Lake Time

 

          Lake Jocassee doing summertime, ninety-five degrees in the sunshine with a little slight breeze swimming across the clear blue water. A grand day for paddling! We, W and I backed down the boat ramp about 10:30 am and almost backed right onto a kayak resting and waiting to be set afloat. The pilot of said kayak was not a happy person when he saw how close I had come to his personal watercraft. No blows were exchanged and we parted on civil terms. Later during our canoeing adventure we crossed paths and he apologized if he came across as being angry and rude. So we were all good and I can sleep easy tonight. I have never seen as many kayaks, SUP"s, and canoes on this lake as we saw today. There was even a group of those SUP's with motors on them and the board was a couple of feet above the water. They moved fast and looked like a lot of fun. The water level was a foot below full pond, which means that there is very little beach area. If the water level is five feet low or lower it is much easier to pull up on the sandy shore and get out to stretch. 

We paddled along the shore line when we left the remote boat ramp. Our general direction was toward Fishers Knob, but it was not our goal. We were just an old man and a young boy enjoying us some lake time. Staying close to the waters edge took us in and out of the numerous coves. We sought out the overhanging limbs and shady areas which allowed us to find relief from the hot sun. After an hour our butts were tired and cracked and stiff from sitting with bended knee and steady placing the paddle in the water. Former small available sandy locales were all under water. My not so nimble body needs a close lake bottom to step onto when exiting the canoe. We finally found a bushy place at the back of a cove and we could steady the bow enough for W to hop out and stabilize the canoe for me to struggle out and stand in the water. I'd been sitting over an hour and I was stiff. The cove bottom was sloped enough for us to walk to deeper water and splash and duck under the water to cool off. Not being very hungry we ate snack stuff and took our lunch back home with us. 

Our return paddle was as close to a bee line as we could get and therefore much faster. When we landed at the boat ramp a person said, "You just beat the storm". I had no idea what he was talking about until I turned around, the sky was black behind us and slowly moving toward us, we quickly loaded the truck and got off the ramp, freeing it up for others. We left the Park and didn't get rained on till we were cruising down the highway. Drove into three different heavy showers. No trouble driving home, no problem backing down the driveway and no difficulties unloading the canoe and gear. 

Lazy on the Lake

Turtle

Not camping with a Timber Rattlesnake on Lake Jocassee!

Timber Rattlesnake!

          What a beautiful day to paddle north - on the wonderful Lake Jocassee. Nathan, my fourteen year old great-nephew and I have all afternoon and evening to do just that, so we do! The weather is mild and a light breeze is flowing across the water, excellent canoeing conditions. We are headed to the small camp site on the right side of the lake.This is a few hundred yards before the lake ends and the Toxaway River roars into the lake rushing around and over the rocky barrier which prevents canoes, kayaks, and boats from going any further upstream. A  suspension bridge crosses over the river and  allows the Foothills trail traffic to safely pass over. A smaller suspension bridge crosses over Toxaway Creek, both bridges bounce and sway when fourteen year old boys cross, as only they can! There is an official camp ground established next to Toxaway Creek and the lake, it hides under a shelter of tall trees. Tables have been set up and fire rings are provided. We hoped to sleep under the safety of the extremely thin rainfly and mesh covering of our individual tents on down the trail to the previously mentioned site, but someone else was setting up camp as we glided by.

First choice view!

          There is no place to tie off your canoe and easily unload all the "STUFF" needed to rough it in the wilds on the shore of Lake Jocassee, but somehow we managed. I had my sweet little heart all set on camping by the lake with a finished view of the day. With that thought in mind Nathan and I hiked over to our first choice just to see what was what, and we found the camp site all set up but no one home. So, we headed back and on the way back checked out another site near the lake but the view is not so good. I walked through this site and standing looking through the trees toward the lake ----- HOLD THAT THOUGHT ---


             


          So there I stand, staring at snake and snake is staring at me. Neither Nathan nor I have a camera with us, he runs to the stuff and gets both our cameras. I'm staying with snake so he doesn't crawl away - really what would I do if snake started crawling away? reach out and touch it! shivers just thinking about touching it! Nathan is back! He hands me my camera, but the snake has already turned his head away from us, what should I do?

