#beech fork

Happy Birthday to Me <3 with @phatnapoleon and @herumori

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Tim, Jay and myself paddled the Beech Fork this Saturday morning. We did the section from Mantin to 49. The water level was 340cfs. A quick wind storm rolled in just before we put on. The skies soon cleared and we had nice weather most of the way down. At one point we may have spotted a wolf — or just a dog in the wild. It seemed to be hanging around a small hole in the side of a ridge. We soon forgot about the wolf/dog when a bald eagle flew from a tree right above our heads. We were amazed to see it, especially on the Beech Fork. I've only seen one other before, on the Kentucky River and from quite a distance. This was starting from about twenty feet above our heads as the eagle then flew down stream away from us. It was awesome. The day was really about getting some exercise and scouting for the upcoming paddle pickup. The extra wildlife made it pretty epic. Plus, I love paddling in my own back yard.

Beech Fork River Manton to 49 Bridge 650cfs more pictures The 2006 Paddle Pickup was a huge success! Once again volunteers came out in full force even with a forecast of bad weather. For our efforts Mother Nature sided with the Bardstown Boaters as 29 volunteers pulled out as much garbage as we did in the past, filling a huge dumpster along highway 49 with tires, toilets, water heaters, air conditioners, vaccums and beer cans. All pulled from the banks of our beloved Beech Fork River. For the 2006 Paddle Pickup we paddled 9 canoes and 1 kayak 6.5 miles from Manton bridge to 49 bridge. Halfway along the journey we began filling the canoes to the brim with trash. At the take out we met with 10 other volunteers who had already pulled all the garbage from that area. We only had one swim during the event. Kenny and Edie, as the 1st generation showed the 3rd generation the ways of the water. Horizon Hoppers, Dean Watts, and the Bardstown Rotary Club all once again showed their support for the local enviroment by donating everything the Bardstown Boaters needed to pull off this event. But what is appriciated most is the support from the volunteers old and especially new who came out on May 13th and did something we can all be proud of. We will see you all next year in May for the next Paddle Pickup if not on a river sometime before then! 2006 Participants Jay Thomas, Spalding Hurst, Justin Janes, Jennifer Miles, Betsy Berns, Lindsay Schultz, Kenny Thomas, Shirl Thomas, John Thomas, David Gerald Seward, Aarin Lee Seward, Tom Lamont, Wes Parish, Ellen Thimme, Ethan Thimme, Edie Johnson, Angela Babb, Melissa Babb, Marie Babb, Jason Jones, Colin Masters, Tim Wheat, Emerson Ballard, Zack Wimpsett, John B. Mathews, David Etheredge, Toby Thompson and Donna Miles

Dam to Camp to Dam 20cfs Beastie led Tim, Toby, Zach and I up and down the mighty Fork this past weekend. This was a send off trip for Zach, his last Kentucky wilderness trip. He shoves off to Hawaii soon. The water was low, so we couldn't make our planned route of 49 to 31e a reality. But quick on our feet we decided to go from the dam up and then back the next morning. This worked perfectly. Plenty of water held back from the dam. I also found the perfect route through the dam to modify. We need to move 8 rocks to the side and build up a small ledge. It would be a great chute and ledge drop when water runs through it. A wench on a tree and a long cable could get the job done.