The Bridges of Montgomery County

No, this is not love story, far from it. I have been wanting to kayak from Port Royal back to Clarksville for the longest time. I picked the two hottest days of the year so far to do it.

It's one of those things that Stacy has labeled me as crazy, I always deny it, but after doing this, I guess she was right. (but I did it anyway, and lived)

It must have been snake week on the river, I must have smacked at least a dozen snakes or so over these two days with my paddle.

My kayak, 8 1/2 foot Otter Sport, loaded.

Tent, microfiber sleeping bag, ground sleeping pad, pillow, two dura flame logs for overnight, three fishing poles, tackle and live bait (yes, live). 3 gallons of water, first aid kit, 9 mm automatic with extra rounds, 3 knives, flare gun and flares, slingshot with steel balls, crossbow with bolts. GPS, stove, food and goodies. 2 pairs of paddle gloves, dry bag with a change of clothes, dry boxes with matches, notepad, pen and some nice Cubans. ipod with music for cruising the river and TV shows for the campsite, "The Shield" on FX is awesome. Cell phone, digital camera, an emergency radio that works on both batteries and by cranking, plus extra batteries for all. Although I was kicked out of the Boy Scouts, I am always prepared.

First bridge, Red River, Port Royal, notice whats left of the covered bridge left center, and whats left of the support in the middle.GPS and Watch to coordinate navigation.
The slight ripple you see ahead of me are underwater trees that turned me sideways and almost sucked me under, looks innocent, watch out.

Didn't expect to see cows in the river, what is not pictured are two "large" women in bikinis who thought they were someplace safe where no one would see them. I wish I had not. Some people just don't need to be in bikinis. That means you Ms. Golden Corral frequent flier.

I-24 West Bound, between Exit 11 and 8.

I-24 East Bound between exit 8 and 11.

Camp site. Time to light a fire and have dinner, and do some fishing. I caught several catfish and one bass. Then it was time to turn in and watch some TV.

Starry, starry night. A beautiful night, clear, birds chirping, just wished it was not so humid. So at bedtime, one hand on the 9 mm automatic, one eye open. Not afraid of snakes, spiders, bugs or what Mandy refers to a "river people" unless I hear banjo music. But I am leery of packs of hungry wild dogs.

Civitan bridge Warfield Blvd just before Madison extension.

Highway 79, C.J. Corman railroad trestle and Kraft St Bridge, St. Bethlehem.

Whats left of Clarksville's first marina, behind the tattoo shop on the left, Kraft Street. This was the gas pumps, slowly over the past 20 years the marina has been disassembled. There used to be wet slips, now just the pumping barge remains.

New Providence Blvd, next to Two Rivers Mall. Almost to McGregor Park and getting picked up.

According to an updated topographic map, the trip should have been 20 river miles, so I decided to do 10 miles on Sunday afternoon and 10 miles with some fishing on Monday. After the ten miles on Sunday, it was clear that it was going to be more than 10 miles to finish. My GPS told me I had traveled 10 miles, but 20 to finish! So I was up early and set out.

Back, arms and shoulders burning, I called Stacy to pick me up at noon on Monday. I covered the remaining 20 miles at a good pace. The hardest part of the trip, when I entered the Cumberland River from the Red and was met with high winds in my face and having to paddle upstream to McGregor Park.

Thanks to a great friend and neighbor, Bonnie for the Rice Krispy treats and chocolate chip cookies, they helped with the energy level I really needed, when I needed it.

Above all , I give my thanks to The Lord my God who gives me the ability to do the things I do.

Dehydrated, tired, a little sunburned, hungry, covered in sunscreen and sweat and just plain wore out, my lovely bride of over 30 years shows up with a HUGE glass of ice water and a greeting,

"You smell.'

I love this woman!