Canoeing the Current
by Nathaniel Bluedorn, Copyright September 24, 2005, all rights reserved. 340 views
The canoeing event last weekend went well – until the hurricane hit. More about that later.
We arrived at the Pulltite campground around 7:00 pm and set up our tents. An uneventful night awoke into an excellent day for canoeing. The discussion around breakfast centered on how some people wake up like fluffy bunnies and want to hug everyone, and others are like wolverines and want to be left alone until the brain juices get moving.
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| From 2005-09-24 Current River Canoeing |
The general consensus was that silence in the early morning is most judicious for keeping the peace.
We entered the water at Akers Ferry around 8:30 AM and made our way leisurely down the river.
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| From 2005-09-24 Current River Canoeing |
We decide who goes in a canoe and who gets a kayak.
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Some of us put on life-jackets.
When we met the first rope swing hanging above the river, most of us had to test the temperature of the water, which was cold and invigorating. (I am speaking from anecdotal evidence on this, not personal experience.)
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| From Misc Images |
Jumping off rope.
We canoed into Cave Spring Cave, where the water was much colder and crystal clear.
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| From 2005-09-24 Current River Canoeing |
Adam paddling into Cave Spring Cave.
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Greg inside the cave.
We met several other caves along the way, including Rock House Cave and Welch Spring Cave. One had a lot of cool air blowing out, but we didn’t have the time to explore it.
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| From 2005-09-24 Current River Canoeing |
Johannah outside a small cave.
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Adam and Johannah in a cliff cave.
We eat lunch halfway along our trip at our Pulltite campsite.
By the time we got back in the canoes and kayaks, we realized we only had three or four hours to make it to Round Spring landing by 5:00 pm.
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| From 2005-09-24 Current River Canoeing |
Some of us lagged behind and had to speed up towards the end.
Little Gem Cave (also called Merritt Rock Cave) was one of the most decorated caves I’ve ever explored. And, we looked like amateurs without helmets or proper footgear exploring this cave.
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| From 2005-09-24 Current River Canoeing |
Joanna climbing around a formation.
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Ripple stone.
We made it to our destination having canoed twenty miles of river in eight hours. Back at our campsite, we cooked sausages and eat around our campfire.
Then, at 8:00 pm, it began to sprinkle. And we continued to eat. We opened the marshmallows, and rain began to come down harder. And we started playing “Crossed or not Crossed” around the campfire, and rain began to pour. We continued to play annoying logic games until the rain was so loud we could hardly hear each other. Some of us were soaked and some were dry, depending on who had an umbrella. By 9:30 pm someone mentioned a hurricane and suggested this might continue though the night and morning. This thought was shelved and everyone climbed into to his or her dry tent while the rain continued to pour.
The next morning, it was still raining. We cheerfully packed up our dry sleeping bags and our wet eating utensils from last night and our soaking tents and our even wetter bodies into our cars. We have no photos of this since it was dark and very wet, but if you can imagine smiling faces and waterlogged hearts, you will get the picture.
McDonalds provided a warm breakfast to fifteen wet adventurers. And we voted to hold our Bible study at the Reynolds house where it was dry.
At 2:00 pm, we disbanded after Mrs. Reynolds cooked us a warm meal. We were already saying the rain wasn’t all that bad and how we would remember this fondly in the future – even though we might feel a trifle damp now.
Comments
1 • Ralph • September 10, 2008 • 10:02 AM
Let’s go!
2 • Mandy M. • September 21, 2008 • 7:50 PM
Kelli, I’m assuming you wrote this? Just wanted you to know, at this point in my life, this is very encouraging to me. Thanks for sharing. It’s amazing how God can worth through a simple blog post.
3 • Johannah Stanford • September 24, 2008 • 3:00 PM
The quality of this video looked good to me, and it didn’t take hardly any time to download on our computer. Did you get more climbing equipment? 
4 • Kristen • October 04, 2008 • 3:39 PM
Sounds like tons of fun. 
Ryan took me rock climbing indoors for the first time a couple weeks ago and I loved it! (I’m his sister.)
Colorado looks and sounds like a very fun place.
