14 mars 2015

Kayak Nashville On A Boating Trip Arranged By Foggy Bottom Canoe

By Leslie Ball


There are a number of watercourses around Nashville, TN, which are navigable by kayak. Anyone that wants to try this can take advantage of the many operators that organize trips, with Foggy Bottom Canoe on the Harpeth River being one of these. They offer expeditions over an eleven mile section of this river that can be enjoyed by visitors.

The company arranges river trips for visitors from March to October and is closed for business during the remainder of the year. Their hours of operation begin at nine in the morning on weekdays and eight on the weekend. The last excursions of the day set off at around one in the afternoon for the longer trips and three in the afternoon for the shorter excursions.

The Harpeth is a Class 1 river that features a meandering channel, few significant obstacles, and a water flow that is relatively swift without being too fast. It is therefore perfectly suited to all skills of canoeing, from absolute beginners to more competent and experienced paddlers. All equipment needed for the trip is provided and this includes the boat, paddle, and safety equipment.

The canoes that can be rented by visitors are either Mad River or Buffalo manufactured models. These are rated to hold the weight of two grown ups and can also accommodate families of four if the children are 5 years old or under. They are produced with comfortable molded benches that make a journey along the Harpeth River all the more pleasant.

The shortest outing available sets off from the bridge on Route 70 and takes in a 1.5 mile stretch of the river downstream from this. It is the one most suitable for children and is a good choice for families. There is also a 5 mile trip that commences at the park in the town of Kingston Springs and this ends at the Route 70 Bridge.

There are a couple of longer excursions that visitors can try. The river length between the historic Mound Bottom settlement and the Harris Street Bridge is approximately nine miles. Those that want to see as much of the river as possible can try the eleven mile expedition that runs from the Route 70 Bridge all the way to where Harris Street crosses the river.

A site at Foggy Bottom campground can be booked by visitors that have a tent available. Its four acre layout is designed for primitive camping only and has a few basic facilities to make a stay more enjoyable. A washroom is available day and night, there are picnic tables set up around the site, and water is provided at the campground reception.

There are plenty of sights to see during one of the organized trips offered by the company. This includes an ancient Native American settlement known as Mound Bottom. It was home to Mississippian Indians and dates back thousands of years. Another impressive sight is the Montgomery Bell Tunnel located at the Narrows of the Harpeth. This was built using slave labor during the early years of the nineteenth century.




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