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2008 Kentucky River Kayak Trek

 

Friday, October 17, 2008

 

Dam 1 to Carrollton, Kentucky on the Ohio River!

 

 

Only 4 more miles to go!  For some reason I was reminded all day of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s chant at the republican convention back in 2004 when he was supporting George Bush for president: “Foa moa yeah’s…  Foa moa yeah’s”.   It didn't really apply to what I was doing other than the fact that the number 4 was referenced, but that was in my mind:  "Foa moa miles...  Foa moa miles!"  At any rate, it looked like I was actually going to complete the river.  I’m never certain, but it sure looked like it!

 

As I’ve mentioned before, when I’m heading out for a trip I’m usually pretty fired up and I want some tunes that will match that mood.  I’ll select something that will pick me up and throw me around a little.  Anberlin is my usual favorite in this regard, but I also like the band Mae’s "Singularity" release and this is what I chose for the ride.  I was singing to it the whole way out – just like that scene with Tom Cruise in the Jerry McGuire movie – all fired up!

 

After all the craziness on Wednesday trying to find a put-in for the Eagle Creek to Dam 1 section, I knew exactly where this ramp in Carrollton, Kentucky was simply because I'd already driven past it in the midst of that ordeal.  Well, I can tell you that this location in the midst of Point Park is simply outstanding!  You’ve got to check it out if you haven't already – highly recommended!  What you get is not only a sweeping view of the Ohio River, but also one of the Kentucky River which drains into it.  For me this was breathtaking - a fine reward to greet me as I began to paddle the last few miles.  Incidentally, and for clarity, the ramp is actually on the Ohio River, not on the Kentucky.

 

You know what I think?  I think that the first ramp in Beattyville and this ramp might be my favorites on the river.  They’re both in scenic locations, they both appear to be well maintained, and they both look relatively safe.  I got my gear and boat down and headed out!  Below is a photo taken from the park, with more to come at the end...

   

 

I'll start as I have from the beginning at the furthest upriver point - Lock and Dam 1.  However, I have to first mention something I encountered on the way upriver.  Would you know that the river gave me a gift?!?  In the distance at one point I saw a basketball floating toward me.  OK…  I’d seen plenty of basketballs on the Kentucky River.  Kentucky is, after all, a basketball state!  What made this particular ball so special though, was that as I paddled near it I saw it had a Cleveland Cavaliers logo on it – my favorite team (I spent several years in Cleveland, attending John Carroll University)!  I couldn’t believe my luck!  Wasn’t it strange that I had met with such a coincidence?!? 

 

Once I got up to the dam at mile 4 I noticed a couple people who looked like they were camping near the beach (there’s one on both sides here).  What a fantastic spot to do it in!  I wasn’t too sure, however, that they should have been there.  After all, I knew there to be "No Trespassing" signs up there on the grounds.  For that matter, I can’t now bring myself to post pictures of the lock and dam grounds because it might identify these 2 and get them into trouble!  2021 UPDATE:  It's been 12 years since I originally posted this journal.  I think it's OK to post photo's at this point.  :)

 

 

 

 

On the opposite side of the lock you'll notice a gently sloped, rocky area.  This would be a nice spot to rest and take photos were it not so close to the dam, yet the area does extend quite a way downstream...   I suppose if you're extra careful and stay well downriver of the bouys while paddling well over to the side, it might be safe to beach your boat and walk up to the dam along these rocks.  It was just downriver from this point, by the way, that I spotted what was either a white heron or an egret.  It’s in the second picture below…

 

 

 

As you head downriver from the wide open area around the dam, you'll find that the river narrows a bit to form a couple of squiggly curves in a backward “S” pattern that ends at mile 2.  Here you'll encounter Major’s Run which enters from the left side along Heath’s Bend (the second of those squiggly curves).  I was only able to get in about 100 feet.

 

Upon emerging from the stream I was looking down a long, 2 mile alley which extended all the way to the Ohio River.  Farmland continues on the left side in here while on the right the outskirts of Carrollton will start to become more apparent.  You can't quite see the Ohio River at first, but you will be able to see what the charts indicate as the Admiral’s Landing Dock on the left.  Admiral’s Landing looked like it must have been (or could still be – I couldn’t tell) a bar and  restaurant housed in an old barge on the bank.  It looked pretty cool, although bank erosion must be a concern!