Timber Rattlesnake

           Hey! Nathan get me a long stick and I'll poke it, when it turns around I'll get it's picture. If there is a hornet's nest close by I'll hit it too!   SO THAT'S WHAT I DO !!!


                                    Give me a few seconds to get the camera pointed correctly then

                                                                           ENJOY

          https://plus.google.com/105973128876222587821/posts/dursruo2HbJ

       

          In order to see my video of this beautiful snake you will need to highlight the above address and right click, then go down to Open URL and click on it. The video will show up and you can click on it to see what happens!  If that doesn't work for you just type in the address and hopefully that will work.


          So two things definitely not on my bucket list, getting snake bit and getting shot. I think either one would really hurt and cause confusion in my life. I missed a good opportunity to get bit and I am so thankful! God was good to me!

          Because of the snake being at the camp site we quickly decided to set up at the main camping area and enjoy our evening. Built a small fire and roasted some hot dogs, best hot dogs ever! Been a long time since I had had hot dogs cooked over an open fire. Rain started about eight-thirty and we scampered into the tents and stayed until morning light. Slowly paddled back to the boat ramp, no hurry, Nathan fished, no bites, relaxing day spent on a clam lake.

BEST DAY EVER!

          A couple loons were on the lake, some fish jumped, we saw huge fish swimming under us, but nothing was more exciting than the rattlesnake. In the past I have seen bear on two different occasions and seen a few deer, a couple of otter followed me a short ways one day and a family of wood ducks scurried ahead of the canoe early one spring morning. Always good to be on the lake!

          More pictures of Mr. Timber Rattlesnake and then I close.
       

Pretty coloring.

Thirteen rattles?

                 In the woods or on the water,


                 Turtle

     

                     As you can I was able to post just the snake video, will be easier for all to see!

                      This computer stuff hurts my brain!!

Lake Jocassee

The Lake

She is quiet this morning.  

No breeze sighing through the trees

No breeze moving the leaves

No breeze stirring the shore

The water lays flat

 The water stands still

The water stays motionless

The sky is cloudy, overcast

The sky hangs low, close

The sky encourages rest, peace

She is relaxing to the soul. 

                                                                         



           toby perry

            3 - 11 - 15                                                                        


                                                                                   

                                                                 

GRACIE MAY 27, 2000 --- JULY 09, 2014

Gracie - Friend

          I had an early morning appointment with the local Vet to have Gracie put to sleep. I had to carry her to my small SUV and gently laid her in the back and then arrange her legs so she looked comfortable to me before we made the ten minute trip down the road. We arrived at 7:40 am and I carried Gracie into the waiting room. They were waiting for me and quickly lead us to a room where I carefully laid Gracie on a cloth covered table. The vet and his helper came in and explained what was going to happen. I could not respond so I just put my finger up to my lips and did the hush sound, he understood and they left to get the stuff. They returned and gave the first injection which made her very sleepy and comfortable so the second injection would not be painful. Once again they left the room and I was able to rest my forehead on her forehead while I continued to rub her ears and I could feel her relax as the pain and tension went away. At that point her heart was still beating but she was gone. The vet returned with his helper and told me I was welcome to stay or some people chose to leave, I stayed and petted and loved my girl one last time as she slipped away out of this life. The kind gentle vet said stay as long as you like and he and his helper left us alone. I petted that fur which I had watched turn from the yellow of a young Yellow Lab to the white of an old fourteen year old Yellow Lab and then I kissed the white muzzle and hugged my friend before walking out of the room.

          I'll retrieve her ashes in a few days and I plan to scatter them a few at a time at our familiar camping spots along the Foothills Trail and the shore of Lake Jocassee.




          Goodbye Gracie - You are still loved!



          Turtle





















 

Campin' n Loafin' on the Lake 3 Lake Jocassee

Toxaway River

                It was such a boring trip from the boat ramp to the Toxaway River that I'm not even going to tell you about it!

          Paddle two or three strokes on the left side, two or three strokes on the right side.

          Stop.

          Get out.

          Stretch.

