PLACES TO GO ON LAND HOME PLACES TO GO ON WATER
Markland Dam (Mile 531.5)
to
NOTE: This
journal includes a portion of the
Yes, I’ll admit
it… I bit off a little more than I could chew out here the
last time and missed a section. Hey, it was my first trip on
the
The charts for
this section of the river (102 and 103) are available at (http://www.lrl.usace.army.mil/optm/article.asp?id=145&MyCategory=41),
but let me first mention for the sake on continuity that I’ll be describing this
trip in an upriver fashion. Not only are the miles numbered
that way on the charts, but that’s also the way that I recommend paddling any
river – upstream (try getting stuck downriver after the wind picks up and you’ll
know what I mean!).
Yes, I did the
opposite today, by only after checking out the wind forecast for the area
and only after getting to know it better on the charts. Also
influencing my decision: I knew exactly where the ramp in
downtown
At any rate, I
got my gear together and started paddling as a set of barges floated by under
the escort of a Marathon Oil push boat called the
The dam is a pretty monumental sight as you approach it, by the way…
…and speaking
of which, I made my approach on the
lock or
Meanwhile, I’d
heard the lock-through process can take some time, and since nothing yet seemed
to be happening on this front I decided to see if I could get a better view of
it from across the water. However, prior to making
that crossing I first paddled back upriver about ½ mile from the dam (near a
marker called Arrival Point) for a measure of added safety.
Then, paddling in a slow upriver arc to counteract the slight wind and current I
began to cross, only changing direction slightly past mid-river to then head in
a direct line toward the opposite shoreline.
Once there, I
found the shoreline to be pretty trash strewn, yet it was otherwise pretty
pleasant with a nicely forested bank. As far as the northeast
corner of the dam, it appeared to contain a marsh-like area (although I again
lost my nerve and didn’t get too close – I just didn’t know exactly what to
expect).
Meanwhile, I
didn’t forget to keep an eye on what was happening across the way.
Apparently the ships come up to lock gate, and once all is clear the gate
is lifted and they enter into an inner chamber which will then lower them to the
same level as exists on the opposite side of the dam. I
watched as the
OK…
Since I’m technically starting my trip at this point, I’ll mention here
that this section of river has roads which follow it for its entire length –
IN156 on the
Just inside its mouth there’s a beautiful riverboat casino - the Miss Belterra - part of the Belterra Casino complex which contains the tallest building for miles, a hotel. Now I think I made it back into Dans about 200 – 300 yards, but to be honest I lost track of my paddle count. I was distracted both by the boat and by the spectacular swan I encountered in the back of this stream!
Meanwhile,
Craigs Creek Cove on the
The ramp on the
other side belongs to the Smugglers Cove Marina, formerly Dans (this Dan must
have been quite a guy – there was a ramp and a creek named after him!).
Smuggler’s Coves’ website is
http://smugglerscovemarinaonline.com, but the Pier 99 Marina is also back
here with a convenience store and BP gas station. Seems
Anyway, this
cove spreads in a few directions, but I headed back and to the right, eventually
reaching a “T” about 1 ¼ miles in. There were 2 low bridges
back here, just negotiable to
the paddler but a bit too low for a power boat. Both were
navigable too, but I didn’t have enough time. I opted for the
one on the right -
After you
negotiate the bridge on this one you’ll be in a totally different environment.
Compared with all the boats and houses you’ll have seen to this point, it
looks much more like a wilderness back here. It also branches
again, so just to be consistent I headed to the right, soon finding myself in a
very low lying area where the houses had returned.
“Hmmm… This is getting a little too up close and personal.” I thought. “I think it’s time to head back now!” And so, once I’d gotten to the end of the other (unnamed) branch, I encountered a beautiful environment...
I also had a meeting with a pretty bold little turtle that held its’ ground long enough for me to get some less than perfect pictures…
Back to the
Meanwhile, the
Turtle Creek enters at mile 529 on the north side of the river on the outskirts
of
…and speaking
of looking nice, check out
(As a side
note, there’s an ancient ramp just
downriver from
Also passing me at about this point was the Steven J Mason of the Ingram Barge Company (http://www.ingrambarge.com)...
It was from
here on that I was exploring the aforementioned area that I missed the last time
in
I also met what I believe was an osprey in this section. These birds are simply amazing the way they fish! You’ll catch them out of the corner of your eye as they swoop down from whatever tree they’ve been perched upon and hit the water – hard! – to grab their prey. You’d think they might hurt themselves hitting the water so heavily, but it’s quite a spectacle.
Last up –
…and I also thought the fallen tree below made for an interesting sight…
This cove gets
really shallow at the furthest point and the fish were really enjoying it.
In fact, all it seems you’d need is a canoe or kayak and a net!
They were jumping all around me. Even the ones I
couldn’t see left telltale swooshes of mud in the water.
Anyway,
emerging back onto the Ohio from the other side of the “A”, I was intrigued by
the sight of a little pier out in the middle of nowhere and I crossed back to
the Kentucky side at about the same point I did last time, across from a really
grand house. I got back to
The ramp and
park look pretty safe, by the way, but I did notice a certain element which
might be of concern if you arrive
solo much later than that. I say
might because my instincts as far
as people’s tendencies are usually wrong. As always, however,
pick your spots and be please careful out there – bring a phone too.
DIRECTIONS:
From
I took the
From
Take the KY35
exit off I71 and head north directly into downtown