Shade, Douglas, Happy and I pulled into Slick Rock Creek only to find a tent on our favorite spot. Early to mid week are the best times to be on this lake. there were no motorized boats, canoes or kayaks in the area so I believe they are hikers.
The boulders lining the shore would cause tragic damage to the hull on the Gheenoe. All the system requires, is one end of a giant bungee cord tied to an anchor. The other end tied to the boat on a rope cleat on the stern. I motor to shore jump off and tie the boat off to a tree. I unload the boat and untie the bow line from the tree and hold on to it. The bungee pulls the boat out to the anchor. When I want to leave I pull the line attached to the bow eye and pull the boat back in to shore and get on. The bungee pulls me back out to the anchor. Easy and simple. I wouldn't trust it in heavy current or stormy weather but, I would back in the cove of Slick Rock.
I pulled the Gheenoe along shore and sort of wedged it between two trees and placed rubber bumpers between the trees and the boat. This is one tuff lake to beach a boat. But, I got it safely tied off.
The zippers and stitched seams are of the highest quality.
Below is a side view.
I brought a tarp along to make a canopy for evening enjoyment. I love to sit in my chair under the awning and watch what's going on down at the lake and in the woods. I was able to rig it to the Spring Bar. I ordered two collapsible tarp poles and they came just in time for this camp out. The tarp awning worked out pretty good I'd say.
And one last shot showing one end of the knot. It's an easy one to tie.
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Not a bad set up if I do say so myself. A large power boat just ripped by. They're here. Darned. I have to go down and re-rig the Gheenoe so the wakes don't toss it into the bank. No muffler on his engine either. What a dunce.!    I just looked down the hill to the Gheenoe and noticed Old Glory missing off the back of the Gheenoe. Flag pole and all is missing off the stern. I must have caught it while making the approach to shore passing under overhanging tree limbs. Maybe I can see it on the bottom close to shore in the morning. I think maybe we all better keep an eye on Old Glory lest she disappears from all of our views. Just a passing thought. By the way; the ant is carrying a decapitated spider's head.  Three boats with about 50 horsepower motors just blasted by. I have to go back down to the boat and check the rubber bumpers again. I guess the weekenders are arriving. No sense worrying about getting shots of eagles, beavers or otters this trip.  This lake should have a limited motor size on it. It isn't a wide lake at all and too narrow for these morons to be running huge engines on. One of the boats was sporting a 225 horsepower Mercury. That's nuts. Wonder why the wildlife people of North Carolina don't apply simple logic and common sense to their laws? Actually, this should be a no engine lake.  OK; now for some Dinty Moore Stew. Can't wait. What's this. Oh no! I left my eating utensils, fork, at home in my old cooking pot. I got a new cooking pot and forgot to put the fork and spoon inside.    My problem is that I switch my camping gear from the shed where the canoe is to the house when I prepare to take the Gheenoe. If I had one big cabinet to house all the camping stuff in one place I would have no trouble. It's all just spread out in too many places. A tree fell in the forest across the lake. a loud Crump, Crump and a Kasmash! In other words - break, crack, and fall down. I don't see how even trees can stick on these near vertical mountain sides. The shrieks of a pair of Osprey is loud. I quick grab the camera and almost miss them. They are flying down the opposite shore line. a very difficult shot to get.     The big zero turn mower is still at the shop getting its $1500 parts and labor wheel pump installed. In the mean time the grass is about ten to twelve feet tall. the four acres I mow is all hills. I rent from the people and mowing reduces my rent. Now; I have a little self propelled Ninja lawn mower that I took to the lady's property to mow the grass in front, rear and sides of the house. That part of the lawn is hill side also. I started last night and wore myself out. I retried this morning and the grass was still damp with dew. The cuttings of grass plugged up the mower due to the moisture content. Then the mower quit. A quick examination of the mower indicated the air cleaner was dirty and plugged up with debris. Off to