Merry Christmas...Bending Branches Paddles are in

Merry Christmas to all and an especially heartfelt thanks to Bending Branches for sending the paddles. I had the opportunity to use them today and wow, was I ever pleased. I wanted a paddle that was as near to my Dagger bent-shaft (thanks Steve Scarborough) as I could find. The Sunburst XL 14 was the ticket. A carbon shaft with an absolutely beautiful wood blade, and all weighing in at only 17 oz. Of course the first thing I do when it arrived was compare it to my Dagger. Pretty much the same paddle shape with the BB being slightly narrower at the shoulders and about an inch longer overall. This paddle is truly a combination of form and function and I couldn't wait to get on the water with it. So, yesterday I headed out to paddle and scout the last of the chain of lakes below Fontana Dam. Earlier I had paddled the Cheoh and Calderwood, so I wanted to paddle Chilhowhee and the Little Tennessee River as it heads toward Knoxville.

The photos above are from the Little Tennessee starting at Chilhowhee Dam and heading north.

The weather was warm, t-shirt day with some clouds and temps in the mid to high 50's. Wind was a bit blustery, but not bad. I couldn't figure out where to put in below Calderwood Dam that was easy, so I drove down Hwy 129 until I found the first pull-off near the lake. My first impression of that section of lake was ....ugly! Lots of junk around with tires, car parts and concrete pieces as well as broken glass. It kills me when I see junk like this in rivers and lakes. I just hope we've learned and continue to learn how to deal with all of our junk, besides throwing it in the rivers and streams we hold so dear. Anyway, the paddle from there to the Chilhowhee dam is only about 6 miles so about an hour and half later I reached the dam. My first impressions of the BB Sunburst were nothing but pleasurable paddling. It felt light, strong and responsive. Definitely something I could hold onto and use for a long days paddling.

Once I reached the dam, I had to carry around it. I wanted to do this to see how long it would take and how much energy to get all my stuff around it. It wasn't bad, but it also wasn't that much fun. Above the dam I made it in 2 trips with the boat and a bag, then my other dry bag, pelican case and paddles. I had to carry up a gradual gravel incline about 150 yrds. On the other side, it was a steep, grassy/muddy slide with a few rocks along the way. Holding the grab loop with the heaviest dry bag on my back, I was able to do it in 2 trips going straight down. The water was moving below the dam and since it was the Little Tennessee I was free of the dams. I really wanted to just keep going once I started. Thinking about this summer I was wondering what my emotions would be at this point. Probably it will be the second day of paddling so my guess is I'll be just tired of the dams.

One thing I did find out was I have a big problem with the Calderwood Dam. No way can I carry around it. The most remote dam of the 4 I have to go around, the shear walls around it won't let me carry it. I'll call Alcoa and see if they can help, otherwise, I'm not sure what I'll do.

Paddling along the Little T the rest of the afternoon was fantastic. Paddling along huge sandbars on the river left side while houses, churches and the road were on the river rightside, I wondered how much civilization I would see as I make my way to the Gulf. I think I paddled another 2.5 hours before I thought about stopping for the night. I saw a little cove and pulled in for the night. A great choice because it happened to be right next to a wetland fed by the river and was gorgeously beautiful with the sun starting to drop. I was greeted by a caucophony of ducks and geese feeding and flying and doing what ducks and geese do. I hadn't seen, nor heard anything like that since I last visited south Louisiana. Hundreds of them, but all hidden in the tall grass, or on the otherside where I couldn't see them well. Once darkness started to fall, I'd see flights take off in groups. In all I saw Canadian Geese, Wood ducks, Mallards, Bufflehead ducks, Great Blue Herons and even some sort of seagull. A very nice evening. Tired, I went to sleep shortly after dark and listening to the weather report. The report called for high winds and rain starting the next morning.

The winds started as promised at about 9 pm. Big blowing gusts all night had me waking up every 2 hours or so. Still, I slept well and woke rested, but to rain...and at 4 am. I slept a bit for the next hour and finally was roused completely by the drip, drip of my tent. My 18 yr old tent has seen it's last days I believe. It wasn't completely leaking,but enough that I packed, ate a PB&J and was on the water by 6:O'Dark Thirty. I had planned to paddle the10-12 miles to Ft Loudon, but only managed to make about 8 more miles before turning around. The rain and wind were getting darker and nastier. I wasn't sure how bad it was going to get and didn't want to have to retrace my path if I was putting that much effort into getting anywhere. It's one thing to head in only one direction and work hard. Your still getting somewhere. It's quite another to work hard in one direction and know your going to have to work just as hard to come back the same way. Somehow it seems pointless. I doubt Lance Armstrong would feel that way, but in comparison, I'm a wimp and it felt like a lot of work for not much return. After turning back, I was hit with a huge headwind and driving rain. I paddle furiously for about 30 minutes and managed to round the next bend where the winds were at least crossways to me, instead of head on. Luckily, after another 15 minutes they calmed and the rain turned to light drizzle. After that, the winds were a non-factor and the rain was hardly noticable. At 10:30 I stopped to make some hot coffee and thought about eating, but didn't really need it. The oatmeal cookies I ate at 4 am and the PB&J at 5 were holding well. From then on, it was steady paddling back to the car. In all, I paddled for maybe 9-10 hours and covered what looked like about 30 miles total. It felt good to check a few of my packing, loading and camping systems..all need some work, but aren't too bad. Negatives...I had forgotten my coffee mug and my tent leaked. Positives...my paddles are perfect and the boat was still way comfortable and fast. At one point, just below the dam, I was doing about 7 mph with the current. On the average I was cruising at 5 - 5.5 mph. Things look good.

