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2008 Kentucky River Kayak Trek

Monday, October 6, 2008

Dam 3 in Monterey to Dam 2 in Lockport (Mile 31)

I'd been looking forward to seeing what the community of Monterey, Kentucky was like but I'd held the suspense until I'd paddled all the upriver sections first. Thus, I didn’t know much about it. I did, however, have good directions to the ramp because I’d checked 4 different sources. I set out at 7am from Lexington and arrived a little after 8, but on the trip I was greeted with some great foggy countryside views on US127 along with an incredible horizon painted orange by the morning sun and complete with white vapor trails over a blue sky. What a way to start!

When I got to Monterey, however, it was apparent that the Mr. Hyde part of my persona, the "hapless forgetful man-klutz”, had returned. You see, Monterey turned out to be a very frustrating place. First, the directions I got were apparently all out of date, and I couldn't find the ramp. That being the case, my thinking was that this was such a small town that I’d have to find it eventually. Either that, or at least find someone to ask. Well, I ended up checking every road in town and even some others on the outskirts, but I found no ramp and nobody to ask.

What I finally found out was that the ramp that used to be open to the public is now private. Access to it was off Point of Rock Road on a little lane that looked more like a large driveway than it did Kentucky Route 561 as per my directions. Anyway, I wasn't even able to drive down this road. There was a sign which, had I not seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn’t have believed it. You need written permission to enter! I might have expected such a sign in Monterey, California but not Monterey, Kentucky.

Something must have happened for them to have gone to these measures to make the ramp private. It makes me think of Charles Grodin in the movie "Midnight Run" when he says: “C’mon…don’t do this…” in a plea to change the mindset of Robert DiNiro’s character. The problem with such things is that while they may have justification, they generally lead to a cooler attitude toward others. The action is brought into play by the attitude and the attitude is perpetuated as long as the action is maintained. Can this begin to affect a person in a deeper way?

Another movie comes to mind… I don’t plan on seeing the latest Batman because I’ve heard it’s incredibly dark - and look at what happened to the 2 leading actors in the film... Heath Ledger died under somewhat mysterious circumstances and Christian Bale was arrested for assault. Did the darkness necessary to play their roles begin to affect them at a deeper level? Anyway, the ramp situation was upsetting. Folks have a right to do whatever they want with their property. I don't mind that. What irked me was that my bad luck had returned. I needed all the time I could get (10 hours to complete this section) and now I’d have to either come back another day or try to quickly find the next ramp down in Lockport, paddle upriver to Monterey and back. Frustrated by maps though, I wondered if the Lockport put-in would even exist!

Well, as it turned out, all my driving hadn't been entirely unproductive. I'd noticed a road that meandered down along the water and it had a sign with the mileages remaining to both Gratz and to Carrollton, Kentucky - two communities I knew to be directly on the river. I therefore tried this road. Perhaps I'd stumble onto the community of Lockport... Luckily enough, I found it after another 45 minutes. Seeing a Lockport quarry sign beside the road at one point had really helped me out. It at least proved I was headed in the right direction! :)

Upon my arrival in Lockport, Kentucky I found that the put-in is a paved ramp just downstream of Lock and Dam 2, which itself lies directly beside KY389. Neither of the lock houses remain, as the proximity to the road tells me that they must have been torn down to make room for it. As for put in itself, it looks a lot like the one at river mile 205 near Bybee Pottery in Waco in that both ramps enter at stream junctions. That ramp entered at the confluence of the Drowning Creek and the Kentucky River, while this one enters at the confluence of the Six Mile Creek and the Kentucky. It’s not as remote, however, being just outside Lockport. Below is a scene looking downriver at the Lock and Dam...

Anyway, when I finally got on the water at 9:30 I didn’t think it would be possible to return before dark, and that feeling seemed to be confirmed when Six Mile Creek proved to be the longest navigable side stream in terms of flat water so far (with the possible exception of the Red River which I didn’t fully explore). This was OK since I'd brought my headlamp, but what I’d forgotten was the sponge I use to bail out my boat. I'd also lose another towel today. Aargh.

From here I headed upstream to Lock and Dam 3 in Monterey where I'll technically begin this section. There's a great write-up on the history of Monterey here, but the lock and dam here is in a really wide open area with very large beaches on both sides. It’s beautiful, and I actually did get out and climb up the lock side to get a better look...

Unlike Lock and Dam 2, both lock houses remain here amid the community of Gest, Kentucky which is across from Monterey (at least I think they do - they aren't identical as lock houses were said to be). These houses are similar to the ones upriver in Irvine in that they're in disrepair and in need of some TLC, however. As for a portage, it looks like it would be pretty easy. The downriver side is a sandy/rocky beach which is easy to climb and the upriver side is also an easy climb, albeit through some vegetation.

Once back on the water I crossed the river and met a family fishing at the Monterey ramp. They confirmed that the ramp was, indeed, private. Cedar Creek enters the river here, by the way, so I ventured in. It's a bit of a challenge to negotiate because it's quite shallow with several shoals in a short span. I got in about 100 yards and when I came out it was 3:30. Turns out, I was doing much better on time than I'd thought. I might just make it back before dark after all!

Back at the river, I was now looking down the straightaway that comprises the first two miles. In this stretch the shorelines consist of farmland on both sides, but later the banks will alternate farmland with forested hills. Two streams, Dry Branch at mile 41 (I think it’s the third stream with that name so far) and Raccoon Branch just after mile 40, were barely noticeable on the left.