Maryville I went to buy a filter and a spark plug. Sixteen miles I drove to buy a $2.95 air filter and a $1.98 spark plut. I installed the filter and plug and mowed on. I wanted to come to Calderwood at noon. I mowed three quarter of the front yard when the drive belt started slipping. I can't blame the mower as this is brush hog country. I shut it off and let it sit and came up here. I couldn't take another drive to Maryville for a $6.00 belt. What is with this grass mowing thing! What?! The physical torment and expensive upkeep of equipment is astronomical! It's nuts! To do the job right; I'd have to start mowing at 1PM when the dew is off the grass. That's when the temperature is approaching a hundred degrees. That means from 7AM till noon is "wait time" for mowing. From 1PM till 4PM is mow time. The day is shot. It's gone. All over cutting the damn grass. OK; I'll let it go.. A pileated woodpecker is hammering on a tree somewhere up the hill behind us. Small pieces of debris and leaves can be heard landing on the tarp I'm sitting under. all are comforting sounds; natural sounds; soothing sounds. The dogs are comforting to me. They are sticking close, laying about. I've got three of the best companions imaginable.    I look at Happy laying by my chair, her little feet, her small body, dedicated to me only----and I think of that inhuman act of dragging a little black and white dog behind a car to it's death, it's feet ground off it's legs and then the legs from the body and finally the body torn to shreds. I am motivated to do even more for my dogs, my friends. They will have a swimming pool in the yard before tomorrow night. I love each of them.   Boom! There they all three go. Pitch dark, they, all three, charge silently across the hillside along the lake. They'll probably lead a bear down to camp. That's all I need. They've all returned. Not one bark. Nothing. Funny thing. 3AM. something crashed through the camp down by the Gheenoe at the edge of the water. The crashing of brush and limbs woke me up. Both Shade and Douglas are gone. Happy is with me. I haven't heard a bark or any indication anything was coming through. Were the dogs frightened? Dogs will bark at loud cars or strange people but, sometimes they are cautious at strange sightings they don't understand. One night a herd of Llamas charged Douglas and he did not bark. He took a stance beside me and stood there with me making low guttural growls. I think this is the case here. Shade is a follower. She will emulate Douglas in such matters. Likely both dogs were perplexed at the smell and the sound of the intruder. My first thoughts were that a bear stumbled through the edge of camp while simply walking the shoreline. Both dogs appear suddenly out of the dark and lie down. I can't wait to check for tracks to see what that was down there. If a bear got scent of the dogs he would run for it. I may never know but, it's sure peaceful at 3:30AM out here. I'm up now.  The sentinel------------   Douglas is growling. I think we're getting a return visit from the crasher. All dogs appear on the alert. Guess I better get out there. I could hear a grunting sound further out than what the light will reach. The huffing sound of a bear is not present; not to say it isn't a bear. I am assuming boar. I think I'd rather have the bear. A bear will run from the scent of a dog, most times. a boar will often face off with a dog. Multiple boar together could prove interesting and possibly disastrous. I would protect the dogs with everything I had if need be, and I had it in my hand that moment. The dogs all stared in the same direction and just sat there. I'll go back to my chair and not look for trouble. the excitement added a bit of drama to the evening. I'm proud of the dogs. They don't chase large critters. Probably a natural fear holds them in check. Whatever the reason, they are all here and safe. And they are all alert and facing the dark. It's comforting. There's really nothing out there that will intentionally do harm. Key word is intentionally. It's the accidental blundering into each other; human and critter, that can cause problems. The dogs have prevented confrontation. I love to see the wild stuff in the light but at night; I'll pass. The big critters have the edge at night. I can't believe I'll be walking behind a mower tomorrow.   I wish we didn't have to leave, and we don't but, I can't deal with the boats on the lake. Just can't. So we'll be off.  Thanks for coming along this trip. It wasn't a long one but a great time. |
