Fast times on the Toccoa

Gabby wanted to go canoeing today. Sounded like a great idea for winding down from a week of school for her and church for me. Of course, by the time we gathered all the gear, loaded the canoe, etc. etc. it was 6 pm by the time we got to the foot of the dam.

If you know the Toccoa river flowing north from Blue Ridge Dam, the next practicable takeout point is at Curtis Switch bridge, which is where we'd stashed the ugly yaller truck. We wondered if we could get downstream the 5 or 6 or 7 miles to the takeout before dark...don't want to be on even a class II river after dark, folks.

But I'd checked the TVA website, and as expected they were generating from 4 to 7 PM, so the river was in full spate. We decided to go ahead. It had been a long time since we'd canoed, and really was the first time we had gone out without another person or couple in another canoe with us. But I figured we both had life jackets, we both know a moderate amount about handling the canoe, and we're both good swimmers.

First obstacle was going under 515 bridge. Not really a problem, but the turbulence caused downstream by the bridge pilings caused us to rock a little. Then we tried to pick out the place where we tried to help Chris and DeGina Scoggins rescue the lady several months ago on our last trip. Several tree branches projected down into or near the water, but we think we finally spotted "the one." A quarter-mile or so later, we definitely spotted the place where we beached last time and I returned across the fields to help Chris upstream. (Eventually he had to get her to a hospital, and her husband caused DeGina's canoe to upset against the bridge pilings of the railroad trestle--a really close call for her, since she was trapped under the canoe for awhile.)

This time we marvelled at the swifness of the current. Passed a lot of friendly folks doing downstream--it was the kind of afternoon you just wanted to be outside. Not too hot, not too cool, but with the heat of the day ravelling off into a cool evening that promised, "Fall's coming...soon you'll need a blanket."

A beautiful, large bird kept pace with us downstream. Some kind of blue/gray bird with an s-curve neck and sharp bill. Poor thing, every time it would roost, we'd come along and accidentally spook it, and it would go further downstream. Or maybe it was playing tag with us. Also saw some kingfishers, which are wonderful to watch. Despite the current, we saw one or two fish jump. Either they were grabbing dinner from the air, or were trying to keep from BEING dinner.

Debbie (that's my Gabby, in case you haven't read my profile) kept switching sides with her paddle. That's OK, since she's dealing with a sore shoulder. Since I'm heavier, and usually sit in the back of the canoe, my strokes tend to overpower hers anyway. It's just that when I'm in the middle of a stroke on one side, and she suddenly switches to the same side and strokes, we get a big turn and sometimes lean a little more than I'd like. Canoes are tippy things!

Last time we got out at Curtis Switch bridge, we had made it all the way downstream to the takeout point, headed in just right, and then turned over as soon as Debbie stepped out of the canoe! This time a tree was fetched up against the far right side of the bridge (Debbie says it was there before, but I don't remember it.) So we had to go through the second opening between pilings, then try to get over to the takeout. The current was just too quick for us, and swept us right by. Fortunately, I was able to keep us from going broadside to the current.

We went right through the branches of a black cherry tree that hung over the water. Debbie lost her paddle, and I realized we were headed to the far right of the OLD Curtis Switch bridge. This was not good! A lot of snags are piled up there, and I was afraid we'd capsize and be trapped by the current. Somehow I managed to snag her paddle, pitch it along the bottom of the boat to her, and steer us toward a small opening. Now that I remember, that may have been the moment we went through the black cherry tree! Somehow we went between two snags and made it to clear water.

"What'll we do?" Debbie asked as we headed downstream toward McCaysville. I tried to head us back upstream, but even with both of us paddling hard, we could barely stay even with the current.

"Let's just go downstream and look for a place to get out," I said. "I can walk back up and get the truck." We spotted a place where grass was growing right down into the current at the foot of a bluff, and managed to run ashore. Somehow this time I managed to work my way up the canoe and got ashore with only wetting my feet! Debbie could have stepped out on dry ground, but stepped in anyway--her feet had been wet from getting in the canoe earlier!

Our adventure wasn't yet over. Some nice folks offered to take us to the truck, but it wasn't far, so we walked. Guess what we found? Old Unfaithful, our junky yellow Ford, wouldn't crank! I had to walk back to the house and beg to be jumped off.

The lady graciously helped us. While we were loading, Debbie began talking with a former student of our daughter-in-law Tasha (Hi, kiddo! Her name was Cheyenne) We kept the truck running the whole time we loaded, then retreived the van from the putin point near the dam. Altogether a great trip, even if my back's sore near my shoulder blades.

Oh, and the title of this post? We made it from the dam to Curtis Switch takeout in an hour and a quarter. So we were going downstream faster than a brisk walk!