Archive for October, 2011
It’s my belief that we don’t see the forest’s true colors until the fall comes. Man, I need another cup of coffee or this blog is going nowhere.
But really! Chlorophyll has the woods wrapped in green as soon as leaves appear in the spring. The ambers and browns and oranges stay hidden until October. Perhaps my true colors stay under wraps until fall as well. I avoid the woods in the summer for the most part. Endure turkey mites and tics and mosquitoes enough and one enjoys looking at nature pics indoors when the weatherman uses dirty words like “heat index.” A midsummer trip to Cumberland Falls was about all I could muster. Then the temperature dropped. My happy face appeared as soon as frost did.
Driving to Bowling Green from my parent’s home in Fulton last week, I couldn’t help but notice the colors along the parkways. You know, parkways were called such because the route was supposed to be as scenic as driving through a, well, park. But the drive wasn’t enough and I needed a real park. Land Between the Lakes appeared on the brown signage ahead of me, and I pulled off for a drive down the Trace and a stop at Hematite Lake. Here was a trail I had seen in the spring, but had never been to in the fall. Wow. Here’s a trail for the entire family, with plenty of wildlife and continuous views of the lake. It was a quick hike with the sun beginning to set, but put me back in a mood to get outdoors for the rest of the year.
If you go, call ahead and get a seat at Patti’s restaurant. They have a pork chop bigger than your fist. Also, stop at the LBL visitor’s center and stock up on goodies and info.
Till next trip…
Eligibility for the 2012 US Wildwater team was determined in Elkhorn City on Sunday, October 16 from 33 competitors in four categories. Boaters from coast to coast, Canada and France raced in timed events over the weekend to take honors.
Known as one of the friendliest destinations in American whitewater, the Russell Fork river again provided perfect conditions for racers and dedicated boaters alike. And as the bumper sticker says, “It’s always sunny in Elkhorn City.” Representatives of USA Canoe and Kayak, Kentucky Sports Authority and the Elkhorn City Area Heritage Council worked together to make sure the weekend was a success both for the race organizers and for the local economy.
Trials participants raced in two events: the Classic, a mile long course through downtown Elkhorn City and the Sprint, a less than quarter mile course a mile upstream of town. The single heat of the Classic was Saturday afternoon, the two heats of the Sprint were Sunday morning/afternoon. Spectators from all over the region lined the banks of the river both days to watch the unique racing boats glide through the choppy waters of the Fork.
The team selected to compete for the US in one or both events in the World Championships by category were:
- K-1 Emmanuel Beauchard, Kurt Smithgall, Jeremy DiCasolo, Chris Norbury, Terry Smith, and Jeremy Rogers
- K-1(W) Tierney O’Sullivan, Marin Millar, Haley Popp, Joetta LaBadie, and Jennie Goldberg
- C-1 Tom Wier, Jack Ditty, John Pinyerd, and Tom Popp
- C-2 Colton Popp and Bryson Popp
If you ‘d like to see more pictures from the USACK Whitewater Team trials and from the rest of the October whitewater season on the Russell Fork, go to http://www.russellfork.info/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=14
On my way to Great Meadows campground in McCreary County where I will be joining the Sheltowee Trace I had to stop by Cumberland Falls State Resort Park. The main purpose behind my stop at the park was to drop off food to pick up in a few days, but luckily it coincided with the final day of the U.S. Adventure Racing Association National Championship competition.
Teams of three raced over twenty four hours on foot, bycicle and canoe using only topographical maps and compasses to find their way to the finish line at the duPont Lodge.
It was a truly beautiful weekend in Southeastern Kentucky for an adventure or a race or both and proves that there is plenty to do on fall Saturdays even when UK and U of L are both playing out of town.
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