Prairie Creek Alabama

Captain Kidd is still touring California but I'm very excited to announce that I finally found the campsite that my dad took my brother and I to every year when I was growing up! It was a very quiet campsite right on the Alabama River with willow trees surrounding the banks. Every time we stayed it seemed like we were the only campers at the whole site.


I'm pleasantly happy to see that it is still open because I remember one of the last times we went camping there, the rickety bridge had collapsed. And this bridge was the only way to get to the campsite as far as we knew.

While the campsite does look like it's changed since I last went there (and why wouldn't it? It's probably been at least 12 years since I last stayed there) it still looks as quiet as it was back in the 90's.

I can't wait to make a trip there and stay at the campsite we used to always pick. I just hope they haven't changed the site into an RV site. That would really be a let down.

Captain Kidd visits Chile

Captain Kidd visited Chile April 8 - 10, 2011 with Mr. Rastko.

Here he is in Valparaiso, Chile.

and on a bus in Viña del Mar, Chile.

Captain Kidd in California

Captain Kidd visits California from April 15 - May 1. Here he is about to leave Atlanta.

He enjoyed a nice champagne when he arrived to California.

He partied it up.

He was really excited about the Walt Disney star.

He hung out with some storm troopers

The Captain went to a festival.

and hung out in Hollywood.

He enjoyed a refreshing magarita.

The Kidd hung out at the beach for a day.

and commandeered a moat and a flip flop!

He hung out with the skater kids.

and thought about getting a tattoo.

He hung out in front of this thing.

and went for a ride down the strip.

The captain revisited the canyon they named after him. ;)

and visited the desert.

but decided the beach was a better place for a pirate captain. Arrrr!

and finally settled in for a nice sleep.

Where in the world has Captain Kidd been?

I haven't been able to update this site for a bit but Captain Kidd has already been to a few amazing places. He spent a weekend in Santiago, Chile with Mr. Rastko and is currently in California with Ms. Joy. Pictures of the adventures will be posted shortly. There's also a couple canoe adventures left. Thank you for your time to check out his adventures and remember this blog is here to help gain knowledge about lukemia. If you would like to donate to the cause then please donate here. Thank you again!


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The Kid's Canoe Adventures Part 5

Sept. 3, 10, 16, 2001
                    
                   Unicoy State Park, Lake Lanier, Lake Occone


On Sept. 3 while on a weekend retreat to the mountains, Martha and I stopped at the lake on Unicoy State Park and rented a canoe. This 15' gramman allumunum boat was very noisy but handled very well. This is a beautiful little lake and well worth a morning paddling time.
       Sept. 10 found me at the big creek boat ramp launching my coleman into the big water of Lake Lanier. The water was glassy smooth and power boat traffic was light on this Monday morning. The highlight of this day paddle was a small island. It was very small and rocky with a beach on the north west corner and topped with small bonsai pine trees.
       Sept. 16, Doug and I took his canoe to Lake Occone. This is a shallow lake but fairly large. We paddled about 3 miles north to a small island. Just before we got to the 278 bridge a large bird flew out of the brush on the eastern shore. It was a bald eagle! This is the first bald eagle I have ever seen.
       After circumnavigating the tiny island, we skirted the eastern shore watching birds and just kind of drifting with the wind.
       Returning, we cut back toward the island to put the wind at our backs and surfed the now rising swells back to the boat ramp.
       The highlight of this trip was the varied bird population including sandpiper, blue heron, white heron, pidgeon, chicken hawk, wood duck, and the majestic bald eagle.

April 8, 2002

                                              Towaliga River

       I met Doug at High Falls park at around 11:30 AM. Daylight savings time has just started so we knew that we had enough light and some to spare to make the 9 1/2 mile trip to GA 42. We drove down to the bridge and left my truck, then went back up to the park and launched just below the rocky section beneath the falls.
       For about the first mile the water was mostly flat and the current was moderate. The shoals we encountered (they were few) were easily and expertly run. Suddenly an island appears. Very small with one fairly large pine tree on it. There were shoals and an accompaning 3-4 foot drop. This was run just to the left of the island with only a leg out for a small course adjustment.
       This time of year brought pink honeysuckles and wild azaleas blooming all along the banks of this beautiful river. Ducks (mallards) and canadian geese led us down most of the way.
       The going to the flat bridge was pretty much more of the same. Beautiful banks, lazy flat water, and easy shoals.

