra long drybag. 

 Stove, fuel, cup, pan and bowl fit in a small blue drybag.  Tent goes in one medium red drybag.   Food is going in one medium red drybag, and can fit under the hatch.  Blue stove bag can fit under deck hatch as well.   

Second test pack went better.  

Full Moon ride, September 29th 2012

The Friends of Madison County had a series of full moon rides this year from the London trailhead.  Link - 2012-FullMoonRide

I finally remembered to go!  That the ride was on a Saturday made things easier, and Jennifer went with me.  Toni Hartley went as well, and we were joined by Jeff Haven in London.

Everything came together for the ride - is was Saturday, the weather was clear, the moon was rising early, the weather chilly but tolerable.  

Mike Michael greeted us when we pulled in (a plug for Mike's business, The London Coffee Peddler) - london coffee peddler   

Mike is a COP and AYH member from a long time back.  The ride is a social event, just show up and go.  Mike will ride sweep each way to ensure everyone who started also finished.   The 20 mile ride (10 each way) takes a break at The Purple Money pizza and ice creak shop in South Charleston.   

The ride started promptly at 7pm, but I would guess the last person did not leave the parking lot until 7:20pm.  

The trail from London to SC is flat and straight, with just few stretches shaded by trees.  This is perfect for a night ride!  We started out just as the sun was setting, and had a beautiful sunset to guide us - the painted sky stayed with us for about 7 miles, then we finished the ride into South Charleston in full darkness.  The rising moon had cast my shadow ahead of me as I rode into the town.  

We spent about 45 minutes in The Purple Monkey, have a light dinner (except for Jeff, he had a deluxe calzone about the same size as his head!).

Jennifer and Keith at The Purple Monkey.  I was actually having a good time!

The ride back to London was - magical.  Jeff was just far enough ahead of me so that his red tailight just in view.  Tony and Jennifer were just far enough behind for their white light to be visible in my mirror.

I ghosted along in moonlight, quick and silent.  I am not poet enough to give the feeling justice, but that is one of the most enriching bike rides I have ever done.  

All too soon, I was back in London.  I glided back to my car, and began loading up. We were all grateful for the car heater on the ride back to Columbus.   

I hope to go on the last ride of the year on October 29th!.    

Kelley's Island by the Numbers

A 4 day, 3 night stay on Kelley's Island.

The Numbers.

31.00 per night for the campsite, 93.00
8.00 for the reservation fee (OH uses a system similar to Ticketmaster for reservations) - by the way, the system sucks, IMHO.  Not worth 8 cents, much less 8 dollars.

Getting there:
One ferry line is available.  According to local lore, the current owner of the ferry (in Marblehead) to Kelley's Island bought the other ferry from Catawba to Kelley's, and then closed it.  And then tripled the prices to Kelley's Island, and starting charging for parking for the pedestrians and bicyclists. 

I have no idea if this is true.

However, it costs!  Ferry Rates rates

The schedule for rates are very deceptive.  First of all, it is listed for one way travel. So, double everything.

For Keith, Jennifer, Daisey, my car, and a trailer full of bikes, camping gear, boats - all the funhog stuff, was 108.00 dollars.  

Yep, 108.00 dollars!

Car - round trip, 30.00.
13 foot trailer, round trip, 40.00
2 adults, round trip, 38.00 (wait, they aren't included IN the car?  Nope.)
Dog - free!

Here was the real kicker - had our bikes been on a bike rack on the car, NOT in the trailer, it would have cost another 16.00 dollars to transport the bikes.  

Say we decided to save some bucks, and take just the bikes and camping gear.  94.00 dollars is what I come up with. 

Parking - 40.00 (10.00 per day), maybe double that since the trailer and car would take up 2 spaces.  
2 Adults - 38.00
2 bikes - 16.00 
bike trailers - not sure, I bet they would charge something!

Back to numbers - 

101.00 dollars for 4 days, 3 nights of camping
108.00 dollars to get there by ferry
40.00 dollars for gas (my car got about 28 mpg towing the trailer with 2 boats on top).
13.00 at the only store on the island for dinner/breakfast supplies for our extra day.
70.00 for the visit to Cheesehaven after we left the island (mostly my stuff!)

Was it worth it?  No.

The state park is nice, and if you get one of the very limited shoreside campsites, it would be uber-nice.  Reserve those 6-9 months in advance! We were restricted to the Pets Only section of the campground, a nice but very ordinary state park campground that happen to be within walking distance of Lake Erie.  We were also right next to the Group Campground, which hosted a group of semi-obnoxious Boy Scouts from Akron.  Also, the Pets only restroom had no showers, you had to go to one of the other campground areas for a shower.  A petty complaint, but still...

Biking Kelley's Island is nice - we rode bikes around the entire place on Saturday - Jennifer towing Daisy in the Chariot.  The roads are good, traffic is very light, and you ride along the lake almost the entire time.  But, not worth what it cost to get there, given there is perhaps 15 miles of road to ride.  

It is not a dog friendly place.  No one had a problem, but the state park has some pretty firm rules about dogs, and don't mess with them.  None of the restaurants on the waterfront wanted to deal with a dog on their patio.  We ate all our meals in the campground.

By the way, do not visit the place in the summer season, unless you are an extreme extrovert. 

The only reason I can think of to come back is the Poker Paddle.  kayak_poker_paddle

The Poker Paddle took place while we were there - had I been feeling better, I may have participated.  I ran into several COP boaters while I was there, including Walt Taylor and Curt & Debbie Goetz.   The weather was very good this year, and the paddlers were allowed to circumnavigate the island.  Over 100 paddlers participated this year!