Tennessee River Gorge Paddle

There were 9 folks who paddled the Tennessee River. We put in at Sullivan's Landing on Highway 41 and paddled over 9 miles to the Guild Public Access Area below the old Hales Bar Dam. It was a little chilly and the sun came out only a few times, but we paddled the entire time since there was nowhere to stop and get out of our boats. We saw an oprey's nest with chicks, a beautiful ball eagle and a barge passed us on the river. Paddlers were Jim Barritt, Cathy Conley, Joan Hartvigsen, Tony Jones, Sarah Lovett, Sara Pollard, Todd Stanley, Brian and Ruth Wofford. 

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Annual TN River Gorge Paddle

We had seven paddlers to kayak from Nickajack Lake to the takeout across from Sullivan's Store off Highway 41. This paddle was changed from a 9-mile float starting from the Suck Creek boat ramp to a 5-mile float because of the heat and we could get on the river sooner because of a shorter shuttle. We had a nice breeze and was able to take a snack break under some shade trees along the bank. The mimosa trees along the river were beautiful and osprey, river otters and turtles were spotted along the river. Paddlers were Jim Barritt, Wayne Drown, Wendy Fish, Joan Hartvigsen, Tom Hartvigsen, Sara Pollard and Laura Qualman. 

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Tennessee River Paddle - Sara

We had 6 kayakers for the Tennessee River paddle on Sunday. We met at the Suck Creek boat ramp and set up the shuttle to take out at Nickajack Lake. Improvements have been made at the Suck Creek boat ramp making it an easy put in with lots of room to leave our kayaks to the side while the shuttle was being set up. Tom stayed back with the boats while during the shuttle set up.  There were just a few boats on the water but it was still a pleasant and relaxing paddle. We saw turtles, a beaver's dam, osprey nest and an eagle. Kayakers were Carrie Ashton,  Jim Barritt, Joan Hartvigsen, Tom Hartvigsen, Sara Pollard, and Stacy Riggs. 

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Annual TN River Gorge Paddle - Sara

We had 6 paddlers to start at the Suck Creek boat ramp in Chattanooga and paddle down the Tennessee River to Nickajack Lake at Raccoon Mountain. It was a nice day traveling through the Tennessee River Gorge with mountains on both sides of the river. We got out a few times to enjoy the cool water and lunch. We put our kayaks on the river around 9:00 am CT and finished around 2:00 CT.  At the end of our trip there was a tugboat pushing a barge up river.  Paddlers were Deb Dreves, Joan Hartvigsen, Craig McBride, Lora McBride, Carol Paris and Sara Pollard.

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Annual Tennessee River Gorge Paddle

 

Joan's annual Tennessee River Gorge Paddle through Prentice Cooper State Forest. We went from the Suck Creek boat ramp to the Raccoon Mountain boat ramp. It was a wonderful day out on the water. We got to see some Eagles as a bonus. It was Joan, Tom, Craig, and Braedon.