          Yawn.

          Scratch.

          Sit.

          Adjust!

          Paddle on left.

          Paddle on right.

          Repeat!

          Repeat!

          Repeat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

          Gracie sleeping in the bow and my butt sleeping in the stern.

          Creating a small wake with my bow, cursing the big waves from the boats!

           I had fiddle farted around the house all morning and now was racing the setting sun! The sun had a long way to go, but so did I. It's ten miles give or take a paddle stroke to the Toxaway River from the boat ramp. Plenty of time to arrive and get camp set up before dark, just have to keep moving and have short rest stops. Not my style of flat water canoeing! Normally do a little swimming and take cat naps while sitting on the shore, watching the sun slowly creep across the Carolina blue sky. Today I'm moving as if I have a goal in mind, I do, don't get caught on the lake after dark. Now don't misunderstand me, I love to paddle after dark under the full moon and clear night sky, but not when I have to scramble up a bank side with my camping gear.    [  Just a side note - my iTunes playlist has been hijacked!!  I listen to Gospel bluegrass, bluegrass and banjo picking as I write, but other types of music keep popping up. Oh, well! Who knows what I might write under the sounds of this modern Gospel music? Where has it come from? I'm not sure.   ]  

          Gracie and I have arrived and the sun is still high above the mountain top. We have no beach to run aground on so I step out in about eight inches of water and tie the canoe to one of the many small trees growing in the lake bottom. Rain water has hollowed out a trail from the lake to the Foothills Trail and I'm able to walk up this so-so steep path to the Trail and then about fifteen or twenty feet over to the campsite. This is an official Foothills Trail campsite with a picnic table and fire ring.  Gracie has her nose working and is wandering all over the site, I'm making three trips to remove the gear from the canoe to the campsite. The two man tent I have used for the past twelve years is now minus a rainfly but the rest of it is still good to go, mesh is good - no holes - bottom is good - no snakes can slither in while I sleep! [  GIVES ME THE WILLIES TO THINK ABOUT IT  ]   Not supposed to rain but I have a tarp to throw over the tent if it does. We talked this over, Gracie and I, the two man tent was brought instead of the newer one man tent so Gracie could sleep in the tent as she has done every time we have camped together. She would share the sleeping bag when she was smaller and insecure, I'd leave it unzipped so her feet would stick out and her back would be against my chest as we slept. As she got older she would sleep at my feet. Cold weather, curl up. Warm weather, stretch out. Tonight she slept outside the tent flap and I left it unzipped. No rain, a clear warm night with some moonlight.

         Paddling down the lake toward the suspension bridge we smelled and saw a small cloud of smoke hanging around the trees near the main camping area, our site is a couple hundred or more yards from this much larger site. After setting up camp we hiked to the bridge and through the camp ground on our way there. A small fire was burning and two young men were washing up in the creek flowing into the lake. They didn't see us and we went on to the bridge and took a couple of pictures and bounced the bridge just to say we did and to make Gracie nervous. Heading back to our site we stopped and said, Hi, because that is the friendly thing to do. They were from FL and came to the NC Mountains just to hike  the Jocassee Gorge. They had hiked in from Gorges State Park in NC down the Auger Hole Trail to the Foothills Trail, camped the night and then will hike out byway of the Canebrake Trail. They used the Frozen Creek Road Trail Head Parking area, what a good way to spent a weekend.

       

View from inside tent.

               We strolled back to the tent and waited for darkness to settle in. It is always good to have an uneventful night when sleeping in the woods and we did. The moon was not full, it was waning away but gave enough light  in the clear sky for me to see the lake when I woke up during the  night. The weather changed from not warm to just a little chilly, perfect for this time of year. Gracie and I were in a Huck Finn state of mind, I had on a pair of swim shorts and that was all, before we left the boat ramp I had taken my shirt off and did not put it back on until we were loaded up and ready to drive up the ramp and out of the Park. I was loading the canoe when a fishing boat motored by and the father and two sons were all wrapped up in sweats and hats, it was cold speeding up the lake in the cool morning air. We didn't feel the cold quite as easily just walking around and getting ready to leave the camp site. We paddled into the sunlight and quickly warmed up cruising down the lake. It was a slow easy paddle back too the boat ramp, we were able to take our time and discover another special place tucked back in the shore line.