       Past the flat bridge the river widened and shoals became too shallow to run. They were not, however too numerous to make the trip unenjoyable.
       At the 42 takeout we were able to actually drive down to the river to get the boat. It was undoubtedly the best take out we have yet to find.
       This was a beautiful, fun river. The shoals were for the most part enjoyable and runnable. The current, ideal, and the banks pretty.

The Kid's Canoe Adventures Part 4

July 21, 2001
                      
                                              Etowah River
    

       I met Doug at Wendy's on GA 20. From there I placed my truck at the highway 52 bridge. The put in was at the highway 53 bridge.The river had more water running than when I had gone to scout pot in and take out points. It was a beautiful day. It was sunny but unseasonably cool. A perfect day for canoeing.
       We got the boat in the water at around 1:30 PM. The river was beautiful. The surrounding mountains were full of mountain laorell,spruce and various hard woods. We encountered several class II shoals.Some we ran without a hitch. There was nothing like hitting a chute perfectly and squirting between two rock ledges bouncing over a wave and angleing for the next chute.
       Some of the shoals we encountered (and there were many of them) were not so easy to run. The pattern became all too familiar. We would find a hole and run straight into the next ridge. From there get out, either angle the boat for the next opening (if there is one) or pull the boat through the navigable water. Some shoals we worked like this and looked back to find that we just went the wrong way. Sometimes, there just was no right way.
       Somewhere above the highway 9 bridge we caught a rock broadside and hit the water fr the first time. I checked first to make sure Doug was above water (he was) then turned my attention to running this rapid on my ass. Feet up, float on your back, and feet first. All good rules while in a current. I thought I was clear of the rapids and decided to turn over and swim and promptly caught one rock in the ribs and another on my shin. Lesson learned.

       Just before highway 9, the wildlife changed to rednecks playing paint ball, partiers in riverside summer homes, and teenagers floating in inner tubes. The scenery was still beautiful and these intrusions were generally widely separated by nature.
       At around 3:30 we finally crossed the highway 9 bridge. More local RN's recreating in the flat water beneath the bridge. We ran the shoals under the bridge perfectly and continued on.
       After more of the same we came on a nice stretch of flat water. Nice and easy paddling for a few minutes and then the unmistakable roar of big white water announces your arrival to chuck shoals. This is definitely the biggest rapid on this section of the river. About 8 foot drop over a 40 yard stretch. We scouted from the right side and ran left to right. We didn't do too bad and made it through without swimming.
       More of those shoals mixed up with the shallow riffles impead progress.
       The next major obstacle was Etowah falls. Very beautiful. Not runnable. Portage was not too hard on the right side.
       More shoals and another spill. This time we lost all knee pads and ankle supports. Managed again to retain all paddles (although Doug's bent shaft was cracked). It was still a blessing to get back what we did.
       It was 6:30 before we reached castleberry bridge. We still have altogether too far to go. Although more - dispersed, there are still quite a number of shoals to navigate. We paddled hard, knowing that we still have a long, long way to go. Racing the sun with every stroke, hoping beyond hope to see the 136 bridge around the next bend, being disappointed many times. The sound of the next shoals became disheartening. We cam to our first major deadfall in this part of the river. The tree was tremendous and reached across the entire river. The left side curved up and gave a 2 foot clearance. We positioned the boat just right, lay back in the canoe, and just slide under.
       Several shoals came up which we ran perfectly. Desparation and knowledge of the necessity of speed had made us better rivermen here. Another deadfall. A big tree all the way across the river this time. No passage. Doug got out and pushed the canoe over with me in it.

       8:15 and we hear cars. 8:30, there is the 136 bridge. We are hungry (remaining food ruined in spill), thirsty (no more water), exhausted, and running out of daylight. We paddled, prayed, portaged a blockage created by man.
       We contemplated going by land to the nearest road, and walking. We knew that our loved ones were worrying. The cicadas started singing. When we knew the day was over was when the frogs were chirping.
       We ran shoals blind. Guided by the hands of god. My arms just moving and no longer able to muster even any small amount of strength. We simply went on.
       I got my flashlight out of my pack. It helped tremendously.
       The sound of cars! Glory be to god there are headlights visible through the woods. There is our bridge.
       Getting the canoe out, pulling up the hill, loading on the truck, all are kind of a blur (although the thorn gashes in my hands and arms remind me that it did happen). We made a beeline to the nearest payphone (all the way to Dawsonville) called home, and consumed mass quantities of water.
       This trip is ended. We made it back thanks to the grace of god.

