Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Paddle down Soque River worth effort


Paddle down Soque River worth effort
Submitted by Treva Bennett
Written Summer of 2013 after the Soque River Festival


Beginning and ending in Habersham County, the Soque River flows from its headwaters on Tray Mountain to its confluence with the Chattahoochee River. The city of Clarkesville gets its drinking water from the Soque; many farmers water their livestock or crops from the river or its tributaries; and fishermen brave the cold water to catch the trout that swim in its waters.

While public access to the Soque River is very limited, the Soque River Watershed Association has created an event that allows us a chance to get up close and personal with the river many of us cross over on a daily basis. The Soque River Festival, this year held June 1, allows anyone an opportunity to paddle down a section of the Soque River for a small fee. You get to choose either a canoe or kayak and pick a time for your journey.

I decided this year to take my son Elijah and participate in the event. We each chose to paddle a kayak. My only experience in a canoe on a river was not a pleasant one, so I opted for something different. As a Boy Scout, Elijah has had ample opportunities to paddle both but he prefers a kayak. We were to be among the first paddlers of the day and set out that Saturday morning looking forward to an adventure.

Our guides were a gentleman who lives on the river and paddles up and down its banks almost daily, and his assistant, a young teen who was up for a visit with family. As we were getting into the water and into our boats, it became evident I was going to be the problem child of the group. My last paddling trip (the not-so-pleasant canoe trip) was many moons ago and I had never been in a kayak, so I was basically at the beginner stage.

A key piece of advice, and one I used extensively, was if you start going the wrong way, paddle backward on the opposite side. “Opposite side” became my mantra as we journeyed down the river. Unfortunately, repeating the phrase and making my body do the proper motions didn’t always work so well. After rescuing me from the clutches of overhanging vines and a hitchhiking spider, our guide decided he had better hang back with me and let his assistant handle things up front. Elijah did paddle back to check on me from time to time, but spent most of his time up front with his new friend. I was able to enjoy the beauty of the river pretty much by myself, as I was the straggler in our group.

We were almost at the end of our journey when I got stuck against a fallen tree in the middle of the river. I was repeating “opposite side, opposite side” as I was headed for the tree but my arms weren’t following directions. Lodged against the tree, I was not moving but the water was and it flooded my kayak, sending me under the water and under the boat.

After a brief moment of panic when I realized the boat was on top of me and I couldn’t get my footing, I was able to throw the boat off and stand up. (Thank goodness for a shallow river!) By that time, our guide had seen my predicament and was trying to get out of his kayak to come to my aid. I told him I was OK and somehow he managed to get me back in my boat and finish my journey.

Even with the unintentional dunking, I enjoyed my experience on the river. The peace and tranquility of floating along, surrounded by such beauty, was well worth getting a little wet. I now have a new appreciation for the river that calls Habersham its home.

Treva Bennett is copy editor for The Northeast Georgian. Email her at tbennett@thenortheastgeorgian.com.


Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Textured Trout Artwork

Submitted by: Sarah Samsel



This picture is made of: hydrangea, bark, cinnamon, aucuba, black hollyhock, onion, gray poplar, money plant, pansy, seaweed, cotton and turmeric.

My thoughts: Fly-fishermen talk about “matching the hatch,” which refers to matching the appearance of insects that trout eat with fishing flies tied from feathers and fur. I do something similar as I seek to match the colors and patterns on the sides of the fish with plant materiel. Fish might be my very favorite thing to make with pressed flowers. I like overlapping the various leaves and petals to make it all blend smoothly.

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Beautiful photos of the Soque

Submitted by:  Walter Matlock



Mollie - "I only drink from the Creek"

Mollie - "I only drink from the Creek"

The Monroe's adopted Mollie (pictured below), a part Beagle part Australian Sheperd mix - many yearss ago from the shelter, and she's now 16 years old, completely deaf and a tad senile. A small creek, a tributary to the Soque just below Hardman Bottoms, runs behind the house. Recently Mollie decided the only place she wants to drink water is from the creek behind the house, so three times a day they walk her through a little fence and let her drink her fill from the flowing water. They've tried to bring a pan of creek water back up the hill for her to drink but she says no. A good old dog is entitled to a few privileges at the tail end of life and Richard said it reminds him that water is important not just to people but to all living things, including our animals.  

