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.