Tims Ford Kayaking and Camping

We had a wonderful weekend camping on Big Island in Tims Ford Lake. We arrived Friday evening, had dinner and paddled around Little Island to see the sunset. Saturday morning, we explored Pennington Cave and enjoyed lunch at Ray Branch. There were menacing clouds all day and it rained a little after we got back to camp but not for long. We went to Twin Creeks Marina for dinner and paddled back to camp in the dark. Sunday morning, we packed up and Joan, Jim and Wendy went on to the Tims Ford Marina and to see Leatherwood Island. Campers/kayakers were Jim Barritt, Wendy Fish, Cyn Hartlieb, Joan Hartvigsen, Sara Pollard and Georganne Ross.

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Tim's Ford State Park

We hiked the Lost Cove Overlook Trail crossing over 2 long suspension bridges, had a couple overlooks to Tim’s Ford Lake. At the second overlook, we continued our hike on the Evan’s Point Trail, aka Ray’s Shoreline Trail, to the Devil’s Den Cave where we had our lunch. We traced our steps back to the Marble Plains Trail then arrived back to the second overlook where we hiked to paved trail back to our vehicles.  We hiked a total of 7 miles, then enjoyed some ice cream at the visitor center. 

Those in attendance with TTA were leader Cheryl Smith, Alan Nguyen and his wife Hana, Sara Pollard (Murfreesboro), John Gizelar (Sumner), and our non TTA hikers were Shay Schofield, Paula Farley, Shannon Cox, and Lori Beers. 

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Tims Ford Lake Camping and Kayaking

We had 6 campers to kayak for camping on Little Island at Tims Ford Park Lake. This joint adventure with the Highland Rim chapter started out Friday evening. After dinner we paddled around the neighboring Big Island twice at sunset. Friday night there was a storm with lightning, thunder and heavy rain. Saturday morning, we had to wait until the afternoon to paddle because of the constant rain. We had dinner at the Twin Creeks Marina and enjoyed the nighttime paddle back to our campsite and were able to have a campfire.  Sunday morning three of us paddled to the Tims Ford State Park Marina and enjoyed eating ice cream. Campers/kayakers were Jim Barritt, Jean Breuer, Wendy Fish, Sara Pollard, Georganne Ross and Amy Sutton. 

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Tims Ford Lake Paddle

 

The Highland Rim and Murfreesboro chapters had originally planned an Elk River Float, but TVA was releasing a lot of water from the Tims Ford Dam and the current was too swift. So, it was decided to reschedule it and paddle around Tims Ford Lake instead. We put in at the Anderton Branch boat ramp, paddled over to Ray Branch for a break, then around Big and Little Islands. We got out at Little Island before returning back to the boat ramp. Nice breeze and a beautiful day to be on the lake. Kayakers were Jim Barritt, Chuck Deen, Patty Deen, Michael Glennon, Joan Hartvigsen,  Tony Jones, Sara Pollard, Bob and Laura Qualman. 

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Tims Ford State Park Camping and kayaking

 

Little Island Camping, Hiking & Kayaking

This was a joint event with the Highland Rim chapter. Friday evening we set up camp and then kayaked around Big Island and watched the sun set over the lake. Saturday we kayaked to the Ray Branch Peninsula and hiked the Evans Loop Trail and part of the Ray Branch Shoreline Trail. It was windy and the water was choppy, but we finally got to the peninsula. We enjoyed our lunch before heading back to our campsite. Saturday evening, we secured our kayaks and drove to the Twin Creeks Marina for dinner.  Campers were Jim Barritt, Jean Breuer, Cathy Conley, Joan Hartvigsen, Joni Perrine, Sara Pollard, Georganne Ross, and Lynn Rosser.

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Tims Ford Lake Kayaking and Island Camping - Sara

There were six of us who kayaked and camped on Little Island in the lake at Tims Ford State Park. We got there Friday evening, set up camp and then paddled around Big Island as the sun was setting. On the way back we kayaked into a swarm of gnats and our kayaks were covered in gnats. It looked like there was snow on the boats. Saturday morning when Cathy Conley was packing to leave, she found a snakeskin near where she slept. Cathy and Lynn Rosser were only able to spend one night with us. After they left,  we kayaked to the Ray Branch peninsula and hiked the Evans Loop trail in the rain. It rained on and off all day, but we pretty much had the lake to ourselves. It stayed cloudy all day. We went to dinner at the Twin Creeks Marina and were still able to get a fire going at the campsite when we returned.

Sunday morning Jim and Joan explored the Cline Ridge area and Wiseman Branch area of Tims Ford Lake.  We visited Leatherwood Island then had lunch at Scenic View Marina in Tims Ford State Park.  We then paddled back to Little Island, packed up our camping gear, then paddled back to the boat ramp and our vehicles.

The campers were Jim Barritt, Cathy Conley,  Cyn Hartlieb, Joan Hartvigsen, Sara Pollard and Lynn Rosser.