Submitted by Richard Monroe






Wednesday, June 4, 2014

12 Weeks of BIKING the SOQUE


Each week for the next 12 weeks the SRWA is going to explore every SUB-BASIN of the Soque Watershed as part of our SOQUE RIVER DAYS project!

To EXPLORE these sub-basins were jumping on a BICYCLE! Each Monday and Friday we'll head out to see the  landscapes, geography and people that make these areas unique. It's a very ground level way to find the special features of each basin, visit project sites we've worked on, projects we'd like to work on, and get to know the people who care about these areas, and their stories.

SCHEDULE
Yellowbank Creek – June 2, 6
Beaverdam Creek – June 9, 13, 16
Hazel Creek – June 20, 23, 28, 30
Deep Creek – July 4, 7
Main Stem – July 11, 14
Shoal Creek – July 18, 21
Raper Creek – July 25, 28
Headwaters – August 1, 4
MAKE UP DAYS – August 8, 11

We hope you'll suggest places for us to visit by e-mailing soque@windstream.net. And perhaps even come out for a ride one day.

Extensive photos, maps and stories will be posted to http://soqueriverdays.blogspot.com/

THIS WEEK - June 2-6 were traversing the YELLOWBANK CREEK sub-basin. So far we've already seen a little known gristmill, and hung out with the fella who caught the state record rainbow trout in the Soque River back in 2004.

Click image to download map

We'll share our experiences with you if you'll share yours with us!

Please tell us a story, submit a photo, or otherwise convey your experiences on the Soque River and all her numerous tribs. If you think you don't have a story, think again. Take for example this quick list of stories we could tell right off the top of our heads:


  • First time going to Mark of the Potter, seeing the enormous trout, and falling in love with the sinuous curves of 197 which follows the Soque the whole way to Batesville.
  • Catching a large trout, so big it hung down in the middle. Took it to be dissected in a fish anatomy class and to show off a bit the enormous trout of the Soque.
  • Canoeing in the Soque for Memorial Day and skinny dipping in a quiet, secluded spot
  • Took some of the staff from El Jinete to see Raper Creek Falls for the first time and swam in the pool beneath.
  • Finding yellowfin shiners in their brilliant red and yellow mating colors.
Don't be shy, share a quick tale, or photo. It'll help us all understand and enjoy this incredible resource even more.

Tomorrow we'll post stories and photos from our YELLOWBANK CREEK travels. If you'd like to suggest people and places to see in each of these basins, please let us know. 

Thanks,

Justin Ellis
Executive Director
SRWA
706-754-9382
soque@windstream.net

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

"At the far end of the Soque"... a remembrance

Submitted by: Avanelle Ivester



1930 – 1940

At the far end of the Soque – between Habersham Mills and where the river meets the Chattahoochee – Our family had many good times. My Dad loved the river – he fished and we played all up and down. He built his own boat, no motor, just paddles and poles. Down we would go over the shoals, what great fun! But it was hard to get back up over the shoals. He would get out of the boat and pull us up over the shoals. What memories!

"Soqee Life Water"

Submitted by:  Clarence Mason

Soquee Life Water

            As I grew up it took several years before I learned the true spelling of Soquee. Reading history books brought my attention to the double e's in Soquee. This makes better understanding on how to pronounce the word as many people just do not correctly pronounce it. The double e's seem to give Soquee a special ring when speaking the word. Spelling Soquee gives recognition to the many ancient people over this land. Many other places and people end their names with the double e's. All over Georgia and many surrounding states spell names ending in two e's.
            I made friend with John and Nancy when I told them I was glad they used the old spelling of Soquee. I could see her eyes sparkle. Some of my ancestor McClures worked for the Kollocks in the 1800's and are buried in that area. My mom was born up on the left fork of the Soquee near Chimney Mountain before moving to south of Clarkesville in 1919 where I still live today. I played along the Soquee and Mines Shoals where the old early 1800's Soquee Woolen Mill was before it burned. I fished much of Habersham Mills Lake.
            The Soquee is beautiful on up above the silted muddy part above town. The spelling may never be changed back like it used to be. Many people of influence could begin to spell Soquee if they would and change signs but many are not the local people and don't care.