         

Not telling where this one is.

             Then we loaded up and went home. It's taken me two months to get this posted, I've been easily distracted these pass few weeks with other things on my mind. I haven't even been back to the lake and that's a disappointing fact to share!


          In the woods or on the water,

          Turtle      
       




         
       

Still Loafin' on the Lake - 2 - Lake Jocassee

Good Morning Lake  Jocassee!!

          Standing at the end of the new remote boat ramp looking north. The foremost group of trees is an island, we will paddle to the right side and circle around it then proceed up the lake. You can see the ripple on the surface, another light breeze and no boat traffic. Excellent morning for a canoe trip, not even eight o'clock yet and we are already on the water. Don't have a destination in mind just a desire to be paddling and get away from the civilized life! Gracie and I  left home before seven, we made a quick stop at the local Hardee's for a steak biscuit combo and then an uneventful drive to the lake. "I'd rather be lost on the lake then found at home." I have that hanging on the wall at home along with another one that says, "I love canoeing". Those are two good things because today I felt as if I was lost on the lake.


          We paddled to the island and stopped to listen to mother nature talk to us about how sweet the birds sing and how many different ones we can hear if we just sit still and absorb the sounds around us. We rocked with the movement of the still lake water. The cloud cover and the surrounding tree covered hills created an amphitheater  for the blend of notes bouncing around the canoe making me smile. We continue paddling up the right side of the lake following close to the shore. This shore line is not friendly toward us canoeist, no place to stop and stand on good old Mother earth, we just paddle and listen for the small hidden waterfalls tumbling into the lake.

Very small Falls hidden back in a cave.

        I hear several of these and can see most of them but a few are behind the under growth. Pull out your map of the lake and find Bootleg Mtn. on the eastern side of the lake, this is where we are following the water's edge. When I get to the end of the point I normally make a beeline for the Oconee county side and skim pass the land mass jutting into the lake, but today we stay with the shore and curve to the right entering a part of the lake where I usually do not go. I have seen fish jumping all morning, but something new pops up next to the canoe and I am surprised to see a group of otter sliding into the lake. One is most nosey and keeps popping up and holding himself for three or four seconds trying to figure out what I am. I did the best I could to get this picture, he did not pose for me.  [ If I ever capsize on the lake, it will be trying to take a picture! ]

Otter head

          Gracie and I see a place to beach the canoe and eat some lunch, maybe kick back and relax for an hour. I never like to come to the lake if I have to hurry.

Almost Heaven

          We stay here a couple of hours and you ask the question. "What do you for two hours on that small bit of beach?" The answer --  NOTHING --  Now do you get it? Life really "don't get much better then this"  I know that there are some people who are afraid to be by themselves, I guess they are scared of what they see when it is just them and themselves all alone with no place to go! Remember a wise turtle once said, "Hiking is good for the soul and canoeing will make you whole!"

          Enough introspection! Paddle on to new adventures! There are more trees to see. Rock formations rising out of the cold depths of clear water! Dead trees standing guard over crumbling cliffs! The exciting danger filled days of a flat water canoeist on a lazy hot summer day. Off in the distance the sound of a motor powered boat and all five senses are on full alert anticipating the wake heading my way, the canoe will rock once, twice, maybe three times and then the instability and danger will be past until the next time! Gracie sleeps on! I paddle steadily! What new action packed story will I have to relay to the wife when I return home? Hold on to the gunnels it could get rough!

          OK then, moving on toward Laurel Fork Creek Falls my mind goes blank. I don't know where on the lake I am. Really where am I? I see nothing familiar and sit in wonderment at my lack of knowledge of this part of the lake. Just keep moving with the shore on your right and something will be familiar in a minute. Yes, now I know where I am! Have stopped here many times on my way to the suspension bridge and the Toxaway River.

Trail into mountains. Not Foothills Spur Trail.

