February 6, 1999

Trash Day

Trip #6

Map

It must have been 7:30 or so when I got to Belle Haven Marina. This is the first time I've launched from this location. I parked my truck near the ramp and walked down to the water to check out the put in. On the way back to my truck an elderly man showed up and I started to ask him where I needed to pay my launch fee, but he spoke first telling me it was $3. We both agreed it was supposed to be a nice day, with only the threat of an afternoon shower. The old fella mentioned that "Eric" had already left with his rowing shell for his row down to Mt Vernon and back. I got the impression the guy expected all of us human powered boaters to know one another.

The goal of today's paddle is to test out some new foam outfitting I've taped inside my cockpit. Last weekend left the back of my legs sore. After playing around at home I was able to add some support to my lower thighs and come up with a comfortable fit.

After unloading the truck and carrying everything to the water, the last thing I do is take out a rain coat from my dry bag and slip it into the cockpit. After launching I notice no wind but small waves coming out of the southeast. The wind is supposed to be out of the southwest today changing to westerly later in the afternoon. I decide to ferry across the river to Rosier Bluff.

The boat feels great! My legs are able to brace against the foam easily and I feel like part of the boat with just the slightest tightening of my legs.

I was about to learn something new. I found as I was crossing the small waves at a little less than a 45 degree angle, that I made good time if I paddled just as the wave passed the cockpit and then waited for the next one to paddle on the other side. The wave would lift me slightly, and when timed just right with the paddle stroke, I got an extra boost down hill.

A half-hour into the paddle and my butt hurts. It's a sharp pain and I wonder if my new foam setup is causing it.

At Rosier Bluff I see where a rectangle section of land had broken loose and all the trees and plants in the section had slid down the face of the bluff. Most of the trees remained upright despite sliding about 30 feet down the side of a hill. This section of the river is Ft Foote Park, and as I paddle further downstream I notice Ft Foote road up above. Below the road, scattered down the side of the hill, are tires, a washing machine, a water heater, sink, and many other things that don't naturally grow along the bank.

It's beginning to rain! It isn't supposed to rain till this afternoon. Time to stop and pop the spray skirt long enough to retrieve my raincoat. I know it seems silly to have all this paddling gear on and still carry a raincoat, but it is the only thing I have with a hood, and this helps keep the rain off my face.

The pain is gone from my butt now, but my thighs no longer feel as comfortable as when I started out. Instead of pressing hard against the foot pegs like last week, I notice I tend to press hard with my thighs against the foam.

Down by Indian Queen Bluff, a pair of Bald eagles sitting high in a tree along the bank were kind enough to let me paddle by without flying off. My encounters with the Bald eagle in the past never allowed me to get so close. It is at this point I remember I forgot the camera. What good is a checklist if you can't remember to use it?

I turn left into Broad Creek. Wide and shallow, I work my way into the creek looking at the houses. Floating loose is one of those white sponsoon shaped boat bumpers so I lash it to the rear deck. When the water gets too shallow I head back out into the river and continue downstream.

This section of the river is called Riverview, and has some beautiful homes. Big bay windows seem to be the construction theme. Down river I see two large boats sitting **on top** of a dock. This I had to see a little closer. As I approached from the North I was perplexed as to how these boats had been lifted up on the dock. But as I passed by I now see the boats are sitting on a cradle that can be lowered into the water. Not so perplexing after all.

The wind has picked up a little and is now out of the Southwest. Time to ferry back across river and head back to the launch site. More nice houses on the west side of the river giving way to what I think is referred to as tidal flats. Being a Florida boy it looks like swampland to me. I take some time to explore down inside this swamp and quickly loose sight of all the houses. Ducks and geese are heavy in this secluded area. There is a definite current flowing North through here and the water is only about one foot deep. The uninhabited areas of the river I have noticed are the trashiest. Beer bottles, soda cans, plastic bottles, all manners of floatable trash. I think if I were to build a floating dock I could just boat around and collect enough of those large floats and drums that have come loose from other docks and not have to buy any.

I work in and out of the flats slowly making my way north and finally decide to stop for lunch just above Hog Island. Nothing but trees and trash all around as I eat my lunch. States should start an adopt a waterway campaign to complement their adopt a highway programs. The rain has stopped so I take off my raincoat and stow it below deck. Out in the main channel a boat has stopped and I see a man franticly searching for something. Then he starts bailing water out like crazy. I wonder if putting in the drain plug is on his checklist.

After lunch I paddle the last mile and a half back to the launch site. The wind has died and the water has turned to glass. Across the river is a sailboat but it doesn't appear to be making any progress.

I'll need to paddle with my current foam outfitting again before I make up my mind to change it or not. My legs aren't sore at least. A nine-mile paddle today and I again struggle to get out of the boat gracefully. At least no one is watching this time.