Next comes a long stretch from mile 39 to mile 33 that forms almost a complete circle. According to the charts the right bank in here from Pond Creek to Severn Creek (which I'll describe further below) is referred to as the Sliding Bank, while the road I drove in on (US355) follows close to the river. Pond Creek near mile 37.5 wasn't navigable, but there was a spot at mile 37 that was REALLY interesting. It looked like one of the places you see on a highway that offers a scenic view, but it also could have been a bar/restaurant at one time. As I passed it on my drive in I'd noticed that it’s blocked off by a fence now, but looking at it from the river it calls to mind all sorts of possibilities.

Assuming I'm correct and this was once a public place, why did it close? Had similar problems to those in Monterey led them to close it and block it off? I'm very curious about this location. If anyone could enlighten me I'd really appreciate it. My email is at the bottom of my "About Me" page. Anyway, the spot consists of a nice stone wall (see below) which supports a river overlook. There's also a wall winding down the side in the same stonework with some rocky steps leading down to the river. What a place!

Across the river from this I noticed a huge beehive on a tree branch. I got the best picture I could without getting too close, but I know what some are saying: “Paddle right up there and take a close-up picture, you pansy!” That’s fine, but I’m getting really close to finishing the river and I’d really like to live to see Carrollton!

Just after mile 36 and slightly upriver from the spot where Severn Creek enters, I saw some remnants of another really old ramp. The charts indicated that Clemmon's Landing was here, so this might have been the location of another ferry? As for Severn Creek, there’s a nice looking road bridge over it's mouth (photo below) and I got in about 1/2 mile. More of that green alphabet soup alga was in here too, of a kind similar to that I'd seen in every creek since the Elkhorn. Also of note was a structure not too far back that looked like it might have been a water intake. It took me by surprise. I might have expected to see it on the Kentucky River but not in a small incoming stream like this.

From this creek all the way back I was paddling for all I was worth, trying to make use of angles in order to cut some time and distance. By that I mean that I really hug the insides of the curves and then if one straightens out I cut diagonally across the straightaway. I don’t like to do this, but that was the way it was meant to be today. The picture below provides an example of what I'm talking about. I would pick a point at the end, between the fingers of land that successively protrude from the shorelines and then paddle straight through this "S". I should also mention that it gets darker on the water much more quickly. That's because you’re so low that the trees start to block out the declining sun. That can make it appear much later than it really is.

I did notice one little shoal on the right at mile 35 that looked like it might be used as a ramp. There was a wooden wall still partly standing that came down to it. Next came the community of Fallis, Kentucky is on the left at mile 33. A dog barking at me there could be heard for a couple river miles. The Pot Ripple Creek enters here too (also on the left), and I got in 100 yards before it ended at a bridge. The shoal for this creek was being used as a ramp, and there was what looked like a campground at the top.

The last part of the trip was a slow right curve all the way down to Lock and Dam 2 at mile 31. As mentioned before, Six Mile Creek enters immediately before and I got in more than a mile. Whilst doing so, I noticed a mailbox lying on the right bank a little way in. Seems someone was up to some mailbox pranks. If anyone in the vicinity of Lockport is looking for their box (#421), it’s back here and it still looks to be in good shape. I caught a glimpse of an otter at the end of this stream. It quickly peered over a downed tree at me before performing a vanishing act. Below is a scene from the stream...

As for lock and dam 2, it would be an easy portage but a long walk. You’d need to take out at the ramp I used and then walk your boat and gear up, then walk down a section of road, and then walk back down to the river. However, I did notice that you might be able to drive down to the bank on the downriver side, making for a possible put-in point. I may try this for the next downriver stretch. The first photo below was taken at the beginning of the day while the second was taken at the end. You'll notice the ramp parking lot on the left side in the second shot.

Anyway, when I arrived back at the ramp I found quite a few people there (and to my total surprise I arrived about 7PM and before dark). The people were young; a little younger than me, I think, and they were just having some liquid refreshment and relaxing. However, I’m always wary of people who are drinking because it makes them unpredictable (unless, of course, you happen to be a friend drinking with them). I was therefore a little surprised when one guy asked me if I wanted something. I said no, but I did appreciate the offer. A stranger willing to share what he had - a kindness.

Then, before I could get my boat up to the car, a girl bet one of the guys that he couldn’t get in my kayak. They asked if they could try, and I agreed, but once the guy got down to the boat it was apparent that the girl had lost interest in the bet. He helped me carry it back up. He mentioned that he enjoyed kayaking too, but that he hadn’t been out much. He was from Munfordville near the Green River. I haven't tried that stream yet, but I hope to do so at some point.

DIRECTIONS:

Don’t do what I did. :)

I could leave it there and that would probably suffice, but I’ll explain in more detail. Get to Lockport and you really can’t miss the lock and dam. It’s off KY389. If you follow KY22 southwest of Owenton you’ll hit 389. Take a left and soon after you’ll see the lock and dam down and to your left. You really can’t miss this (even I didn’t!).

The ramp I used is immediately past this on the left at the bottom of the parking lot if you come in this way. You can actually drive down on the other (downriver) side of the lock too, but I’m not sure if there’s a ramp there or just a beach. I’ll find out next time and relay that info.