           From here we go to the water falls behind the rock, boat traffic picks up the closer we get to this popular waterfalls. A spur trail of the Foothills trail stops at the lake giving access to the camping area at the top of the falls. Have hiked to the camping area and did an overnighter a couple of times, came in from the 178 trail head, my most favorite part of the Foothills trail. A good rugged hike for an old man. There is a parked pontoon  blocking the entrance to the falls, people are fishing! People move the boat! We have come to see water falling from on high not "persons of interest" fishing.      

Laurel Creek Falls  from a distance.

Laurel Creek Falls

          You can see Gracie is not happy, we are bumped up next to the pontoon and a fishing line is almost in the canoe. The dog on the pontoon is barking and I'm trying to take a picture so we are just free floating. I say I'm sorry for being in their space, but I'm really not! They need to move! They don't! This is a beautiful place, the mist from the falls keeps everything green and cool. We paddle out to the main part of the lake and turn toward the boat ramps and return the way we came. We still don't get in a hurry and steadily move on down the lake. The sun is out and it has warmed up, I stop and take a quick swim to cool off, drink some  Gatorade and hand comb my hair back over the top of  my head. This is important to understand when we get to the ramp and the other boaters are giving me strange looks. When I go to the car I look in the mirror and see my hair sticking up and out all over my head. Wild man look! That and no shirt seems to scare people away!


          On the lake,


          Turtle








       

Round Mountain - Foothills Trail

Southern Appalachian Mountains

          Solo hiking in the fall!  Driving up Hwy. 130 from SC into NC just as you cross the state line there is a parking area to your right, the Foothills Trail crosses the road at this point and you can go left to Oconee State Park or right to Table Rock State Park. Left will take you up Round Mountain and right will take you down to the Whitewater River. I'm feeling the need for a mountain top experience! Put my hiking boots on and snug them up comfortable, have a fleece and hat in my day pack, water and snacks, the basic survival  gear, and my trekking poles.

Sign at Hwy. 130

Trail head

          The weather is about as good as it gets as you can see  in the Trail head picture. I hiked this section many years ago and remember it being very steep and full of downed trees. We will see what the trail has to offer us today.  Amazing! a very pleasant, easy, relaxing, enjoyable hike! No downed trees to crawl under or climb over, no tree limbs reaching out to grab your day pack or to poke your eye out. The trail was back and forth with nice gentle switch backs and views of the mountains and Lake Jocassee, I could see the water in the Bad Creek Project. A simple wind would blow from time to time and refresh my creaky joints and tottering body. A few benches were built along side the trail and I availed myself of one and sat and rested and ate a bar of granola and drank some water from my faithful Nalgene bottle. My real self revealed himself as I thought of how good God has been to me and my family. I sat and revealed in the beauty of the mountains and the lake exposed before me, the only natural thing for me to do was to stand and sing "How Great Thou Art"

                 

                        O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder
                     Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made,
                      I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
                      Thy power through the universe displayed,

                     When through the woods and forest glades I wander
                      And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;
                      When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur
                       And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze;

                      And when I think that God, His Son not sparing,
                      Sent Him to die,  I scarce take it in;
                       That on the cross my burden gladly bearing,
                       He bled and died to take away my sin;

                       When Christ shall come with-shout of acclamation
                        And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!
                        Then I shall bow in humble adoration
                        And there proclaim, my God, how great Thou art!

                         Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee;
                          How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
                          Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee;
                          How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

Lake Jocassee

          You can see the breeze ripples on the water and the blue haze shrouding the mountain range. Awesome! God created for us - A beautiful earth!       When I finished singing, I heard no applause or laughter, no one said,"Praise God" or "Are you all right?" so I reckon no one was around to hear me. In a few minutes the birds and squirrels started moving around and the universe began to relax and the earth slowly turned on her axises. I continued hiking up the mountain and turned right on the spur trail headed to and ending at NC Hwy 281. Go a little ways on this trail and turn left off this trail and it will take you to the top of Round Mountain. The spur trail has water! Good to know on top of a mountain.

          I try to always return home so I headed  back down the trail and it was as nice hiking down the trail as it was hiking up. The car was waiting where I had told her to stay, I removed my hiking shoes and put on my crocs, got in the car and drove home.

