Day Four - Fulks Run to Brocks Gap

The day started with rain and that continued during the whole day in the form of rain, drizzle or sprinkles. The river rose a couple feet during the day creating many large rapids. Not long after Lairs Run bridge, there was a big tree laying across the river. We pulled off the side for a moment to contemplate our options. The tree was stable looking and in between some limbs hanging down and the distance between the trunk and the water level looked like an opening just big enough for us to squeeze through. After a discussion, we set off and was successful in shooting the gap. However, until the tree is dealt with, this is a dangerous obstacle.

More rapids, more rain. The river is up and moving fast. The river flow doesn't give us much time to prepare and look at the next rapids to chose our line. We have been choosing some good lines with big waves. As we crash into each wave, water flies over the bow and drenches me. It's cold water but I'm having fun. A few stops had to be made this day so that we could bail the water out of the canoe that accumulates with every rapid.

We finally reach our lunch objective by the afternoon. Wet, cold and hungry, we staggered into Fulks Run Grocery next to the river. Ron and Peggy Turner run the store. John and I, each order a hot pork barbecue sandwich and a suger-cured county ham sandwich. During our conversation about the weather, Ron and Peggy mention that on their Ramon's Brownie Calender it says that there will be rain on April 20. I now realize that I have using the wrong calender. Peggy gives me a calender so that I can better prepare for rest of the year. We thank them for the great sandwiches and visit then continue on.

Downstream from the store, we see off in the distance the white tops of rapids. The river narrows, the rapids begin and then the river turns left because of a rocky outcrop on the right. After the turn, more rapids. We near the rapids and see that they are about four to five feet in height, the largest we've seen on this trip. We hit it straight on and some of each wave ends up in the canoe. Turning to the left, more waves, more water on board but we made it through.

Now a new situation arises. We went through so many big waves that the canoe is filled up to our sets with water and dangerously close to swamping. We quickly paddle to shore and take out so we can begin bailing water. After the canoe is back in order, I gather a few pieces of trash laying around. At every stop we have made, there was always some trash laying around. Today's trash bag that I have brought along for this day's trash clean up contains such items as beer cans, soda cans and bottles, plastic bags, one quart of oil bottle and a soleless tennis shoe. I may not save the world, but I can leave a place better than the way I found it.

We ended today's trip at Bennie's Beach in Brocks Gap. With the canoe out of the river, we walk up to the resturaunt for a cold beer and hot vegetable soup after a cold, rainy day We meet Buzzy Taylor who sets us up with what we need. My wife and daughter pick us up so that we head home tonight to warm up and dry out for tomorrow's rainy looking weather. The river today was up and fast and there were a couple of rapids and trees that needed special attention but overall, an excellent day.