A Cold Jocassee Saturday

Last week, my boat for the trip arrived! I was stoked to get the message on my cell...it was in Asheville ready to be picked up. My first impression was that it was huge. You've got to remember, I've been paddling my marathon C-1 for the last year. Being built for speed, it's lines are slim, narrow and graceful. Of course, this was with the new boat wrapped in umpteen layers of plastic and foam, so my true impression would have to wait until I got home and unwrapped it and later, when I had a chance to paddle it.
Once home, the Xmas tree was priority. I had to get it on it's stand and upright, or my kids were going to riot. That took about an hour...it's a 12 footer. Another hour to figure out how to unwrap the boat and wow...it's a bright, shiny red and pretty unique in it's lines. Saturday was supposed to be warmer with temps in the mid 50's. I had seen a discussion on Paddling.net about a group going to Lake Jocassee this weekend so I put in to go. Turns out it was only myself and Rick, a professor from Emory. We agreed to meet at the parking lot and put-in at 9 am. I was pretty psyched, but watching the weather temps. I drove down friday and slept in the van. With the temps bottoming out at 27, I was comfortable, but glad for the coffee that morning.
Rick showed up and we both scouted out from the shore. Winds blowing 10-15 mph, foot high whitecaps and it was blowing right at us. It was still 27. We were still going. Rick put on his dry-suit and I had my dry-top and Patagonia paddle pants with a couple layers underneath. I was warm, but wondering how the boat would do with the wind and waves. Since it's a hybrid; able to be paddled as a kayak and a canoe, I decided the kayak paddle with give me a little better chance if I needed it. Turns out no need to worry. The boat handled the wind and waves just fine. Very stable, comfortable and surprisingly fast. Rick has some sort of skinny sea-kayak that easily held it's speed, but I was able to keep up without a problem. The bow never dipped under any of the waves, the deck was dry and with pogies on my hands, the wind and weather didn't really affect us at all. We cruised. We paddled for about 2.5 hours at a moderately easy pace and 8 miles later hit the beach near Laurel Falls and had lunch. The winds died after about 45 minutes and it was superb paddling the rest of the day. On the way back, I opted for the bent-shaft canoe paddle. This is were I was surprised. It felt like I was completely fresh using a canoe stroke. The boat's seat is adjustable, but didn't need it. My GPS has a speed indicator and with the kayak paddle, it showed we would be cruising easily at around 4.6 - 5.2 mph. Checking our speed with me using the canoe paddle, we were doing a very close 4.6 - 5 mph. I have to say the canoe paddle felt very nice. Rick, thanks for the great day. Clipper, thanks for the boat. My first impression is that it will do the job very nicely and with style.

Here's a letter I sent to a friend and follower of this adventure. We've been corresponding throughout the last few weeks about the Sea-1. I wrote my first impressions to him and it turned out to be an accurate review so I'm reprinting it here.

"Hey Steve,
The boat arrived and I had a chance to paddle it last weekend. It was cold by our standards with the temp at 27 degrees when we put in. We were paddling on Lake Jocassee in SC; a beautiful, cystal water lake. The wind was blowing in our faces ata bout 10-15 mph so I opted to first try her with a kayak paddle. The seat was on the middle setting of 3. The spray deck went on easiliy with snaps all around. I threw in lunch and water and off we went. First thing I noticed, was the leg room. Plenty of room to sit with legs crossed, stretch out, or just sit with your knees up. A great thing, and well thought out, were those thigh braces on each side of the opening. My knees fit comfortably into them and fit snugly. My knees were able to feel the boat in a way that felt similar to a decked seakayak. But again, I didn't even notice them the rest of the day. I do believe I could roll the boat if I tried, but that probably speaks more to my whitewater background.

As we shoved off, I was wondering how the boat would handle the wind, especially since it was kicking up foot high waves that were rolling toward us. I had no need to worry. The boat easily rode over them with minimal splash over the bow and none touched me. The boat tracked easily and straight and we were able to keep a very good pace as we crossed the big open bay for the first 45 minutes. After that the wind died and we were able to cruise. I had my gps with me and could monitor speed. We were making good time at about 4.6 - 5.2 mph at a comfortable pace. Not leisurely, but a making time pace while we paddled. We had an 8 mile paddle to the backside of the lake and made it in about 2.5 hrs with us looking around, stopping to talk a bit and coasting some. After the turn, I switched to canoe paddle. My bent shaft felt great in my hands after the kayak paddle. Even with a slight headwind we were still managing 4.5 - 5 mph....just a tick slower.
All in all, I was impressed with everything about the boat. Comparing it to my Jensen 18 ft marathon racer it wasn't as fast, but way more comfortable. My racing seat is a bucket sliding seat. After 5 hours in the Jensen, my rear end is usually sore from sitting. I didn't feel any soreness from the Sea-1. That was the biggest surprise to me. The ability to change my position, change my paddle and still keep comfortable throughout a days paddle will be a welcome change.

