TRADERS HILL
Although the weather reports were not that great (cold weather and possibly rain with a front moving in) your intrepid fellow paddlers showed up at a spot called Traders Hill near Folkston Georgia. Believe me when I say it was cold late in the afternoon. In the middle of this night I had my doubts of any pleasant trip. How wrong I was.
Our trips, as far as I am concerned starts off with introductions and laughing and finishes with hugs and laughing. Our trips are more beneficial than appointments with your local physician. We sat around a blazing fire until time to retire, generally around ten. The drink of choice with us is rum and coke although it is possible to find just about anything you might desire.
My partners on this trip was my pal Ray and Harry Jr. and his buddy Gary Dean. It was especially pleasant to have my son who is recently retired go with his old Dad. Also on the trip: Chuck, Joe Fennell and his friend Larry, Mac McCullough and the big Bear. Thank goodness for the Bear as later developments will explain.
1st Day: Breakfast at the local restaurant. Very good. We then went shopping at the local grocery. Steaks, pork, kielbasa, hot dogs, potatoes, regular and sweet, beans and all the accoutrements. I am sure that we could have fed another five guys or maybe I am just not a big eater. Suffice it to say we had plenty.
After about a ten minute ride we were at the outfitters. Steve who runs the place is a great guy, very accommodating. I have my own trailer that can carry four canoes and all the necessary equipment. He supplies a driver for me which eliminates unpacking and packing twice.
After going up stream for about thirty five miles it is time to unload. The real journey is about to start. This is the time I like.
After paddling for about sixty years I still look forward to shoving off. I like to think of it as an adventure. Each time something different.
After each storm the river takes on a new appearance. The fall colors were still showing on this trip. Reds, browns, orange and green. However we knew it was winter when flocks of robins begin showing up on their way to South America. Also on the river were many ducks. The gators are long ago holed up under the banks.
We paddled from noon hour until about two or two thirty and begin looking for a place to put up seven tents. The river really has many places to camp.
Paddling for two hours and our days quota was in. Set up tents, build fire and ready the Commodores chair and all is ready for snacks and drinks. After a dinner of steak and potatoes its time to get around the fire and talk the talk. To me it is very interesting because of the diverse backgrounds of all the fellows. We had a heavy equipment operator, 2 carpenters, an automobile mechanic, a sheriff, a power and light engineer, boat builder, Navy career man and a lawyer.
It is amazing to me with this diversity we all love the outdoors. Needless to say it is permissible to stretch the truth a bit although I am sure no one did.
Around ten the lights went out except for the full moon and on to the sleeping bag and tent. Day two, three and four later.
Although the weather reports were not that great (cold weather and possibly rain with a front moving in) your intrepid fellow paddlers showed up at a spot called Traders Hill near Folkston Georgia. Believe me when I say it was cold late in the afternoon. In the middle of this night I had my doubts of any pleasant trip. How wrong I was.
Our trips, as far as I am concerned starts off with introductions and laughing and finishes with hugs and laughing. Our trips are more beneficial than appointments with your local physician. We sat around a blazing fire until time to retire, generally around ten. The drink of choice with us is rum and coke although it is possible to find just about anything you might desire.
My partners on this trip was my pal Ray and Harry Jr. and his buddy Gary Dean. It was especially pleasant to have my son who is recently retired go with his old Dad. Also on the trip: Chuck, Joe Fennell and his friend Larry, Mac McCullough and the big Bear. Thank goodness for the Bear as later developments will explain.
1st Day: Breakfast at the local restaurant. Very good. We then went shopping at the local grocery. Steaks, pork, kielbasa, hot dogs, potatoes, regular and sweet, beans and all the accoutrements. I am sure that we could have fed another five guys or maybe I am just not a big eater. Suffice it to say we had plenty.
After about a ten minute ride we were at the outfitters. Steve who runs the place is a great guy, very accommodating. I have my own trailer that can carry four canoes and all the necessary equipment. He supplies a driver for me which eliminates unpacking and packing twice.
After going up stream for about thirty five miles it is time to unload. The real journey is about to start. This is the time I like.
After paddling for about sixty years I still look forward to shoving off. I like to think of it as an adventure. Each time something different.
After each storm the river takes on a new appearance. The fall colors were still showing on this trip. Reds, browns, orange and green. However we knew it was winter when flocks of robins begin showing up on their way to South America. Also on the river were many ducks. The gators are long ago holed up under the banks.
We paddled from noon hour until about two or two thirty and begin looking for a place to put up seven tents. The river really has many places to camp.
Paddling for two hours and our days quota was in. Set up tents, build fire and ready the Commodores chair and all is ready for snacks and drinks. After a dinner of steak and potatoes its time to get around the fire and talk the talk. To me it is very interesting because of the diverse backgrounds of all the fellows. We had a heavy equipment operator, 2 carpenters, an automobile mechanic, a sheriff, a power and light engineer, boat builder, Navy career man and a lawyer.
It is amazing to me with this diversity we all love the outdoors. Needless to say it is permissible to stretch the truth a bit although I am sure no one did.
Around ten the lights went out except for the full moon and on to the sleeping bag and tent. Day two, three and four later.