Alex's First Kayak Run - Upper Big Piney

[Waterman]

Here is link to my son's first run in a kayak.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpdU_JaUtmU" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

We ran a short stretch on the upper Big Piney (Waterman's Ford to Phillips Ford), which is about 2 miles up river from Heltons. We have a family cabin on this stretch, and in the last picture, you can see the trees are slowly coming back from the F3/4 tornado that hit before Memorial Day weekend in 2011. Few people come to this area any more, as trees are still blocking the public access road connecting Waterman and Phillips. As you can see from the video, the Phillips ford access is a great place to get your car high center and stuck in the mud.

My first attempt to pilot a canoe was on this stretch, and my trip lasted all of 30 yards as the canoe hit and got pinned under the strainer tree at the first bend at Waterman's Ford. It seems like there has always been a strainer tree at this bend, and I have learned the hard way that most beginner boaters will track directly into that strainer. It was nice to see Alex get well past it.

My dog Fly usually accompanies me on my floats on this run from Waterman's to Phillips, and if you look close, you can often spot her in the background of my pictures. In this clip, she decided to jump right into the fray.

SYOTR. John

[Deuce]

Awesome.

[Tim Eubanks]

Way to go, John!

[hilbili]

looking good Alex. Looks like Steve Gabbards son is hitting it hard too.