One more thing, the boat looks to be very well made and is beautiful to look at."

Paddling for a Purpose Welcomes Teva

This week, I decided to add a video of a morning when I was working in Chile. This was probably one of the most frustrating moments that I ever experienced as a guide; and let me tell you, we had quite a few. Bob Beazley and I were on the 2nd day of a Chile Week of Rivers Kayak trip when the rains came. Our driver, from northern Chile had never seen rain...truly he had never seen rain since where he lived, it never rained. Anyway, I had told him to get the vans and equipment to the top of the road if he saw it was going to rain that night. It rained while we all slept. Next morning, we couldn't get the van, truck or equipment out. Our driver, Lucio said he woke up and heard it raining, but he thought he was dreaming so he went back to sleep. Chilean logic I guess :) . There we were with 10 guests who were getting restless...had paid a lot of money to go paddling that day...and were stuck in the rain and mud. They could only watch as we tried to figure out what to do. I haven't ever felt that helpless and frustrated. While being one of the most frustrating experienced guiding, it also turned out to be a high point for the guests. Just goes to show you that when it seems like your at your lowest, it matters most in how you deal with it. The video is our answer to being in the middle of nowhere and needing a tow-truck. Don't ask me how I was able to communicate with the poor farmer about needing to borrow his 2 ox to pull our van and truck up the hill. Also, the shovel in my hands isn't really a shovel...it's one part of a 2 piece paddle scooping 2 inches of mud off the hard clay roadbed. Enjoy.

On the project news front. This should be an exciting week for me. Kinda like Christmas early. First some good news in adding another project sponsor on board. Teva, maker of extra0rdinary sandals and shoes, as well as hats is helping out with some great footwear. Most of my gear has aged it's needing to be replaced. Actually, just about all of it is at least 8 years old...most of it older and well used. In order for this project to be successful, I knew that I needed to replace a lot of little things. Well, a lot of little things eat of the trip budget quickly. Every sponsor that has jumped aboard has been wonderful and much appreciated. Teva is sending me a sandal for paddling., the Open Toachi, and another pair for camp, the Mountain Scuff. Each should do the trick and provide some great protection and comfort along the way. Also, the sun is a huge worry for me, especially as I make my way south toward Mobile. For that, I'll be wearing their Desert River Rat hat, complete with full cape in back to ward off the sun.

Thursday, my Clipper Sea-1 should be coming in by Roadway. Keeping my fingers crossed since I'll be looking forward to a Saturday paddle on Lake Jocassee with some Paddling.net friends. Right now, it's in Chicago so I'm hopeful. Again, the folks at Clipper (Great Western Canoeing) have been great at communicating and helping the process along. Hopefully I'll be able to give my first thoughts on it after my paddle on Saturday. Weather...another finger crosser is predicted to be in the 50's. I can only hope all goes as planned.

Also, since I'm on the subject of sponsors. Bending Branches is also going to provide a kayak paddle, as well as the bent-shaft Premium canoe paddle. Much thanks! Since the Sea-1 is a hybrid, it can be paddled as a canoe, or a kayak with a simple seat adjustment. That was one of the selling points for me. I can paddle using a canoe paddle for long periods and not have my shoulders and back tighten and ache. But, the kayak paddle will be faster for the times when I need it. The paddles are both carbon shaft with the canoe paddle sporting a wooden blade and weighing in at 15 ounces. The Breeze Kayak paddle should perform stellarly. Carbon shaft and offered in 3 blade styles, I chose the Evening blade, 2 piece construction with a telescoping ferrule to choose any angle of off-set and length between 225-240 cm. Maybe they'll come in this week and I can give them a go along with the boat.

The Story of Christine and a Project Update

Just an interesting adventure pic to start the post. Th pic is of Christine from a trip in Chile in 1991 that I did with Shane Benedict and Bob Beazley. She's a 1967 Chevy Impala that we traveled in for 3 months and had more stories than you could imagine. Click here to read a little about it. http://mysite.verizon.net/resxsdht/id3.html
Forgive the formatting as I haven't been able to figure out all the workings of the site builder Verizon has, but hope you enjoy the writing.

Where are we now? Well, I can say we are farther along than I thought we would be, but not nearly as far as I'd like. Now that's said, what's been accomplished and what's happening?

First, Paddling for a Purpose has generated interest and support across several communities. Leading that has been the paddling community with their support and sponsorship. Four quality companies have stepped up to sponsor this project; Nantahala Outdoor Center, Clipper Canoes, Bending Branches Paddles and Astral Buoyancy. Thank you very much.

Also, the response from paddling friends, past co-workers and others in the industry has been great. In particular, Joe Jacobi and Wayne Dickert, both paddling friends and past Olympians have asked if they could join me for a portion and others have asked about it as well. That means a tremendous amount to me so thanks. Mostly being a whitewater crowd, most of my friends say, "cool project" and offer their support. However, these two guys are always up for any kind of paddling and are some our sports premier spokesmen. They are pretty much always up for a paddle of any kind. I look forward to paddling with them and others along the way.

