By Nicole Eastman, Yadkin Riverkeeper and Ward Swann, Yadkin River State Trail Coordinator
Ward Swann, Yadkin River State Trail Coordinator
“We were now on the solitude of the river. There is hardly a spot anywhere more secluded than mid-stream. …. If you want a peaceful spot far from the noises of humankind, embark at any point along the upper Yadkin. Of course there is the occasional music of the water rushing over shoals or hidden boulders , sometimes the cry of water fowl and other birds, but the rest is silence. Shut in by the velvety fringe of willows, which presented a beautiful border of foliage lace work, a more peaceful picture is hard to find. In the mellow light of the setting sun fancy can easily transform the Yadkin into a winding ribbon of gold with emerald borders…. We had left behind our watches, bunches of keys , and other reminders of duties and appointments. We were in a new world, all our own.”
-A Voyage Down the Yadkin-Great Pee Dee River, Douglas Rights
It was good to get back on the trip again, where reading the clouds in the sky was more important than reading sensational headlines designed just to get your attention. Camping at Boones Cave the night before put us in prime position to meet guest paddlers and start the day. We had more people sign up for this portion. Like the river itself had grown from where we started, so had the interest in our trip.
The steps at 64 were still somewhat cleared from the week before. The hardest part of the day was early on, a small mill run that starts in the center and works to the right. Everyone got through easily. From there it was an easy paddle until the Big Rock. Lunch and swimming was enjoyed at the spot where Daniel Boone made note of catching a particularly large fish.
The river flowed strong and the miles passed until we were once again at Boone’s cave. We were off the river by about an hour before the afternoon’s featured thunderstorm. This one shook loose leaves from their branches and imposing lightning in the memories of those who were at camp. That night we slept to the sounds of owls conversing and a whippoorwill calling.
Nicole Eastman, Yadkin Riverkeeper
I was looking forward to this stretch of river most. From the Hwy 64 boat ramp to Boone’s Cave Park, the river banks are forested and lush. I was also eager to document what’s at stake with Duke’s two proposed power plants in Davie County and a liquid natural gas storage facility in Davidson County.
The paddle starts off with a unique boulder field which is a remnant of an old mill. It was fun to watch our larger group of day paddlers maneuver their way across the river, zigzagging to avoid the rocks and catch the faster flow over a riffle. I always love the smell of the river water when it’s being turned and splashed over a riffle.
We made our way to the site of Duke Energy’s proposed, never-been-built-before liquid natural gas storage facility in Davidson County and two power plants in Davie County across the river. The group admired the lush, dense forest which provided habitat for the bald eagles and blue herons we saw flying overhead.
The river’s health is at stake with this massive proposed development. It would cause thermal pollution, contributing to lower dissolved oxygen levels in the river and more harmful algal blooms downstream. It would remove critical conservation areas like the Perkins Gameland, also impacting public access to land along the river. It would impact the historical character of this stretch of river where Daniel Boone mused about fishing the shoals and indigenous peoples created fish weirs. The river would be forever changed to an industrial corridor instead of one of the most natural and quiet stretches of the Yadkin. Fighting this industrial complex is one of YRK’s priorities. We intend to protect the remaining natural land that filters runoff and acts as a buffer for our communities’ lifeline.
We stopped at a perfect lunch spot, a large rock in the middle of the river. Half of us quickly walked to the end of a riffle to a shallow pool where we could cool off and float on our backs. The other half started their lunches while chocolate chip cookies were passed around by Missy Easter.
Then, we continued floating down the Yadkin to our final destination, Boone’s Cave Park. It’s a beautiful park with amazing staff like one of our Swim Guide volunteers, Gina (Myers) Shaw. They had several camping pads tucked into the cooler woods of the park. The trails will take you to the cave and down to the river which feels like a wilderness river. The entire bank in both directions is sheltered by trees and vegetation.
After setting up camp and a quick thunderstorm, we fired up our stoves and prepped dinner under the park’s pavilion. I caught an amazing sunset from baptism rock down at the river which was the perfect end to our day with the Yadkin River paddling community.