          In the woods or on the water,


          Turtle
         

         

A Sad Day

Little Red Truck

          Work, sitting in a meeting at 2:30pm! What are they thinking, no one is paying attention to the topic being discussed, we really don't care at this time of the day. It is Wednesday, our last day of work for this week then we get four days off. The shift ends at 3:30pm, my mind is already traveling down the road to a trail head and a relaxing hike in a remote section of the Mts.  On a Wed. no one will be in the woods but me! I've dozed off and awake with a jerk, "Yeh, sounds good to me." no idea what they are talking about!  We all head to the parking lot and the wide assortment of cars and trucks which will take each of us to our personal lives and dreams. I have been driving a Mazda Tribute to work and letting the truck sit in the drive way. It is only used for my outdoor activities, so has not been driven a lot lately. Because of my planned trip to the Mts., I drove the truck the 35 miles to work and then the 50 miles to the gravel road which went to the trail head, a lot of miles on a sedate truck. When I got to the trail head for the Foothills Trail, I debated with myself about hiking or driving all the way to Lake Jocassee on this rough gravel road and seeing the sights or parking and hiking as I had planned. Driving won the debate and that has made all the difference in the world! The road is sure bumpy for a little 4 cylinder, 2 wheel drive, ext. cab red pick up truck with 185,000 miles under the hood. Ten to fifteen miles an hour was all I could do. Around the curve to the left then around the curve to the right, up the steep hill with the wheels just a spinning, then down the hill riding the brakes, so as not to shake the truck apart! Knowing all the time that I had to drive out the same road just  in the other direction. Hey!! the sun is just a shinin' and the air is cool, I'm chillin' and smilin' and drivin' without a care in the world!! Twistin' and turnin', bobbin' and weavin', racing up the steep hills kickin' the big gravel like a teenager drivin' a big redneck pickum up truck, jacked up so you can see all the rusted out spots and the bangs and clangs he has put on his pride and joy! He would be listenin' to country music cranked up so loud the squirrels would be goin' nuts not collecting them, his girl friend dressed in a pair of Daisy Dukes and a tight John Deere tee shirt pretending to have fun would be bouncing all over the bench seat and off the door and dashboard. WE havin' fun now!!!! That pretty much was how I was feeling.

          The first overlook provided some pictures and I stopped every time another overlook popped up.

looking toward NC

Lake Jocassee

Lake Jocassee

Sun on Lake Jocassee

          I kept moving toward the Lake and I realized it was quickly getting dark, now I'm not scared of the dark or the things that go bump in the dark, but I wanted some sunset pictures from off the top of Jumping Off rock. I turn around before making it to the shore and start back over the mountains on the rough road. Get to the rock in time to get these pictures.

Lake Jocassee sunset

Lake Jocassee sunset

Lake Jocassee sunset

Lake Jocassee sunset

          It is now dark and I head home by headlight and the seat of my pants, some times the curves are so sharp the lights don't show the road, and other times the road is so up and down the lights are shining to the sky when they should be on the road. Oh, well! such is life in the slow lane! I hear young people say, "It's all good." and that's exactly how I feel- It's all good!  God is good! I'm thankful He's in control! Driving slow enjoying the night air and the quiet rattle and squeak of the truck when I smell a not woods smell, Yum! I know that smell! Yes! I've smelled that smell before! Checking the temperature gauge I see that it is showing the engine is just a little hot. I have two quarts of drinking water, so I put one in the plastic reservoir of the radiator and go on my way. Next I am blinded with a cloud of white steam, this is not good! Stop, pop the hood and see the steam racing out of the radiator and fleeing into the darkness taking my happy place with it! OK! I'm still good with what is happening, I put more water in the reservoir and plan on stopping and getting more water at the spring near the road, no problem, I'm cool! Driving up a small incline the truck stops-Dead! I wait less than five mins. and it cranks  [  I do not normally use this word, but it really seems fitting in this context!   ]  right up! Whew, I go a little further and it stops again-DEad! Same thing, a few mins. and it cranks right back up! Away I go, if I can just get to Hwy 178 a paved road I'll be alright!  This time it doesn't crank-DEAd! I have made it to the trail head for Eastatoe Gorge and here I sit!  From here it is all down hill to 178, I pray one more time Lord? Please! After about ten mins. the little red truck cranks up and I put it in drive and do a jack rabbit start and a donkey run all the way to Hwy 178!!!  Put the truck in Park and it dies-DEAD!!!

