OVERNIGHTER
Past Events
We will be car camping at Turkey Creek Campground. 135 Turkey Creek Rd, Almond, NC 28702. Call 828 488-8966 and talk to Rick, the owner. He will be glad to make a reservation for you. The campground has been sold to Rick, so if you made reservations previously you should probably call him and make them again since I don't think they were transferred over to this new owner. If this campground fills up, there's another just down the road near the put-in for the Hazel Creek paddle.
Day 1 (Thursday) (Optional). We will meet Thursday night around 7 PM and see how many people are paddling what type of water. We can set up our campsites, and relax around a campfire. If everyone could bring a couple of compressed wood logs from the grocery store, we would have plenty of firewood that can be transported legally.
Day 2 (Friday)
We will all paddle across Fontana Lake and hike up to the town ruins of Hazel Creek. Ben and Eric will lead this.
Day 3 (Saturday)
*WW paddling on Tuckaseegee River Class II, led by Ben Johnson.
*Eric Burnett will lead a flatwater trip to Lake Santeetlah, NC. Insider Magzaine listed Santeetlah Lake as #1. It has this to say about Lake Santeetlah. "One TripAdvisor user proclaims that Santeetlah Lake is "possibly the most beautiful lake in North America." Given that this manmade lake features 76 miles of shoreline and 200 miles of hiking trails, the review is far from unfounded." This lake is about a 40 minute drive from Turkey Creek Campground.
Day 4 Sunday
*Ben will lead the trip on the Little TN River WW Class II but technical. You will get a work out.
*Eric Burnett will lead a trip to Caulderwood Lake, NC, one of the "Fingerlakes of the South" and close to the "Dragons Tail". This lake has no development along its shores. Joyce Kilmer Forest is adjacent to this lake.. This lake put-in is about 45 minutes from Turkey Creek Campground. If you have any questions about the flatwater group for this trip, please contact Eric
Clear, cold dam fed river, stocked with fish. Class slow moving flatwater river with a beautiful secluded primitive campsite. Meet at Ferris Bridge put-in in Belvidere, TN at 10:00 am
Leader UweZitzow@comcast.net
Trip canceled due to low water.
Put on at Suck Creek ramp, and camp at the beautiful secluded primative Pot Point. Taking off the next day at Racoon Mountain.
This is a flat water trip on the TN River. All boats welcome
Leader CarolynMRand@gmail.com
Just a quick review of the paddle destinations if you like do some research and ask some questions ahead of time.
Holmes Creek, Econfina Creek, Chipola River, Merritt Mill pond, Ocheesee pond. All of the paddle destinations are the north west Florida panhandle.
Florida Caverns State park located in Marianna, Florida
Reservations can be made at Florida Caverns State Park for RV and use of electric.
Group primitive camp site has been reserved at Florida Caverns State Park. Camping at this site are for tents and possibly a pop-up. The group campsite has toilets running water and cold showers and no electric. The group campsite is free to TVCC. Please contact Pat Carver to save your space in the group camping.
Pat Carver 423-304-6519
Or email PatCarver1055@yahoo.com
2023 Buffalo River Week Trip
April 30th to May 6th 2023 (These dates are NOT inclusive of travel time)
This trip is a white water class II - III canoe paddling trip and in the interest of safety, all who register for the trip will be vetted for their canoeing skill and experience level.
This trip will be limited to 10 experienced canoe paddlers. ( Contact Buddy Wise at 205-672–9025)
Beginning Roster:
1. Buddy Wise,Trip Leader
2. Ben Johnson, Co-Trip Leader
3. David Leigh, Co-Trip Leader
4. Judy Norton
5. Carolyn Rand
6. Seth Rogers
7. Uwe Zitzow
8. David Robinson
No pets allowed on this trip.
The deadline for registering for this trip will be April 1, 2023.
Anyone interested or have questions about this trip can contact Buddy Wise, Trip Leader @ 205-672–9025.
Link to National Park Service River Info: Buffalo National River (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)
Thanks
Buddy
Reelfoot Lake State Park is located in the northwest corner of Tennessee and is noted for its fishing, boating and wildlife viewing. The 15,000 acre lake was created by a series of violent earthquakes in 1811-1812 that caused the Mississippi River to flow backwards for a short period of time, creating Reelfoot Lake.
