I am going on an Adventure

Still learning how to use this video editor, Power Direct, that aside , this video is not sped up, I am just a fast paddler, one reason you see me paddling crossovers and whitewater boats with a group, as the boat in this class tend to be alot slower, so I do not out distance the group, paddling is alot like when I was in service rucking 12 or more miles with 80lbs on my back, after a few miles, it becomes a rhythm, that eats away at the miles and distance. I have been paddling since 1973 off and on and now that my service k9 loves coming with it is that much better.

Deep River park (camel back bridge)3485 R Jordan Rd Bear Creek bring lunch probably be a 3 hour paddle about 6 miles flat water mostly one small rapid class one nice access points. There was 8 paddlers from Crossed Paddles and Lumber River Canoe Club. I was lasted one there at 0958 hrs, meeting time was 1000hrs, it was raining so we gathered under the bridge and talked about kayaks and kayaking and the different boats we had there. I took my Zet Director which is a WW boat, I had not paddled it in many months and wanted to get some seat time to get the fell of the boat and it being a WW boat a good workout. Was a very nice paddle and the paddles, class 1 are always welcomed to break up the normal flow. Wildlife, lots of tracks of raccoons that had been eating fresh water clams, deer tracks and I am not sure some river other also, you can spot their burrows/dens on the banks, 2 different type of vultures, a few turtles doing their thing and something I had not seen before, Black Scoter Melanitta nigra, I had to check NC wildlife to make sure I had seen correct duck. Paddlers Steve, Pam, Crystal, Scott, Donna, Reacie, Rebekah, Rob Special Thank you to Steve for inviting me and being the host and Special thank you to Crystal for the shuttle of the gang USGS Deep River at Moncure, NC 2.1ft @ 500 cfs Put-in info is stated above

Greeting All, Well We all met up around 0930ish Hr, everyone was busy unloading boats and gear, some decided to move their boats to the others side of the put-in because it was slick, Omer, Van, Kim and Rhoda played guard duty while the rest shuttle to take-out, and safety brief was given. Of note, when a trip is planned, the planner normally will post their cell number, please put that number in your phone, as this will also be you contact for emergency while in the water. You may have weak cell status, but a text message usually can get through, it is a short burst. I really do not know what time we launched at, but I would say, 1015, the area is really very beautiful, but not at much as it was last time, I think the rain and cold had knocked down alot of the flowers and such, but the river was moving and very brisk. we really did not encounter any real down fall, once we got pass Titan Rd., things got interesting, we encounter 2 downfalls that could be alittle tricky with the amount of push we had, actually the areas were we could pass through, was well marked by rapids. We took a lunch break about the 4th mile mark which was around noon, with the water moving we covered alot of distance in just an 1 hr.. Only thing about lunch was no fire, which I was hoping to have, but everything was wet and no one brought any quick-lite logs. The second part of the journey was marked with 2 areas that was litter, was sad to see, since most of the trip was pretty much litter free, we hit alot of very small class 1 rapids, and 1 class 2 rapid, which all those without a skirt on, got alittle wet from the drop and wave greeting them, there was some surfing of waves and such also during the trip. so it seemed all was having fun time, I spent most of the paddle in the back with the CaBoose Sisters, which were well versed in the art of , " Shenanigans and Malarkey ", really had to paddle when laugh very hard. When we came to the confluence of the Upper Little and Cape Fear, Andy found a basketball, refereed as Mr Wilson, stuck, we decided to free him and let him continue his journey. The rest of the trip was small rapids and Andy mentioned that we was at take-out at 1300hrs, this was a 7.7 mile trip according to Gene's GPS tracker. this also included our lunch break. We did do some scrapping on bottoms at this level the river , about 6 in of height would have been the perfect level, while it was passable at the levels listed below, I would not suggest any lower, as a few people got broached. This was entertaining for the rest of us , 😉. The canoe that was stuck in the bank, could be easily moved, I was able to from my boat with one hand lift it, so those that have the owners contact, should let them know, I wanted to, up right it, but than thought better, because it could end up in an unknown location and even down the Cape Fear. Of future Reference Lower Little River USGS was at put-in time 7.4ft Cape Fear River Lillington USGS was at 2.37 ft Distance 7.7 miles Paddlers: Scott , Gene, Van, Rhonda, Omer, Garrett, Kim, Crystal, Andy many pictures were taken, from what I have seen they do capture the beauty and spirit of the area and paddlers, video will be upload as soon as I get a chance, it will feature Irish music since the 17th was St Patrick's Day. Special Mention: Andy, again was the shuttle, please thank him, as he has carried a majority of the load, and to Gene, who was also shuttled kayaks and paddlers and chain saw. And to Janet, which was a wealth of information for me about this area. This was Rhonda's first paddle with me, she is a add benefit to LRCC, and is trained in many ACA river safety courses I would like to thank everyone that came on this exploratory paddle, is has been both a physical and emotional blessing for me, and the " Shenanigans and Malarkey " was most welcome. May God Bless you , and yours for all your days

