Category: Paddling

Why is it some Indian maiden is always committing suicide for a lost love?  The Appalachian Mountains are littered with the names of these unfortunate young women – Evaleka, Cateechee, Issaqueena, and Jocassee among them – or named for the event itself – Jump-Off Rock in Hendersonville and Blowing Rock as examples.  This weekend Houston … Continue reading Paddling Jocassee

I have a consistent dream.  In this dream, I arrive at a small town somewhere in the mountains of North Carolina.  A beautiful whitewater river flows next to the town, and artisan shops line the streets.  As this dream has repeated, I have added more and more detail to the town.  The main highway curves … Continue reading In search of a lake

The horizon is suddenly much closer, and the sound of rushing water is upon you. As you approach the entrance, you look for the tongues – the flat patches that indicate where the rocks aren’t. You pull hard on the paddle, trying to stay on the line you’ve chosen and not wind up on the … Continue reading Paddling in Tongues

No, I’m not talking about a porno film.  Paul W and I decided to paddle a section of the French Broad River today. I was tired of the crowds of "float bubbas" with their inner tubes on the Green River, so another venue was in order.  Specifically, I was looking for the following: 1. a … Continue reading Paddling the French Broad

One turbine running at 100% – ideal conditions for a run down the Green. Unfortunately, hundreds of others, mainly on inner tubes, also thought so. Despite the crowds, Bob and I still had a good run. Dodging the float bubbas was not unlike my daily commute on I-85. With the fast river conditions, crowds, and … Continue reading Take me to the river…

After running the river Saturday, I decided to check out the American Whitewater site. They have made a major overhaul of the website, with an expanded river guide with photos and video clips. It’s now an excellent resource. Continue reading American Whitewater

Two posts in one day. Oh boy. Bob and I got to our meeting spot at the take out on the Tyger River, only to find “No Tresspassing” signs everywhere. I can understand trying to keep the random idiots off your land who want to trash the place, but I wish they could differentiate between … Continue reading Enoree River Paddle