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Tims Ford Lake Camping and Kayaking Weekend - Sara

 

We had the perfect weather for a weekend camping and kayaking on Tims Ford Lake. Joan Hartvigsen, Jean Breur and Sara Pollard set up camp Friday afternoon and kayaked around the lake after dinner. Saturday morning Joni Perrine joined up for an almost 5 hour trip around Tims Ford Lake. We took a break at Maple Bend Island, had lunch on Owl Hollow Creek and another break on Goose Island. Dinner at the Twin Creeks Marina was great, then took a sunset paddle before getting back to camp. 

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Tim's Ford Camping and Kayaking - Sara

We had a small group but it was still a fun weekend paddling on Tims Ford Lake. We camped on Devils Step Island Friday and Saturday night. Friday evening to enjoy the full moon, we paddled around Devils Step Island. The next morning Judy Fries from Cookeville met us to paddle to Maple Bend and around Goose Island. We had dinner Saturday evening at the Twin Creeks Marina restaurant. After dinner we paddled around the Fairview campground which was packed with RV's. There was plenty of wood to gather so we enjoyed small campfires in the evenings and mornings.  We shared the island with an armadillo who may be the same one we saw the last time we camped on the island. Campers were Sara Pollard, Jean Breuer, and Joan Hartvigsen.

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Tim's Ford Lake Camping/ Kayaking-Sara

Tims Ford Lake Camping and Kayaking. Joint activity with the Highland Rim chapter. We camped on Little Island near the Tims Ford Dam boat ramp. Friday evening we paddled in the dark around Big Island. Saturday we  paddled to  Ray Branch Peninsula for lunch and took a short hike on the Evans Loop Trail to check out the Tims Ford State Park backcountry campsite. We enjoyed dinner Saturday evening at the new Twin Creeks Marina  Restaurant.  Four ladies from 4 TTA chapters -  Jean Breuer (Nashvhlle), Joan Hartsvigsen (Highland Rim)  Lora McBride (Soddy Daisy) and Sara Pollard (Murfreesboro).

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Tim's Ford Lake Camping and Kayaking weekend - Sara

The weather was perfect for this joint event with the Highland Rim chapter. We paddled Friday night after dark to the Fairview campground and then around Devils Step Island. There were lots of stars out but we never saw the full moon until later sitting around our campfire. 

Saturday morning we paddled to Maple Bend Island to take a break and then paddled down Owl Hollow Creek. We returned to Maple Bend Island for lunch and after lunch paddled around Goose Island. We returned to our campsite later in the day and drove to the Blue Gill Marina for dinner at the dockside restaurant. Mary Etta Ward, chapter chair for Highland Rim joined us for dinner. 

Sunday morning we paddled for a couple of hours toward Winchester Park. Three of us camped on Devils Step Island (with an armadillo) and the others stayed in the Fairview campground. Participants were Jean Breur of Franklin, Joan Hartvigsen of the Highland Rim chapter and from Murfreesboro Julie Cordova, Tony Jones, Sara Pollard, Jan Safavi and Jennifer Zahn.

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Tims Ford Lake - Sara

We had 16 paddlers on the Tims Ford Lake Kayak/Camping trip September 19-21.

Ted  Barham

Don Deakins

Bob DeHart

Jane Ellett

Joan Hartvigsen

Tony Jones

Debbie Kimberlin

Gary Kimbrell

Cynthia Meinerding

Sara Pollard

Judy Varner

TC Varner

Cindy Watson

Steve Watson

Lynn Wilson

Wayne Yancey

We cooked hamburgers for a potluck meal at Campsite 50 in Fairview Campground Friday night.  After the meal, we paddled to Devils Step Island and cooked S’mores around a campfire TC built for us.  Next morning, we met for a paddle to Maple Bend Island for a rest and snack.  After that we headed down into the Owl Hollow Creek Wildlife Management area.  Lunch was back again on Maple Bend Island and then we explored Goose Island.  We had a delicious meal at John T’s Barbecue in Winchester that evening.  Unfortunately roaring air boats kept the campers awake Saturday evening, but otherwise the weather was PERFECT for paddling and camping.   

Some pictures can be seen on Don’s Blog: 

http://ctvols.blogspot.com/

 Tony's Pictures:

Tony's More Pictures:

Eat Float Eat-Elk River - Sara

The July 21 Eat Float Eat-Elk River became the Float Swim Eat-TIMS FORD LAKE because of the Elk River being flooded from all the recent rain.  Since the put in area was flooded we moved over to the Tims Ford State Park Marina and launched our boats.  We paddled for a while and then got out and enjoyed a  swim.  We paddled to Leatherwood Island where we had lunch.  After loading up our kayaks, we had ice cream at the marina restaurant.
There were 21 paddlers and we really had a great day on the lake.  Members from our chapter attending were: Faith Bennett, Larry Kirk, and myself.

Forgot the memory card for my camera so I wasn't able to take pictures.