I also put out an email announcement to all the school personnel. The response was great with several teachers and admins contacting me with their support and are excited about the project. There will undoubtedly be more support as we get closer. Summer seems like a long way off at the moment, and with Christmas and the economy, it's not the best time to solicit donations. I'm looking forward to engaging the local community even more as I get closer to the launch.

The last few posts have been directed toward the veterans my father served with. The response has been very touching and rewarding. Hearing from those that served on the same base in Vietnam and in the same outfit he flew with has been worth all of this. Their stories are simply amazing. A self-published book detailing personally told stories from their experiences is for sale. Its titled, "Cleared Hot" and available here:http://www.lulu.com/content/2813093
The book contains 232 real-life stories submitted by USAF and allied pilots who participated in the Vietnam war as Forward Air Controllers, those who flew with them, those who supported them on the ground, and, in some cases, those on the ground whom they supported.

Technology and equipment wise I'm doing well. Sponsors have been able to support boat, paddles, PFD, and some other small items I'll need. I Ebayed my fathers Bose CD/Radio and bought an Acer One laptop for the trip. At about 10 inches X 7 inches and weighing about 2.5 pounds, it should fit the bill well. I'm going to be asking AT&T to help with a broadband anywhere USB card. Otherwise my brother has a plan I can use, but the cost will still be more than I'd like. Keeping my fingers crossed on that. Also have my GPS and topo maps al ready to go. I won't rely on GPS, but use maps and compass mostly. The GPS is in case I'm not exactly sure where I am. Hate when that happens. Oh...also my weather and VHS radio for info and communication are all set to go.

My last 2 pieces of sponsorship needs are camping gear and food. My camping gear is needing some help. After years in Chile, Mexico, Costa Rica and Vietnam, as well as personal trips around here in the Smokies, it's not in the best shape. Sleeping pad, tent, cookware, knife and water filter are going to be either repaired, or replaced. I'll be looking at sponsorship for this end of things once Christmas has passed.

Now, food is one of those questions a lot of people are asking about. "What will you be eating?" How will you cook it?" To answer, I'll be eating lots of easy to cook, high calorie meals. Probably rotate about 5 different recipes using dehydrated meats, pasta, rice and grains. Breakfasts will probably be oatmeal, or fruit/grain mix. Cliff Bars, P-nut butter, honey dried fruits and foil packets of chicken will be lunches. I'll also have some dried veggies and other stuff to throw in the pot for dinner. I'm am looking for a sponsor for that end as well. Again, after the Christmas rush has passed is when I'll be starting to plan meals and such.

Veterans Day Remembered - My Father: Veteran and Teacher

For those of you reading this for the first time...Welcome. The Paddling for a Purpose Project started through the inspiration and efforts of Steve Claxton, Community Schools Coordinator for Swain County Schools. His project, "Bike Across America" had similar goals. Through his vision, I have decided to embark on a similar project. Both of these projects primary goal is to raise funds to create scholarships through the Swain County Schools Foundation. His is in honor of his mother, Phyllis Claxton. This project is in honor of my father, Keete L. Hester, a veteran of the Air Force, as well as a career public school teacher.

Paddling for a Purpose is my effort to raise scholarship funds through an 1,100 mile solo paddling expedition from Bryson City, NC to Mobile, AL. I'll launch in mid June 2009 and 30 days later end my journey in the Gulf of Mexico at Mobile Bay. This project has 2 simple goals.

1. Establish a scholarship in my father's name for Swain County students to pursue degrees in education, or engineering.
2. Honor the contributions of my father to his family, his country and his professions.

Please take time to read earlier posts and give your support through your donation and/or comments. All support is greatly appreciated. One of the great aspects of this is that 100% of the funds donated will go directly to Swain County Schools Foundation and student scholarships.

This post is dedicated to our veterans. I created the slide-show above from family photos to outline my father as a veteran and his life of service. Starting with photos of him as a Naval Academy Midshipman, class of 1952, the slides show his career as an Air Force Officer and later as a High School JROTC Commander. The Naval Academy, Class of 52, had a couple famous members that you may know. James Lovell, commander of Apollo 13 fame, as well as Thomas Stafford of Apollo 10 were fellow classmates of his. After his Naval Academy days, he entered the Air Force and started his flight training. His flight school photos depict his early flight training days in Mississippi and time spent serving as part of the Atlas Missile Defense team. Next are photos of him with his SC-47, a Long Range Recovery Squadron based in Libya. Those are followed by a video image from his time in Vietnam as a FAC, or Forward Air Controller. This film was taken by him of a fellow FAC. The final photos are of his time as a JROTC teacher and his squadron. To him, education was paramount. A graduate of the Naval Academy and earning master degrees in aerospace engineering and mathematics education, he believed in the public school system and served it well. He finished his teaching career in Louisiana teaching high school math.

Please take time to honor, remember and acknowledge the sacrifices our veterans, and their families, have made to serve us. My father spent his life in service to his family, his community and his country. On Tuesday, we all get the opportunity to honor their service to us and say "Thanks".

For more information on FAC's, please read the earlier posts. Most people have no idea of the role they served in Vietnam, or the challenges and dangers they faced for their country. Their stories are simply amazing.