The park’s ecosystem is unlike any other place in Tennessee. Reelfoot lake is a flooded forest. While majestic Cypress trees rise above the water, below the surface are many submerged Cypress stumps. A variety of aquatic plants and flowers occupy the shoreline and saturate the shallow water. The lake harbors almost every kind of shore and wading bird as well as golden and American bald eagles.
Call Carolyn Rand 423 400-2590 for information.
Our annual Elk River overnighter will take place this year on September 16-17 (Saturday-Sunday). It will follow the same route as in previous years: On Saturday morning (ca. 11 am Central Time) we will meet and put on the river by the Farris Creek Bridge. We will camp that evening at the same beautiful spot as before and take out around 3 pm the next morning at Shiloh Bridge. Shuttle arrangements will explained later. Our journey is about a 12-mile trip through beautiful country side on relatively flat and clear water. Uwe Zitzow will coordinate this trip and can be reached at uwezitzow@comcast.net or by cell # (423)322-9611.
2023 Florida Blueholes Adventure
Trip will be in Chassahowitzka, FL area.
The "Chaz" is just south of Crystal River & Homosassa off US Hwy 19.
Rivers to be paddled are:
The Chaz, Rainbow, Weekie Wachee and out toward the gulf.
Camping & Lodging
3 places to stay in Chassahowitzka:
1. Chassahowitzka Hotel : 877.807.7783 Address: 8551 W Miss Maggie DR, Homosassa, FL 34448 Reservations open on June 27, 2023 so mark your calendar
2. The Chaz River Campground (CRCG): Reservations are open now. 352.382.2200 Address: 8600 W Miss Maggie Dr, Homosassa, FL 34448 Website: campnpaddle.com RV sites & tent camping
3. Seven Sisters Campground (SSCG): 352.422.4078 Address: 8544 W Miss Maggie Dr, Homosassa, FL 34448 Website: sevensisterscampground.com RV sites & cabins- NO TENT CAMPING. Reservations open on June 27, 2023 so mark your calendar
These locations fill up fast. They fill up very fast during December
If you have any plan to go & stay at these places, you need to make your reservations NOW or mark your calendar for June 27.
Any questions give us a call.
Beth & Ben Johnson
423-488-1762
Current & Upcoming Events
It is again time to announce and plan our 2024 Annual Buffalo River Canoe Trip, in the beautiful Ozark Mountains in Arkansas. The dates are June 10 for put in and June 17 for take out. The trip requires you to be in the Buffalo River area on June 9, 2024 as we plan to put on the river early the next morning.
Buddy Wise will lead the trip again this year and if you have never had the good fortune to go on one of these great Buffalo River Canoe Trips, this is your opportunity. Once you go on your first canoe trip, you will go again. It is one of those type of canoe trips that you will never forget. This will be my thirteenth time which proves that point.
Please note for registration:
1. It is limited to 10 people.
2. No pets allowed.
3. Everyone must carry your own supplies, gear, food and water that you will need to support yourself for the entire 7 days.
4. Pay a $50 registration fee which is non refundable and will be used to secure the shuttle outfitter.
5. This is a group supported trip and those who go will be expected to paddle as a group, share in the work of the trip and follow the instructions of the leader. This will insure that everyone enjoys a great trip.
6. You must understand that what ever weather we enjoy or endure, for the 7 days, is the weather that we will all get.
7. The registration deadline for this trip is May 1, 2024 in order to lock in the shuttle with the outfitter, so don’t delay as that is only 8 weeks away.
If you are interested in going on this special trip you will need to call or message Buddy Wise, Trip Leader.
205-672-9025 home
205-908-1511 cell
bwise.legal@yahoo.com
199 Merryhill Road
Sterrett, Al. 35147
Clear, cold dam fed river, stocked with fish. Class slow moving flatwater river with a beautiful secluded primitive campsite. Meet at Ferris Bridge put-in in Belvidere, TN at 10:00 am
Leader UweZitzow@comcast.net
Beautiful Class 2 lively mountain stream flowing through the National Forest. Trip leader Ben Johnson. Additional information to follow as trip date approaches.
Put on at Suck Creek ramp, and camp at the beautiful secluded primative Pot Point. Taking off the next day at Racoon Mountain.
This is a flat water trip on the TN River. All boats welcome. You must be able to carry all of your food water and shelter in your own boat. We do not recommend filtering water from the TN River
Leader CarolynMRand@gmail.com