Solo Yak, now I'm Baaaack......

“a Major two day trip...

Left work early on Friday, got the boat dropped just below Guntersville Dam at about 2 PM, and took off on a solo downriver trip that was to cover 42 miles in 17 total paddling hours...

I'm learning about life on the water in a Yak, no major stability problems, and the paddle strokes are second nature since I'm no stranger to a canoe, back strokes, pull strokes, bracing etc., all come sorta naturally to me, but I gotta learn how and where to pack those little items that make the difference...

I'm paddling along the bank, enjoying the quiet, the sun and the scenery, occasionally checking the map so I can keep track of the mileage, and to reaquaint myself with the nuances of water travel/mileage covered...(Ya can't pace count on the river)., and being all chummy with the few fishermen out on the river and along the banks, and decide it's time for a drink, something COLD...and lesson number one pops up...the strap on the cooler that I pushed to the front of the cockpit got hung up on the foot peg/rudder push, and i had to use the paddle to unhook it, (LESSON: remove straps and ANYTHING that could hang me up)...

Yeah Sass, ya warned me, and so did someone else about wearing shoes with laces...at least the strap was hung on the boat and not on me...THIS time...

All day on the river, I had the opportunity to view the bank & the wildlife, and the cliffs were beautiful from the water....so why did the little fact that banks 10/12 feet high, (Ya know, they keep the water in the river...DUH!!!) might be a bear ta climb when I needed to get out of the water?...(LESSON TWO: when it's coming on dark, stop at the campsite that first appeals to you, it may be miles to the next one...) and it was...

So it's getting dark on the river, banks are steep, the river wide, and I think, so...I need my headlamp...uh...where is it? In a SealLine bag in the hatch behind me...and not so much as a narrow mud bank for MILES...wait...I have my Tikka in the nalgene...(LESSON THREE: the Nalgene is great dry storage in the cockpit for items like a headlamp or a cell phone, IF you can REACH it!) and I couldn't because it was behind my right thigh and under the skirt...CLIPPED to the webbing of the backrest so it wouldn't float away if I rolled the boat...so, what now? Getting Dark, sooner than I expected because the sun was setting behind a bank of clouds, no place to beach the boat, so...PADDLE....PADDLE HARD...search for a place to get off the river for the night, or at least a place to open the hatch and get my Headlamp...nadda...not for miles...I could tie off to a fallen tree...and play rock the boat trying to slip and slide till I reach the Nalgene...

Anyhow you get the idea...

BUT!!!

If I had not so poorly planned the placement of gear, I would have missed what became the signature part of the trip...because you see, as the sun went down, the MOON came up...and the river got smooth as glass...moonlight on the Tennessee River, and I'm all alone...not a light for miles, and with no boat traffic...(NONE) I had the evening to myself...what could have been was not, and what was, was wonderful!

Reached the Military Recreation area on the River, (Redstone Arsenal AL on the Tennessee River), Improved sites, hot showers, clear water from the tap...LIFE IS GOOD...LMAO....

Slept in the next morning,Thank God for Hennessey Hammocks, back on the water at 10...AFTER rearranging things in the boat!

Saturday was a slow paddle/float with the current, occasional side trips up the streams that feed into the river, (Initial recon for the next trip!

Came around the point in Decatur Alabama at 5 o'clock, and found a nice, narrow, but nice, sandy stretch of shoreline in Flint Creek, a part of the Wheeler Wildlife Refuge, and heeding the lessons from the evening before, strung the Hennessey between two trees not five feet from the water, and went swimming. (The PFD works by the way, I finally got it wet...) dinner was Fettucine Alfredo with Garlic Shrimp, (LESSON: Kayaks can carry a LOT more gear than I can!) cooler, chair, lantern, all great gear I wouldn't,(COULDN'T) carry backpacking....Spent the night watching the fire from my hammock, and listening to the waves...

Sunday morning was clear, cold, and beautiful...fixed breakfast, mixed Crystal Light for the day, and packed up. Went sightseeing in the Flint Creek Basin, Heron's, Turles, Ducks, Geese, and fish the size of Bass Boats, I swear!...what a DAY! I came out at the fishing pier on Highway 67 in Decatur Alabama....and sat with a couple my age having lunch on the pier, and learning the Creek is navigable forr 20 miles up into the Sipsey Wilderness in Bankhead National Forrest....hmmmm ...STAY TUNED FOR PART TWO coming soon.....”

“Super Troll, sounds like you had a blast. Great trip report.

It is amazing how calm the water gets at night esp when no big boats are out.

We will be waiting for part II

Happy Paddling”

“LOL

Woot! Woot!

Good report...thanks.”

“Good report ST! Quick and finish it up would you? ;)
I'm not sure it was me who warned you, maybe Birch? But regardless, good thing it was your cooler, not you, lol.”

“bump”

“ain't water hiking great?!?!?!?!

Come west and float in Mo before the season is ended. Grab Ewker and Davinity and come on over. I got weekends all planned for October.”

“Great trip report Super....wasn't the moon glorious Sat eve??..and I'll bet it was wonderful on the water......I have put in at Flint off 31 N of Hartselle and paddled to Point Mallard...and back....it is wonderful back in there....you should go there while the water lillies are blooming.....an awesome site.....
Glad you had a great time!!!”

“Supertroll, sounds like a great time. Kayaking really gives a new perspective for sure.”