New Maps, New Support

The project keeps moving along. Len has put together even more maps and information about the route, and it looks awesome. Click on the images above and you can see the entire route for the Tennessee River portion and the Tenn-Tom/Tombigbee portion. Included on the pages are links and information about the locks, dams, reservoirs, camping and a ton of other interesting stuff. Unbelievable amount of info. There are now navigational maps, google maps and topo maps of the route.

A couple other support additions to the project as well. The coolest one is an organization of former pilots of the Vietnam war. The FAC Association has agreed to put the scholarship project in their next newsletter coming out in Jan 09. If you haven't read about the FAC's and what their mission was during the war, please take a look at this link.
http://www.fac-assoc.org/history/history01.html
There are other links about the plane they flew and other info on one of my previous posts. To have their support is an honor.

Also, Phillip Curry threw some support my way for the project. Founder and maker of not one, but two PFD/Bouyancy device companies. His previous company was bought out by Patagonia and now Phillip started and owns Astral Bouyancy www.astralbuoyancy.com. I'll be trying out their new PFD, the V-8 and I'm sure telling all my friends what an awesome product it is.

Lastly, some equipment needs have been met. I've been able to buy a VHF radio and a GPS. I'm sure the radio will be perfect. I'll have to figure out the GPS to see if it's a fit. I still have some other needs. My air mattress currently has about 5 minutes of inflation so that needs to be replaced. I'm still working on a laptop that will work for the trip and an internet connection. I won't be able to use wifi...not many places have that out in the middle of nowhere, but an internet anywhere card should work. I'm sure other needs will come up as I go.

ok...only more thing. I've been waiting to announce this to the community, but wanted to wait until I had more info in place. The election and financial issues are also taking center stage. Some, when hearing about it, have been asking why I haven't released this to the school and community. These are the reasons I haven't. I will, but right now I feel people's priorities are elsewhere. Once some of the dust settles, I'll be putting out press releases to the school and community around here and those my father was involved in.

Go Navy and Complete Route Maps for the trip are posted

The photo is in honor of the Naval Academy's Homecoming game against Pitt. As mentioned, my dad graduated from the Naval Academy in 1952. Also, most know that the only Navy football game that really counts is against Army. Go Navy!

Complete route maps are up thanks to Len! Wow, what a great job! Click the links on the left. Scroll down just below the sponsors and you'll see them. Included are navigation maps of the Tennessee River portion and the complete Tenn-Tom Waterway and Tombigbee River to Mobile. Included in the Tenn-Tom maps is some great info on the locks and history of the waterway. This took an incredible amount of work so my hat and my thanks goes out to Len.

On other fronts, I'm still working on sponsorships for the equipment needs of the trip. Bending Branches came on board, along with The Nantahala Outdoor Center (NOC) and Clipper. I'm currently emailing several other organizations and businesses with requests as well. I've just started working to get a laptop. I need it for the trip to post daily updates on the blog, message boards, photos and anything else I can think of. My current 8 yr old, Dell Inspiron holds a charge for about 5 minutes and is ancient. It won't make it to Fontana Dam, much less the trip. I'm also needing to talk with Verizon about getting an internet card, or a solution of some sort to get internet access anywhere I may be. The laptop I'm looking at is the MSI Wind. A netbook that is cheap, light, small and looks like it will fit the price bill at about $400. The Dell Mini 9 would be the next pick. At a little over 2 lbs and small size, either would be a perfect fit...no pun intended. I think the Dell goes for about $350. If anyone knows a business, or wants to personally sponsor that part of the project, they would get major mention, blog and boat space for advertising.

Last note before I go. I'm talking with NOC to put together a send-off of some type. Maybe we'll have a group of donors paddle with me on a leg the first day leaving from NOC. After the trip, we'll do something as well. I'd like to see a dinner, presentation by me of the trip with slideshow/video presentation, along with a silent auction...or something! Either way, NOC will put it on their calendar and website once we get the dates and ideas figured out. Thank You NOC!

Aerial images using Google Earth

A friend of mine called me today. I don't know him well. He doesn't live in NC and never met my father before, but he wanted to help. He was in Vietnam a couple years before my dad and was a Forward Observer. They worked closely with the FAC's, which my father was during his service in Vietnam (See earlier post). Anyway, he created aerial images of my route using Google Earth. He's going to post the entire route so everyone can see what it looks like from the air. If you haven't used it, Google Earth is a pretty powerful piece of software that free and easy to use. You can see fairly detailed images of any place on earth. Lots of eye candy and fun stuff to see. Take a look at the images and tell me what you think.
Paddling for a Purpose Route
This project is truly about connecting. Connecting bright students that need some help getting to college. Connecting educators with a project that can allow students continue their great work toward great goals. Connecting veterans to a legacy that they can believe in and share with others. Finally, this project connects people in a meaningful and heartfelt way. The funds raised through this project will allow all of us to see a student have an opportunity to reach a life changing goal. That will be the ultimate connection.