         Here I am, call my wife, she can find me here and I'll just go home and worry about this tomorrow. No cell phone connection in these mountains, now what? I have all my hiking gear including head lamp and flash light, I guess I'll start walking toward home- it is a long way away, I have all night! It is only 9:00pm. The moon is almost full, the air cool, and I like to hike so what's the problem? No problem-away I go walking down Hwy. 178.  I know that if I can make it to the intersection of 178 and Hwy.11 there will be cell phone reception and I can call for a ride home.  As I walk I think it would be even better if some one would give me a ride, so I try to hitch a ride when a car passes by. Very few cars at this time of night here in the mountains, and who in their right mind would pick up a crazy looking man walking down the middle of the road?  Josh would- that's right a man stopped and not only gave me a ride, but drove me right to my front door! What a blessing that was. I was home by 12 o'clock!


          I can't leave the truck sitting by the side of the road, need to get it to a mechanic and fix the Little Red Truck. Next morning, Mike the mechanic takes me in his rollback to pick up the pickup to see what needs to be done to get it driving down the road and through the woods once again. We arrive,  the truck is waiting for me take her home. Mike pulls her up onto the rollback and ties her down and off we go to his shop. She is unloaded in the bay and I wait for the diagnosis. Mike turns the key-nothing! He tries again-nothing! Mike's Dad, who is a silent observer to this fruitless effort, states in his nonemotional monotone, "It's dead." Mike says,"It's dead."  I say,"I need a moment alone with her." They both laugh! Seven years the Little Red Truck has taken Gracie, myself, and the big Red Canoe all over the Upstate of South Carolina. Her passing is sad! How many Trailheads has she patiently pondered and waited for my return; in the hot sun, in the cold, in the rain, even in the snow, cloudy dark skys and windy dusky nights! Never a complaint, always start right up and ready to go.  How many boat ramps has she backed down with never a fear of rolling all the way into the water. Trusting me to love and care for her, protect her from the harsh realities of a little truck's life. She has watched Gracie and I paddle away leaving her to wait, some times two or three days before we returned to take her home. She has always carried the canoe with pride and honor down Hwy. 11 to Jocassee and Keowee, she has been to Lake James in NC and Lake Robinson and Lake Cunningham and Lake Oolenoy! She has parked on the boat ramps while we have prowled the shores of Lake Hartwell. She has spent Thanksgiving with the wife and I at Lake Murray, carrying a load of fire wood plus the canoe and camping gear all those miles. Never a cross word did she say! Gracie and I will miss her!


          Yes, I feel like I am the cause of her end! She had a hole in radiator and was running hot and I pushed her until she could go no farther. Mike said I should have been putting water directly into the radiator instead of the reservoir, might have saved her! The little engine locked up tight and she won't crank, Lord knows I tried to crunk her!  The Little Red Truck is on her way to truck heaven, always air in the tires, water in the radiator, and oil in the engine-Don't get no better then that!


          In the woods or on the water,


          Turtle  

Nooks and Crannies -- Lake Jocassee Paddling

Driftwood snake!!

          June 8, 2012.  Arrived at Lake Jocassee around 9:00am and backed all the way down the long ramp to the water's edge. The lake level is about 23-24 feet below full pond, gives a lot of shore line in some places and extremely steep banks in others. An easy breeze was blowing causing just a slight ripple to the water. This kind of weather is perfect for those of us in canoes or kayaks, no head wind to battle and a cool wind to refresh us as we paddle. Gracie is in the bow, happy to be out and about, she has already been swimming twice, waiting while I loaded the canoe for the day's trip. We were thirty yards from the ramp when I saw a deer swimming in the lake. "Why did the chicken cross the road?  To get to the other side!" Why does a deer swim across a lake, especially one as wide as this one is? A question I pondered as I watched the deer swimming. Thinking out loud I say the deer was being rebellious! Picture with me the early morning conversation between young deer and Dad Buck. "Son you need to have a purpose in life, you can't just wander all over the woods eating grass and rooting for acorns." Young deer says, "That's all you do, sometimes you're gone for weeks at a time and we don't know where you are!" Dad Buck, "You do as I say and not as I do! What!! you think this is some kinda Walt Disney life we're living?" Young deer says to himself, " I'm gonna swim across the lake and see if the grass really is greener on the other side!" Enter Gracie and I, all we see is a deer swimming across the lake.