 

 

As I was passing under some power lines soon after this I noticed what must have been about 50 crows up there – I had witnesses!  Unlike last year I was actually going to be able to finish the river!  I wouldn’t have to swim any remaining lengths as I’d pledged I'd do if something bad happened!

 

The blue bridge for US42 was next to appear, and as I neared it I could see the Ohio River along with a barge moving up there in the distance.  I wished that I could have been closer!  I wanted to see what it might have been like to paddle close to one (near the shoreline, of course)!  I’d read how Eddy Harris had described these in his book "Mississippi Solo" which describes his solo paddle down the Mississippi River in 1988 (the book is outstanding - highly recommended!). 

 

 

Update 2009 – While out here to celebrate the 1 year anniversary of this trip, I was thrilled to see a sternwheel boat (the Barbara H.) at about this point!  Given all the time I’ve spent on the river I've really gotten to appreciate its history, and that's led to a realized regret that I was not able to see all the steamboats and sternwheels that once plied the river.  Well, at least I’ve now had a chance to see a little bit of what things might have looked like.  A sternwheel is truly a beautiful thing to see on the river!]

 

Anyway, before the bridge there were visible remnants of an old barge facility that the charts indicate as belonging to a Liter’s Quarry location on the right.  Liter's also had a quarry in the upriver section near Lock and Dam 2.  Meanwhile, on the left side after the bridge was the community of Prestonville, Kentucky opposite Carrollton.  Here there were some more of those old metal bridge piers similar to the ones I'd seen much further upriver at several points.  Those had apparently belonged to the old RINEY-B Railroad (excellent writeup on it here), but that line didn't extend all the way here to my knowledge. 

 

The pictures below were taken at the mouth of the Kentucky as it enters the Ohio.  I’d made it!

   

 

 

 

But I wasn’t quite ready to call it quits yet…  I was curious to see just how the Kentucky River compared in width to the Ohio River...  With that in mind I first paddled directly across the Kentucky near it's mouth – 60 pulls, or 120 feet.  The Ohio?  360!  Exactly 6 times the width!  You can, by the way, get some great photos of Carrollton from the water here where you're technically in Indiana once you pass the mid point.  I tried to get some good, all inclusive shots but it was hard to get a straight one - I wasn’t used to the waves!  I noticed something else too.  The Ohio looks like it has a lot of ramps!  Interesting…  Maybe I should try paddling the Ohio next year?  I wouldn’t go all the way, of course, but maybe just a little part to see what it’s like?  Maybe more after that?  We’ll see...

 

 

 

After enjoying some time amid the awesome scenery I started to get pretty hungry.  It was time to check out the River’s Edge Restaurant (now Welch's Riverside Restaurant) and see about that fish fry I’d heard about from the fisherman I’d met upstream on Monday.  Once there however, I just couldn’t get past breakfast!  I noticed that it was available and breakfast is my favorite meal even though it was now around 2pm.  Plain old eggs and a double order of hash browns for me!  The restaurant does have windows in the back room that overlook the river but I didn't realize that.  I sat at the counter, but the meal sure was good!

 

 

 

 

When I head back from a trip I usually do so in silence.  I like to savor the memory of what I’ve done.  This time, however, it was different.  A friend of mine, Tom Forsey, is a very talented singer and songwriter with 4 cd’s out and I’d brought along one of them, "Another Chapter Down", with me.  Tom is a funny guy, and his songs are apt to put me in a great state of mind as I think of him and listen to his lyrics.  We’re both advocates of the outdoors and of “old school” values.

 

Anyway, when I got back home I saw a neighbor and asked her to take a picture of the crazy guy who had just paddled the entire Kentucky River in a series of 30 day trips!  I look forward to more great outings as the weather begins to warm next year.  All the best! 

 

James

 

  

 

DIRECTIONS:

 

The easiest way is simply to type "Point Park Ramp" into Google Maps.

 

It always depends on which direction you're coming from, of course, but coming in from Lexington I took KY227.  Once in Carrollton you'll take a left on US42 and the park with the ramp (Point Park) will be on the right just off River Road (how bout that!).  You'll see a sign for it just before you go over the bridge.