                                                        New Rules
      
                            1. Know total mileage of trip before starting.
                            2. Take more than enough water.
                            3. Take cell phone
                            4. Dry clothes to be left in pickup vehicle.

The Kid's Canoe Adventures Part 3

July 17, 2001
   
                                                      Etowah River


       I drove up to the top of Campbell Mountain today. Starting at the junction with Hightower Church Rd. I checked all of the possible put in's I could find down to highway 136. There were many shallow shoals and flat pools. The surrounding terrain (was) very steep. At Hightower Church Rd. bridge it would be, I believe a fairly easy put in.
       Next place down the river is Jay's Bridge. The river was still fairly shallow with deeper flat pools between the shoals. There is a place to park one vehicle just down from the bridge. It didn't look to(o) difficult to put in here.
       Next came highway 52 bridge. This was an easy carry down the west bank with a trash can and steps built into the hill. Easy to launch and a sand bar to load from.
       Highway 9 bridge had a fairly easy carry but before the river was a sheer 4 to 5 foot drop. Not undoable but not easy. Rocks under water just downstream of the bridge. This would not be my first choice for a put in.

       Castleberry bridge was next. This had a clear trail down to the river and adequate parking. Biggest rocks I have seen are just up stream and will probably need to be portaged. The highway 136 bridge is undoable. Thick brush and steep bank make access impossible.
       Doug and I will meet Saturday 21, July to decide on a run.

(This wasn't so much an actual adventure as scoping out new areas for more adventures)

The Kid's Canoe Adventures Part 2

June 1, 2001
                                                  
                                                 Alcovy River


       Today Doug M. and I took a day trip to the Alcovy river. We left early in the afternoon and drove out I20 east to Covington. Exit on Alcovy rd. following the tourist information signs to town square and a. 36. South on Ga. 36 to Henderson Mill Rd. and parked my truck just across the Alcovy river bridge. The put in point was back up in Covington just across the river bridge on us 278.
       Due to heavy rains two days prior, the river was past flood stage. The first stage of this journey should meander through flat swamp land with several oxbows. Because the water was so high, the current was very strong and the wood land river was very difficult to follow. It was easy to get lost in the oxbows and sometimes the channel would be lost to us altogether.

    
        At first our canoe skills as a team were less than perfect. We hit many obstacles which could have been avoided. Once we figured out how to work as a team to maneuver Doug's 17' canoe we did much better.
       The river starte(d) out treacherously. Dead fall after dead fall were crashed through and run over. In the high water these dead falls became not only difficult, but also very dangerous. Trees of all shapes and sizes blocked our path sometime creating very difficult zig-zag turns and sometime(s) blocking the entire river. For six and a half miles we fought through this hellish blockade. After passing the CR 213 bridge, the river opened out and became a bit easier. The dead falls no longer reached across the entire span of the river. We made much better time and could relax just a little.
       When we got close to our take out the roar of white water came to us through the trees. Coming round what was to be the last bend the churning waters became visible. We put to shore on the only sandy beach we had seen on the right side of the river. We scouted the shoals and discovered that we actually were within 100 yards of our destination and all of it over very disturbed shoals. After scouting we decided to run to the left of a large fallen tree and hug the left bank taking the waves as best as we could. The canoe took this water very well and the white water was actually the easiest part of the journey. We pulled the canoe out and headed for home.

                  
       We learned a lot today about ourselves and each other. I believe we both learned the (that) we are better paddlers than we thought we were. We also learned NOT TO EVER PADDLE A FLOODED ALCOVY RIVER!!!

My dad drew out the last 100 yard stretch of his trip:

The Kidd's Canoe Adventures

My dad kept a journal of his canoeing experience. He called it 'The Kid's Canoe Adventures" which makes my blog title a very appropriate name. These next few posts will be his canoeing chronicles. I'll write what my father wrote, word for word, even his typos.

                                        The Kid's Canoe Adventures

                                                          Forward

         This book is a chronichle of my adventures paddling a canoe. It is my desire to convey my love of rivers, the outdoors, and the adventure and I hope my writing skills are up to the task.

