This is a list of kayaking trips that we’ve taken over the years. You can also click to n2kayaking.com for more information on these ventures – although the site is a work in progress.
2018 CHATTOOGA RIVER – WEST FORK CAMPGROUND TO EARL’S FORD – JUNE 23, 2018
Paddlers: Phillip Boyd, Roger Cardoe, Pratt Davis, Steve Goodrich, Ken Mahan, Alec Sedki, Scott Snyder, Steve Snyder
Notable Events: Pratt books a shuttle driver again this year and we meet at Earl’s Ford for a ride to the West Fork Campground. 
The river is running at 2.2 fps and we shave two hours off our float time in 2016 and arrive at Turn Hole Falls by 2:30pm. We arrive to find the island campsite claimed once again and set up in the area we used in 2016. A thunderstorm rolls through shortly after we put our tents up and we huddle under Phillip’s hammock tarp then do a podcast until the weather clears up. Phillip sacks out after we wrap the show ~4pm, but rises again around midnight to see us to 1am when all sack out. The next morning, Mahan takes on water at both Turn Hole Falls and Big Shoal which gives me a chance to catch the group after a late start out of camp. We made it to Earl’s Ford by noon and all use wheelies to get our boats up the 0.75 hill to the parking area.
2016 CHATTOOGA RIVER – WEST FORK CAMPGROUND TO EARL’S FORD – JUNE 18, 2016
Paddlers: Rob Brown, Roger Cardoe, Pratt Davis, Steve Goodrich, Ken Mahan, Dan Nickless, Scott Snyder, Steve Snyder
Notable Events: Pratt plans a Father’s Day weekend trip once again starting at the West Fork Campground and hires an outfitter to shuttle us to the West Branch of the Chattooga. 
Phillip navigates to the wrong side of Earl’s Ford and misses our designated pick-up time. So we spend the entire day wondering if he’ll find us – he doesn’t. We then paddle to Turn Hole Falls and find out that our island campsite is occupied by a young family. They tell us about another site above the falls and we set-up on the bank there for the night. On Sunday, Rob and I sleep in until 8am while the rest of the group gets an early start on the river. At Big Shoal, Rob attempts to shoot the rapid without scoping it out and wraps his canoe around a large bolder. We spend 45 minutes emptying the canoe out, then he manages to flip it again as we close in on Earl’s Ford! After we use his wheelie to get the boats to the parking area, I head for the lake house to celebrate Father’s Day with the family.
2013 CHATTOOGA RIVER – WEST FORK CAMPGROUND TO EARL’S FORD – JUNE 15, 2013
Paddlers: Phillip Boyd, Roger Cardoe, Pratt Davis, Steve Goodrich, Rob Schwartz, Steve Snyder
Notable Events: We extend the 2011 float trip on the Chattooga River with an additional four miles on the West Fork. Schwartz and 
Phillip both get rolled at Turn Hole Falls and wash out some gear. Phillip (the lone canoer in the party), is hauling Roger’s fully-loaded cooler and panic results. But “cooler” heads prevail and a recovery mission ensues. Beer is saved, and we have unseasonably cool temps at the campsite this evening. The following morning we get on the water by 9:30am to return home for Father’s Day activities. We retrieving trucks, we head home – most via I-85, but I take the longer GA 400 route to the recently renovated lake house to meet the Sedki clan for Father’s Day dinner.
2011 CHATTOOGA RIVER – HIGHWAY 28 TO EARL’S FORD – JULY 11, 2011
Paddlers: Roger Cardoe, Pratt Davis, Steve Goodrich, Steve Snyder
Notable Events: We do our first of many float trips on the Chattooga River starting at Highway 28 and paddling down to the takeout at Earl’s Ford. 
We shuttle our own vehicles and discover a great campsite just past Turn Hole Falls – an island that gets progressively harder to secure camping in years ahead. I drag my boat up to the Class II falls and ride them numerous times in the evening while Pratt & Snyder do some fishing. Our kayaks pass many canoers and tubers during the day but we have the area to ourselves after dark. The following morning, Pratt & Snyder are up early to catch brook and rainbow trout and Snyder makes one the of the best breakfasts that I’ve had in the backcountry with supplies from Moe’s. We paddle the final morning to find a bunch of locals partying at the Earl’s Ford takeout, then make it back to Atlanta by 4:30pm.
2004 KEY WEST NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE – MAN KEY – MARCH 17, 2004
Paddlers: Ashley Goodrich, Steve Goodrich
Notable Events: Ashley and I get in a quick trip to the Keys before I start a new job at EarthLink. We spend our first night at Smuggler’s Cove in Islamorada 
where all the magic began in the Spring of 1997 and visit the nearby Holiday Isle Tiki Bar and Hog Heaven sports bar. The following morning, we head for Key West and stay two nights within walking distance of Duval Street. We meet Captain Tony at his bar, spend an afternoon and sunset kayaking around Man Key, and celebrate St. Patrick’s Day downtown. We fly home in time for the weekend, then I start work on Monday at EarthLink.
1997 PHILLIP EDWARD ISLAND – BEAVERSTONE BAY – AUGUST 30, 1997
Paddlers: Jeff Gibson, Steve Goodrich
Notable Events: I kayak in to camp with Gibson who ceremoniously decides to paddle naked covered only by a spray skirt. 
We accidentally leave a case of beer on the dock, and kayak to Mill Lake so that we can restock at Mazenazing Lodge. The management tells us to “have fun boys”, and we find an island in the middle of the lake to camp for the night. We spend the rest of the week at the cabin and see and photograph a female black bear and three cubs nearly every day in the front yard.