Deer swimming across Lake Jocassee

          We get to the far shore and take a quick break. This is the first time I've been in the canoe for a long distance paddle this year, I've got to work the kinks out. Immersing ourselves in the beauty of the surrounding mountains we plan the day. I'll call it a nooks and crannies paddle. We will hug the shore and explore all that it has to offer, something not easily done in a motor powered craft. Gracie is all excited and says, "Whatever!" She lays down and points her nose in the "V" of the bow and I'm left to paddle alone. 

First waterfall.

          A reminder that the lake is between 23 and 24 feet below full pond, most of the images I show will normally be under water. This first waterfall is hidden back in a cove, a nook if you will! 

Stopped for lunch we, are at the tree line.

          I set my chair up under a shady spot and after eating I dozed off, woke up in full sunshine being grilled once again. don't know how long I was napping.  The beauty of an all day canoe trip is no time schedule and no time piece! Went swimming here in the cool water, not cold just right. Paddled around the next point and came face to face with a pair of ducks, we didn't even scare them.

Duck

          Mostly we saw trees and rocks and even a turtle watching us from under the water.

Normally under water!

Another water source.

          This grassy meadow is - you guessed it normally under water - a beautiful cove and my most favorite place on the lake. It is hidden from the main body of water and can't even be seen unless you boat back around the bank, very seldom do I see anyone back there. The water level has been low for several months allowing all these weeds and grasses to grow. We grounded the canoe and walked among the grass finding two small rivulets of water feeding the lake. I knocked on the wood duck nesting box to see if any one was home, no one came to the opening. Peeking under the tin skirt I found a bees nest and slowly backed away before they found me!

Beautiful Cove

Wood duck nesting box.

          We kept paddling sticking our bow into all the nooks and crannies, seeing what new or unusual artifact we could discover. 

Beautiful Lake Jocassee

          Off to my left I see movement, I stop paddling and search the shore sighting in on a deer facing one of the small caves created by the waves. Because the water level is so low she is about half way up the bank standing in front of this opening, which is large enough for her to walk into. She does not see us. I do not want to scare her. All we see is the back of her and I would like to get a picture of her face. If I yell, " Hey! Dear!" she will just think I'm her husband and ignore me. So, I say in a husky voice, "Yo, Bambi!" again "Yo, Bambi!" She shakes her tail and flirtatiously looks back over her shoulder at me! She bats those liquid brown eyes and wiggles both big ears as I snap her picture! See didn't even flinch!

Deer on bank of Lake Jocassee

          The rest of our paddle was uneventful except for the snake I thought I saw, it's picture is at the top. A amazingly life like piece of driftwood when seen from a short distance away. Four more pictures then I close this post. I'm in the middle of the big main part of the lake, I'm taking a picture facing the four points of the compass.

Facing South

Facing East

Facing North

Facing West

          The first time I paddled across the lake I just headed across like I knew what I was doing, I hadn't even been canoeing but two or three times, half way across I realized where I was - in the middle of the deepest lake in SC! I had a panic attack, I laid down the paddle and gripped both sides of the canoe and shook like a wind driven leaf. After a couple of minutes I was able to gain control of myself and relax enough to paddle once again. I have never again experienced the feeling of fear and helplessness that I did that day. Fifteen years I have joyfully and carefully been a canoeist, canoeing will make you whole!

          If you never have the opportunity to paddle this wonderful mountain lake, maybe these four pictures will give a quick look at what it is like. My favorite lake to paddle!


          On the water or in the woods,

          Turtle  and   Gracie