          Anytime adventures are undertaken into realms previously unknown to someone, there is a risk factor involved! The acceptability of this risk is a personal decision. My love of the outdoors, rivers, and boats are is rooted deep in the very core of my being. It is on the river that I feel closest to god.

          I have lived 2 years on a river. This has given me a great respect for the power and beauty contained within all rivers. I know a lot about being safe on a river and learn more each time I go out. I question each situation encountered as to whether my skills and equipment are up to the task. If they are not, is there a safe portage or can I go back. 

          All this being said, anything can happen. If one day this book should suddenly end, know that I was happy and doing what I must do to feel truly alive.

                                                                                    Brian Watford

April 28, 2001

                                                   Chatahoochee

       It was beautiful weather today so Martha and I went for a day trip on the Chatahoochee. We left Gracie's Escort at a little boat ramp just past the rowing club (across bridge on Roswell Rd. Left on Azalea Dr.). We then went back across the bridge on Roswell Rd. and took the first left on Roberts Rd. About 2 miles on the left is the Chatahoochee recreation area where we parked my truck and launched the canoe. I saw a fellow catch a nice brook trout while waiting for Martha and used my canoe to retrieve a bobber for him.

       When Martha got there we set off on our voyage. We went down the channel on the left side of Ford Island and were doing well in the shoals until we hit an unseen rock broadside and flipped. The water wasn't too cold and was really quite pleasant. We went to a nearby sand bar and dumped the water out of the canoe. We then proceeded down manipulating the rest of the shoals to the end of the island quite well. The scenery was beautiful woodland highlighted with the ocasional cute young bikini clad girls. 

       After the island the shoals were just too shallow to float but with a lot of pushing and pulling, we got through. 

       Past the shoals to the 400 bridge is a smooth swift flat through beautiful woodland. There was a man sitting on a tree by the bank playing a hauntingly beautiful melody on a recorder. This was my favorite stretch of river today. It was cool breeze, peaceful surroundings, and good current.

       Past 400, more signs of civilization started showing up. Lawnmowers were particularly obnoxious. The current slowed as we neared Roswell Rd. We got sprinkled on as we made our way through the hundreds of Canada Geese in front of the rowing club. Martha went and got the truck and we loaded up the canoe and, exhausted, began the trip home.

        

The Adventures of Captain Kidd

              Sometime in 2007, my father was diagnosed with multiple melanoma. He went through a lot during that year with his chemo treatments. 2 out of 3 people who are diagnosed with this cancer pass away within the year of being diagnosed. But my father was strong and his cancer went into remission. In Sept. 2010 the doctors found leukemia cells in his bone marrow and promptly began another round of chemo. Everything seemed to be going well, he was on the donor list to get new bone marrow and we were all very optimistic about his battle. But one morning in October he woke up unable to breath. He was rushed to the emergency room and emitted to the ICU for rest. His kidneys started shutting down from the the harsh chemicals of the chemo and his lungs were shutting down from the strain of over working.
              My dad passed away after a week in ICU on Oct. 26. The last time I saw him awake he held me and told me he loved me then afterwards told my step-mother and me that instead of resting he was going to party with the nurses. Thinking of this still brings me to tears. I love my dad and miss him so much.

             But instead of thinking of the sad moments I remember all the great things we did together. My dad loved the outdoors. Everything about it: camping, hiking, fishing, hunting, and sailing. Especially sailing. He loved sailing so much he built his own sailboat.

I got to sail in the boat only once. I always meant to learn how to sail while living in Hawaii so when I came back I would be able to sail with my dad. We never got to sail together since I moved back so I treasure the day that my dad and I did get to sail years ago. 

He always called himself Captain Kidd or "The Kidd". He had his own flag and even made his own cannon, which made a loud sound but didn't actually shoot anything. While my dad never had the chance to travel he always said he traveled vicariously through me and to continue doing so I got a pirate captain doll named Captain Kidd with my dad's flag emblem on his hat. 

He's already visited a wheat field. :) 

I'm also raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in my dad's name. I'm signed up to walk the Night the Light fundraiser that is happening on Oct. 1st. Here is my donation page and my team page, my team is Team Watford. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Even the smallest amount is closer to finding a cure.

This blog will be about the adventures my dad went on and the adventures he will continue to go on in spirit.