Needs for the project and a great morning paddle

Yesterday I went for a short paddle and spent the night on Lake Cheoah. The lake is the second lake that I will paddle on the trip. I wanted to check them out and see what the portage possibilities are. Lake Fontana will be my starting point and the first 25 miles of paddling will take me to Fontana dam, the largest dam in NC. Below that is Lake Cheoah, which is about 10 miles long and ends in another dam. This dam was made famous by the movie "The Fugitive" with Harrison Ford. I wanted to see the dams and what I'll need to do about getting around them. Fontana dam will be easy...my wife will drive me around it since it's close and a it's huge dam. To portage, you'd have to carry several miles of highway. Not your everyday portage. The dam at Cheoah won't be bad; just steep. Anyway, after a good night sleep, I woke up to a chilly morning, but still managed to get on the water about 7:30. Fall is just starting and the leaves are showing some color. The water was glass smooth and absolutely calm and wonderfully clear. As I left the cove where I camped the night, I rounded the bend and the sun was just starting to hit the sides of the mountains around me. Slight rose colored clouds, some mist and the cool, calm air was exactly what I was looking for. Soooo peaceful. Also, these lakes are hard to access and no motorboats. I had the entire lake all to myself. I ended up paddling for about 3 hours and had a great morning. Looking forward to just continuing on next summer and seeing what's in store for the next 1,070 miles.

I've been putting a needs list together in my head lately. What do I have and what will I need. I don't want to spend if I don't have to,but there are a few things that I absolutely need. I'm hoping that I can keep these purchases to a minimum as I'm spending my own money, or using sponsored products. I'm planning on all money donated going to the scholarship.
Here's a short list of things I know I'll need.

• Handheld VHF radio -
  
• maps - TVA and Corp of Engineers, as well as road maps for the area.
• Food - How much? What to buy so I don't get bored with meals and high enough calories.
• New Paddle(s) - My Dagger wood bentshaft is great..just want something lighter. Also kayak paddle for making time as long as my shoulder holds out. I want a Bending Branches, or a Zaveral, maybe I'll get it for Xmas, or sponsor help.
• New Therma-rest. My old one has holes I can't find, and my other pad just doesn't cut it anymore.

I spoke with the Swain School Superintendent this past week. He enthusiastically gave his support. The Foundation and it's purpose is a big deal. I get psyched just thinking of the kids I've taught, the kids of our friends and how this might help one of them get over the financial hump to attend college. A dream coming to reality. For this county, and many of these kids, it could be a lifesaver.

Lastly, Keep the comments, donations and encouragement coming. Sometimes this feels like throwing a party and no one is going to show up. If your planning on donating, please do so. You don't know the help it is to see any donation come in. If all you can afford right now is $20, send it. If you can't, spread the word...talk about the trip and help get people excited. Send them my email,, or tell them to find me on Facebook. I'd love to see them and talk to them.

Me and the Project

I had a comment that it might be good if people knew more about me and my paddling background. Maybe with more info on my experience, they could decide if a trip like this would be successful. After all, 1,100 miles in 30 days is a lot to bite off.
Well, here's a little about me.
I started paddling marathon canoes when I was 14. See the pic...I know its bad. bit it's all I have from way back then. That's me in the white shorts, blue hat, red PFD in the stern. This was a 120 mile race over 3 days on the White River in Arkansas. We had a group of about 20 of us that raced everywhere we could. Usually most of our races where in the southeast, but my partner and I did make it to the USCA Nationals in Indiana in 1981 and placed 5th. I ended up racing until I was 19, but more importantly, these years gave me an incredible foundation for my paddling later in life. My last race I remember was the World's Fair Race in Knoxville TN where I raced in Olympic flatwater kayak. I came in 4th I think.
I started work with the Nantahala Outdoor Center in 1982. I was a guide, instructor and trip leader along with whatever else they needed me to be. Over the 20 years of work there I had huge adventures and opportunities. I led trips on all the southeastern rivers including the Chattooga - my home for many years. Through the 90's I had the great opportunity of leading our Chile trips on the Bio Bio river. After the river was dammed, my friend Bob Beazley and I moved from rafting into doing kayak trips only. I think I worked about 7 seasons in Chile and wouldn't trade those days with Beaz, Shane and Kelly for anything. While Chile was where I went to most, I also led trips in Costa Rica, Mexico and Vietnam. The Vietnam trip was one that I put together with a great idea and lots of trepidation. The trip ended up being an incredible seakayak touring trip with boat support. After the kayaking portion I put a northern highlands trek on the back end. Trying to get 4 folding two man kayaks from the states to Vietnam and back was not fun, but the trip was incredible. I put it together in 1999 and then went back in 2000. It was the first of it's kind that I knew of, but now is the staple of the adventure market for seakayaking and treking trips from the states.
I also had the pleasure of paddling with many of the world's best paddlers. I learned everything I know from paddling with, competing against, and sharing some of the best paddling anyone could have hoped for. Living for over 20 years as a paddler and making a living doing what I did was a blessing.

Today, I have a great wife and 2 incredible kids. My wife has joined me on numerous trips and is an incredible paddler in her own right. My two kids have their own boats and are learning about the fun of paddling too.

Now, how does all of this fit into this project. Well, I hope that it gives the project and trip some validity for people who don't know me and might be reading this. Instead of going, "Who is this crazy person who thinks he going how far?". they may read this and know that at least I have some experience doing this sort of thing.
Secondly, my life now is as a teacher. My dad was a teacher. I happened to be able to live this dream life because of my dad's support. Heck, he gave me $800 to go to Chile the first time in 1985. He dreamed of flying when he was growing up and I dreamed of paddling. Education is the key to living your dreams. He earned his through the Naval Academy, I through my education through others. Through this project, I'm confident that we can provide some student the opportunity to live their dream too.

