Selma, Alabama

i went to visit my grandparents who live in Selma, Alabama for a few days. The Captain enjoyed himself along the river front but of course the day I show my boyfriend around is the day I forget to bring Captain Kidd.

A small history lesson for those who aren't sure what has happened in Selma. Selma was a big contributor to the Civil Rights movement that happened in the 50's and 60's. Martin Luther King Jr. hosted a march that began in Selma to Montgomery for voting rights. (Selma is 50 miles away from Montgomery by the way). But the Selma police force stopped them before they could cross the bridge to leave the city.
Selma was also a big spot for the Civil war. This is where all the weapons, canons, canon balls, and bullets were made for the confederate soldiers. Also a vice president is from Selma. (This I didn't know until this last time I visited.) He is the only man to be inaugurated outside of the US.

Anyways, enough with the history lesson. Here's the Kidd's adventures.

The Kidd riding down I-85

Arriving in Alabama

With the state's motto

At highway 80, between Montgomery and Selma

Visiting the Edmond Petus Bridge

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.