5 • Mandy M. • October 04, 2008 • 5:49 PM
Great post Heidi! You sure are brave. I’m glad you had such a great time!
6 • Nate • October 13, 2008 • 5:23 PM
Thats awesome….
Sounds like something I would do. :p
7 • Heidi Reiman • October 20, 2008 • 4:47 PM
Hans, You poor thing. I’m sorry you couldn’t get a wi-fi connection. By the way what is a wi-fi?
Is it like wiffer cookies with fine milk?
8 • Kelli • October 29, 2008 • 8:03 AM
Oh sheesh, Nathaniel, you’re hilerious! That was really roughing it.
9 • Nathan Nasby • November 04, 2008 • 11:28 AM
If you want a really creepy expirience stay at the Imperial Hotel in London! Wow, we had blood on the walls and in the sheets in our room. The Window was broken, and I’m not even going to mention the shared bathrooms!!!!
10 • Anna • November 05, 2008 • 8:01 PM
Haha! Nathan, this is just the beginning… Soon you’ll be cool with using towels unwashed from the last occupant, sleeping on bedbug-ridden mattresses, and, well, haha!
11 • Heidi R. • November 17, 2008 • 10:00 AM
Great story.
12 • A • November 17, 2008 • 7:01 PM
I just watched this a few days ago (was looking up vids of Marrakesh and then followed the rabbit trail) and thought about you guys… Odd, but fitting, to see it here as well!
13 • Kristin C. • November 17, 2008 • 10:13 PM
Haha!!! That is hilarious!!! :-D
14 • Debbie • November 25, 2008 • 10:27 PM
I have a problem with getting cave crickets in my basement and hate them. I don’t think I want to be their friend. But neat story on your adventure. God Bless!
Debbie
15 • Laura • November 29, 2008 • 12:49 AM
Wow! :D
16 • Estin • November 30, 2008 • 8:58 PM
That’s crazy.
17 • Trish • December 04, 2008 • 12:11 PM
Um…Ew. That is SOOO disgusting.
18 • Kristen B. • December 07, 2008 • 6:52 PM
You are a great writer, Kelli.
19 • Heidi R. • December 09, 2008 • 11:45 PM
Thanks, so are you.
20 • Heidi R. • December 09, 2008 • 11:46 PM
Oh, and I love your pics.
21 • Quentin Cooper • December 18, 2008 • 7:58 AM
This seems to have been written by people who have caved only once in their life or read about it in an armchair. What about the main thing warm clothes (be it a wetsuit or neo-fleece). Gloves completely unimportant as I have caved without them for 20 years and never wished I’d brought them. What about a survey of the cave? Going with someone experienced? Leaving a CALL OUT? that not feature in your essentials? Incase people ahave an accident in a cave then nobody knows about it….come on guys….
22 • Blue (Royal) • May 06, 2009 • 11:07 PM
Nice film guys. The water side looked like fun. I love a good natural water slide. Good job with not making it look to rigged.
23 • Royal Magnell • May 06, 2009 • 11:57 PM
That was fun… now we run so the cops don’t catch us!
24 • Rachel • May 19, 2009 • 9:36 PM
Hey! Hoping you get this soon. Just wondered what kind of camera, flash, etc. was used for these pictures. Also how the cameras were kept dry and clay free. Thanks so much!
25 • Beau • August 04, 2009 • 12:16 AM
Enjoyed it. I am curious if this is the Wilder cave in Pelham, AL?
26 • Dannity Kane • February 27, 2010 • 2:06 AM
Give me a little of that and I’d feel like a king.
27 • Stephen Nasby • May 28, 2010 • 9:09 AM
Good job.
28 • Stephen Nasby • September 02, 2010 • 9:58 AM
That looked like quite an adventure, exciting. Swim looked very refreshing. Cool camera, you can even go underwater with it.
29 • Katie Carter • September 18, 2010 • 10:11 PM
It is in Grady County Georgia, between Pelham, and Cairo. It is owned my my aunt. It is very pretty, it is not open to the public because people can’t seem appreciate it without breaking pieces off, and spray painting.