Paddle Pickup Editorial

By The Kentucky Standard Editorial Board

The Beech Fork River is one of Nelson County’s precious natural resources. It contributed to Bardstown being named one of 50 “next great adventure towns in which to live and play” by National Geographic Adventure magazine last year, and talks have begun to build a whitewater park.

It’s a shame, therefore, that there is a need for Paddle Pickup, during which the Bardstown Boaters club and other volunteers pull trash and debris from the Beech Fork. Saturday was the fifth annual Paddle Pickup, and enough stuff was pulled from the river to fill an industrial-sized garbage dumpster. Old tires, a Big Wheel and the inside tub of a washing machine were among the “treasures” found.

Some of the trash has been there for decades. Other items are more recent additions. We’d like to think littering has decreased as awareness about the need to protect the environment has improved, but one look at that industrial-sized garbage dumpster makes us wonder.

The volunteers with the Paddle Pickup are to be thanked and commended for helping clean the Beech Fork, but they can’t do it alone. All of us are responsible for disposing of our trash responsibly. That means not only keeping it out of the river, but also off roadsides and out of illegal dumps. And we shouldn’t consider the impact of our negligence only when Paddle Pickup reminds us of what it can cause.

Rockcastle Trip

305 cfs

Joshua Seabolt, Josh Carpenter, Spalding Hurst and Mike from Ohio ran the Rockcastle River on Monday. It was another great low water whitewater adventure on the narrows of one of Kentucky's most scenic rivers. Joshua was back on whitewater for the first time in eight years, while Spalding was testing out his new RV at Bee Rock campground for this trip. A Dayton area paddler named Mike joined the group after he saw the RV roll into camp with the kayak on board.

The group ran just the Narrows, putting on below Beech Narrows and hiking in and back up for second run on the best rapids of the Rockcastle. The Rockcastle is always a great time and can be stretched out for a longer run by doing the hike back to the top on the river left side trail.

Not many people seem to get to the Rockcastle, but just know that it's there, always waiting, and almost always runnable.

View Bardstown Boaters Whitewater Map in a larger map

Mind Your Waste

Stan Hurst, member of the Bardstown Boaters, stands in a boat full of tires dragged from the Beech Fork River. Tires are one of the most common items found in the river and over 50 were collected during this year's Paddle Pickup.

From the Kentucky Standard

By Cathy Barnes
On Saturday, 45 people joined paddles with the Bardstown Boaters to help clean up the five-mile portion of the Beech Fork River that runs through Nelson County.

For five years, the Bardstown Boaters have organized Paddle Pickup in an effort to help meet water conservation goals in Nelson County. This year, the group contributed to habitat conservation on the river by collecting enough trash to fill an industrial-sized garbage dumpster.

Although the day started off cloudy with fears of high water levels and continuing rain, the afternoon remained dry, making it an ideal day for the event.

Justin Janes, an organizer for the event, said the turnout was good considering the weather conditions.

Most people participating were from the Bardstown area but there were others who came in from Louisville as well. Boy Scout Troop 147 and Troop 142 also participated.

The group of about 15 to 20 canoes set off from the bridge at U.S. 31E and was out on the water for four hours dragging in debris that collected over the past year and in the last several decades. It took another few hours to get the debris loaded off the boats and into the dumpster.

Spalding Hurst, the president of the Bardstown Boaters, said items found included about 50 tires, a children’s Big Wheel and the inside tub of a washing machine. A prize was given to Jim Allen, assistant scoutmaster with Michael Thomas of Troop 147, who pulled out the washer because of its size and weight.

Although the effort of the volunteers was great, Hurst said they’ve only scratched the surface of the clean-up effort that needs to be done on the Beech Fork River.

“People should try to be mindful of their waste and what happens to it when they’re done with it,” said Hurst.

The Bardstown Boaters plan to host the event again sometime next May

If you would like any more information about this event or are interested in joining this group, visit www.bardstownboaters.com.

Thank You

Get the 2009 Paddle Pickup Shirt

On behalf of the members of the Bardstown Boaters I would like to thank everyone who participated in the fifth annual Paddle Pickup. Rain-soaked hair and mud-caked shoes couldn’t prevent volunteers from removing tires, bottles, cans, and even the guts of a washing machine as they canoed five miles of the Beech Fork River. Once again the success of the event rested on the hard work of the volunteers and the generosity of the sponsors.

Special thanks to Judge Dean Watts, Central KY Canoe and Kayak, Horizon Hoppers, Save-a-Lot Food Stores, the Kentucky Standard, and PLG TV for their ongoing support of the event. We’re also grateful of this year’s cooperation from Quest Outdoors and Columbia Sportswear. We were fortunate to welcome the Boy Scouts Troup 147 led by Mike Thomas as they once again completed their civic duties by helping remove close to a ton of garbage from the waterway. Also big thanks go out to the Hite family who provided river access to a section of the Beech Fork in dire need of our efforts.

Sincerely,
Jay Thomas

Pictures from the Paddle Pickup

Click here for the link to the picture album on Picasa or here for Facebook.

That Was Awesome

Paddle Pickup on PLG TV News

Paddle Pickup in the News

From the Kentucky Standard

By STEPHANIE HORNBACK

During the past four years, members of Bardstown Boaters and other volunteers, in conjunction with National River Cleanup, have pulled about four tons of trash and debris from Beech Fork River. The fifth annual Paddle Pickup is Saturday, and all ages are welcome to come lend a hand.

The condition of the river is a shame, Justin Janes, Bardstown Boaters environmental director, said, but the club hopes to help a little at a time. This year, it will tackle a new portion of the river, running west from the 31E bridge to just south of Blue Grass Parkway. The entire run will take about four hours. The county lent several industrial-size garbage containers for the effort, and the Boy Scouts will assist as well.

Participants should expect to get dirty and work their muscles, Janes said.

“It’s not an easy day on the river,” he said, but the payoff of knowing you’re working for a good cause is worth it. You’ll also get to see parts of Nelson County that you don’t normally see, Janes said.

Canoes and life jackets will be provided, or participants can bring their own. Life jackets are required. Trash bags, gloves and some refreshments will also be provided, but extras are welcome.

Volunteers will take to the water at 9 a.m., and the Bardstown Boaters Web site, www.bardstownboaters.com, advises getting to the meeting spot — the south side of the 31E bridge about a mile south of the Basilica of St. Joseph Proto-Cathedral — a few minutes early to sign in and get the canoes organized. A tent and banner will mark the meeting spot.

Prizes will be given for the most unique item found during the cleanup. Some of the trash has been there for decades, Janes said.

“You’d be surprised at the style of coke and beer cans we find.”

Paddle Pickup 2009

French Broad

Jay Thomas and Spalding Hurst made their first run on the French Broad during the French Broad River Festival. It was a very fun run that could make for a great club destination. The water level was on the low side at 1000cfs. The highlights are the last two rapids, Kayakers Ledge and Frank Bell's. The latter being the hardest, but the most fun. The Bardstown Boaters look forwad to getting back to Hot Springs for this one.

View Bardstown Boaters Whitewater Map in a larger map