You can help...just hit the "Donate" button. :)

Roz Savage Rowing across the Pacific, one stroke at a time.

I wanted to share a story some of you may have read, or heard about. Roz Savage, a 41 yr old British woman who is rowing solo across the Pacific to raise awareness about environmental issues. While I'm not rowing solo over thousands of miles of open ocean, I am doing a few things similar to Roz. First, I'm trying something I've never attempted. I'm doing it solo. And finally, I'm on the water and in a boat. I know...it's not quite the same as rowing solo across the Pacific, but she does give me some great inspiration. One thing that is interesting about this project is when I talk to people. One of the first things they ask is, "Your going by yourself"? For those of you who wonder, yes, it's my preference to do this solo. First, it's easier to do it this way. There isn't any waiting for someone else's schedule or, having to slow down when they're tired. I also know that when I'm tired or need some food,I am not easy to be around. The freedom of being solo is pretty nice too. If I feel like I want to put some miles in at midnight, I can. I enjoy my own company so it's not a burden, but a great time for reflection and thought. Finally, its a challenge of an individual nature. Basically I'll follow someone else's pushing and motivation if they are there. I wouldn't have to be disciplined...I could be lazy. Doing it solo challenges me to be disciplined.

Anyway, Roz has reached Hawaii and is waiting for next summer to start her 2nd leg. Along the way Roz had storms, equipment failures, including her water distilling equipment failing. Her blog is full of adventure and reflection. In addition, I love her philosophy about this whole deal. Essentially it can be simplified to, "If I repeat what I did today 364 times, will I be where I want to be next year?" A great question!

Here's an article that appeared in the London Sunday Times about Roz's philosophy on life.
I Am What I Am
[Sunday Times, 23 April 2006]

o Don't waste mental energy asking yourself if you CAN do something. Just do it. You'll surprise yourself. I did.

o Be clear about your objectives. Ignore others, stay true to yourself and measure success only against your own criteria. I was last to finish the race - big deal. I went out there to learn about myself, and I did.

o The only constant in life is change. So don't get depressed by the bad times, and don't get over-excited by good ones. Accept that things are exactly as they are, and even bad times have something to teach us.

o Life can be magical, but magic only gets you so far. Then you need discipline, determination and dedication to see it through.

o Hope can hurt. The danger is that you hope for too much and set yourself up for disappointment. Be optimistic but realistic. Nothing is ever as good or as bad as you expect it to be.

o Be mindful of the link between present action and desired future outcome. Ask yourself: if I repeat today's actions 365 times, will I be where I want to be in a year?

o Decision-making: act in faith, not fear, and don't worry about making a 'wrong' decision - the way you implement it is more important than the decision itself.

o Be your own best friend. The more you rely on other people, the less control you have over your destiny.

o Be proud of your own obituary: a few years ago I wrote two versions of my obituary, the one I wanted and the one I was heading for. They were very different. I realized I needed to make some big changes if I was going to look back and be proud of my life. I am making those changes, and now I have a life worth living.

If your interested in reading more about Roz, here's a link to her website and blog.
http://www.rozsavage.com/

Clipper on Board...NOC too! The first On-line donation came in as well.

This past week has been what I would call "the start" of good things with this project. Last week I met with NOC, the Nantahala Outdoor Center based in Bryson City, NC, about sponsorship and in particular help with getting a boat. After a great meeting talking about the project, NOC has committed to helping me with this project and help in getting a boat that meets the needs of the trip. For some, a boat... is a boat... is a boat. For others, a boats design is everything. Over the last 10 years or so, it seems like to paddle you need a quiver of boats. Specific boats to do specific types of paddling. Everything from whitewater creek paddling to calmwater seakayaking to whitewater freestyle to marathon flatwater paddling all have their unique boat designs available to do very specific things. I have many boats that are designed for lots of different purposes, but for this trip, I need a boat to carry lots of gear...30 days worth. It also has to be comfortable over lots of miles of sitting, offer some protection from the elements and finally, be fast enough to cover distances efficiently. Verlen Kruger couldn't find one to fit his needs so he built what he needed to cover the 28,000 miles he paddled criss-crossing North America in the 80's. I looked at what he used when I started to look for a boat design. I looked at Kruger Canoe's Seawind and the Clipper Canoe's Sea-1 and found those to be the best choices available to meet all my needs. The Sea-1 is lighter and looked like it was more readily available since there wasn't a wait-list a mile long.

After getting the support of NOC, I wrote Clipper an email and explained the project and my needs/preferences. Clipper is based out of Washington state and makes absolutely some of the best boats on the market including the Sea-1. Take a look at their video of a guy in their shop hitting the hull of a new boat with a hammer. Not a scratch, or dent, or crack showed. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMnus9nZ34E

Today, I received a reply for the great folks at Clipper. They are going to sponsor my trip through the use of a Kevlar Sea-1 for this project!
Many thanks to NOC and Clipper Canoe for the help. Now, I just have to get the boat from Washington to NC.

Also, a huge thanks to my first on-line contributor. He knows who he is...it meant a lot to see that. THANKS

My Dad's Vietnam service...what is a FAC?

