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. :)