Five of us decided to paddle the above-referenced river, since none of us other than Omer had. I must say that I was pleasantly surprised with the overall experience. We encountered downfall primarily from timber being clear cut on adjacent property during the first mile or so. In places the timber was cut next to the river without any buffer, resulting in some trees falling in the river. There we were able to get through without portaging. Further, downstream there was occasional downfall, requiring some of the group to portage one or two times. Overall, I didn't think the downfall was significant. In my opinion the river is scenic and clean, absent of any development other than an occasional house or barn. This is section 2 and part of section 3 in Paul Ferguson's book. There is good parking at the put in (35.33515,-78.78402) but maybe 50 yards to carry your boat to the river. There is a nice access at the bridge on Ross Road (35.33393,-78.74699). The access at the Titan Roberts bridge (35.32659,-78.72379) is a different story. There we took out just downstream of the bridge, river right, then up the bank, along the guardrails to our vehicles, which had been parked in the edged of a cleared farm field and then move to the end of the guardrail because of the narrow shoulder of the road and the guardrails. Downstream from the Titan Roberts bridge the river flows into the Cape Fear River, about one mile from the take-out at the Erwin Park. There isn't a water gauge on this river. I considered the gauge on the Lower Little River at Manchester. which showed earlier that morning 8.21 feet/384 cfs. On our trip, the water level was good, with good current in places, but easily handled. From the Highway 401 bridge to the Ross Road bridge the distance was approximately 4.6 miles and from there to the Titan Roberts bridge about 2.7 miles for a total of 7.3 miles. This paddle wasn't posted since we hadn't paddled this section and didn't know what to expect. Now we do, so hopefully we will have some more opportunities. The weather was cool or to some maybe cold (about 32) and windy when we put-in, but it was sunny and warmed nicely probably to the upper 50s. Paddlers were: Omer Register, Andy , Scott , Gene and Van . Thanks to Gene for clearing the way with his saw, to Andy for the shuttle/pictures all for pitching in and making this a good paddle.

7.4 miles, plan to shuttle at 9:30 AM. In Paul Ferguson's book, this is part of section 2 and all of section 3. The GPS coordinates for the put-in are 34.83396,-79.35221, which is just off Riverton Road at the old JP Stevens water intake plant. The current water level is 8.57 feet/317 cfs, which is above the estimated minimum of 7.4 feet/200 cfs. This section was cleared within the past year or so by Mitch and crew, but as you know, there could be some downfall. The weather forecast is for partly sunny skies with a high in the upper 50s

Great relaxing short run with the gang. I was trying out a new/old action Camera Akaso Brave 6, easy to use, but not the quality I was seeking. Also the camera did not right the images ;(

If you tip over, let the boat go, it can do you more harm than go, be an aggressive swimmer, seek a safe pass, others will get your gear. After all, it is just a boat, not worth human life.

This was interesting day, I was the middle sweep on this trip, I had 2 kayakers that are non-swimmer, they decided to remove their vest, with me not knowing, within 5 mins, both had tipped over, I rescued one, who was panic stricken and about to tip me over, I firmly assured her, if he did not calm down, she would tip me over, taking away her only hope of rescue, and the other kayaker was able to get to a tree and hold until I could get to them. 2 things to remember, it take 3 to rescue, the person in water and 2 to guide them through it. And your safety comes first, otherwise you will have 2 drowned persons, the person that tipped over first and the person that went to rescue them and was pulled under.

What was we thinking, we were not so we drove on

This Area run through Ft. Bragg, actually Camp Mckall, Special Operations Training Center, this [addle for me is a trip down memory lane, time I spent there with my father, who was an instructor.

Just chilling out on a wonderful day on water

Not my thing, lakes, but better than sitting at home

a year of downfall fun

nice relaxing paddle with the gang

ELF, the water was so low I ended up dragging the boat 100 yds

Picked up an Perception Pescador , got it on a real deal, I really did not want to get it, but my girlfriend at the time was pushing me to get it, It handled like a pig on the water and end up selling it 3 months later for pretty much what I bought it for.

Running the Upper Haw with Mike and Adam, about a mile in the paddle, Adam's boat started leaking, the crack got longer and longer, cause his boat to over turn alot.

The Gang decided to do a 4.5 to 5ft run on the Middle Haw River, 1759cfs., which can be alittle spicy, I was running my Fluid Buddy SOT, makes a great rescue boat, easy in and out and can pull up a swimmer or even another kayak so you can drain it

Testing out the Fluid Buddy kayak with Omer and Van on the Cape Fear River, interesting SOT from South Africa, ended being a really fun multi water kayak, from flat water to class 3. Taught many a beginner on it, I had a kayaker from Team River Runner, take it on the NOC.

Kayaking with my 2 buddies, they paddle about 98% of the time with me

I took my long time friend and her children to White Water Training Center out of Charlotte, NC , we had a great time, little did I know, it would be the last time I would see 1 of her children, whose life was taken away from her. She will be forever in my heart and mind, Ashley Nicole Fite, (1998 - 2016)

Sep 12, 2015 This is a short video of kayaking the Cape Fear River, some rapids class 2, alot of submerged rocks, I found one you will see near the end, I am paddling upside down ;)

LRCC does new adventure, in the Big Swamp, channels were cut for logging, Over a little more than half a century, roughly from 1870 to 1940s.