I thought I'd post some information about what my dad did while a pilot in Vietnam. It was 1967-68 when he served and since I was only 6 I had no idea what he was doing. It was during a high school project that I found out what it meant to be a FAC in Vietnam.
His call sign was Sidewinder and he was stationed at a small base in Bien Hoa which is about 20 miles from Saigon. Here's a couple links that have a history, information, photo's and news about the FAC's and the 19th TASS.
http://www.squawk-flash.org/19th_tass/19th_tass.htm

http://www.fac-assoc.org/19%20TASS/19thTASS.htm

http://www.talkingproud.us/HistoryBirddog13.html

Who will this project help? Also, the brochure is posted.

This weekend I spent working on edits and rewrites of parts of the brochure to be used to publicize and promote this scholarship project. As I was working on it, I was thinking about who this is really about. It's a little about my father, but more importantly it's about the students that this might benefit. I believe my dad would appreciate that aspect of this more than anything. We live in an area where college hasn't been an option for so many of our high school graduates. The need to work, the lack of funds, or just the lack of a family that has a college going culture. Many of the kids that this could help might be the very first in their family to attend college.
My last job was as the Director of GEAR UP with Southwestern Community College, a federally funded college access and awareness program. I worked with 4 school systems to develop and implement programs and activities that address these same issues. We started working with middle school students to envision and plan what they wanted to do in life. We introduced programs such as the First Lego Robotics that built an interest in math and engineering skills through building Lego Robots that can accomplish a series of competitive tasks. Check out their website: http://firstlegoleague.org/community/HomePage.aspx
It was amazing to watch these kids from all kinds of backgrounds get excited and excel with this project. My hope is that through these kinds of projects, these kids will become inspired to pursue a career in one of these areas.
The same hope runs through my mind on this project. Maybe, just maybe, this project will allow some student to pursue that excitement and go on to a successful college and career.
Here's the brochure so check it out.
paddling for a purpose.pdf


It's in PDF format which you can open using Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Connecting

Joined Facebook yesterday. Have to say....wow! Reconnecting with so many people has been just way too fun. This project is going to be alot of work, but what a hoot if I get to reconnect to some old friends.
This whole idea is Steve Claxton's fault...er idea. For those of you who don't know, Steve works in the Central Office of our school system and just completed a trans-america bike trip to establish a scholarship in his mothers name. He was very successful to say the least, but it was because of him that I started this idea. He told me that it was the people you meet along the way and how he was constantly surprised by the goodness and generosity of people. I have no idea how successful we will be in this endeavor, but I look forward to seeing where it goes.
Here's the link to Steve's trip for those of you who are interested. He's got some great journal entries and photos.
http://bikeacrossamericaclaxton.org/

What is the K.L. Hester Scholarship? - "Paddling for a Purpose"

Welcome to the K. L. Hester Scholarship Project. It could also be called the Paddling for a Purpose Project, or the Swain to the Sea Expedition. What is this about?

A 1,100 mile solo-paddling journey in an effort to establish a scholarship in my father's name.

First, this is a site to chronicle and follow the effort of friends, family and others to establish a scholarship in my father's memory. This scholarship will be used to fund students dreams of a career in education or engineering through the Swain County Schools Foundation.

I created this idea with 2 main objectives

1. Establish a scholarship in my father's name for Swain County students to pursue degrees in education, or engineering.
2. Honor the contributions of my father to his family, his country and his professions.

About My Dad:
My father, Keete L. Hester, was not only an American military hero, he was my personal hero. He graduated from the U. S. Naval Academy in 1952 and later earned a Masters in Aerospace Engineering. Ever a patriot, he enjoyed a 20 year career in the Air Force which included flying as a Forward Air Control pilot in Vietnam as well as aerospace engineer on various defense systems. During his distinguished military service, he received many awards and medals, but if you asked him about them, he would just say he was doing the job that was asked of him. After retiring with the rank of Lt. Colonel in 1976, he was drawn to teaching our youth. A passionate educator, he was the Commander of a Jr. ROTC squadron and a high school math teacher. After earning an additional masters degree in math, he continued to teach for over 15 years. He was a beloved and well respected teacher by students, parents and faculty alike. His strong advocacy of the public schools system and his belief in empowering youth, allowed his students to excel and follow their dreams.

About the Journey:
In honor of my father, and in an effort to raise funds to establish a scholarship to benefit Swain County students, I will be paddling 1,100 miles from Bryson City, NC to Mobile, AL. Starting on the Little Tennessee River system to the Tennessee River near Ft Loudon, TN, then west until the river reaches northeastern Mississippi. At that point I will enter the Tenn-Tom Waterway and begin my southward journey. Later I will enter the Tombigbee River and continue south until I reach journey’s end in Mobile, Alabama. Covering 1,100 miles and averaging approximately 35 miles a day the trip will be completed in in about 30 days.

My hope is that through this journey friends, family and many others will come together to honor my Dad with a symbol of what his life stood for. Service to family, country and community were important to him and a scholarship in his memory would represent that very well.

Come back and check on how the preparations and efforts are going. I'll be posting updates as sponsors, donations and preparations continue. If you'd like to become a sponsor, please email me. If you would like to donate, use the Paypal button to the left. Thanks!