Radford Ramp Project

A Proposal by the Judson College Chapter of the

Cahaba River Society


(update: proposal funded; project start date of early spring, 2008)

Radford take out... an almost impossible ditch
 
 
The take-out at the old Radford Bridge is an eroded, steep, muddy ditch with the banks covered with poison ivy. Judson College students make this trip several times a year. Randy Haddock. Field Director of the Cahaba River Soceity, has gone with our group for almost 20 straight years. Here is Randy working to get the girls safely to the bank and the canoes and gear up that dang ditch. Guess what fun it is when it is raining cats and frogs!
 
Meadowlark Kastner isn't worried about getting up the ditch Dr. Wilson and his crew seem a little concerned about the conditions.
   
The water is deep against the take-out bank. Trees have washed into the ditch area. This important "take-out" is a nightmare...we need help!
   
Time to go up the ditch
Get out if you can
   
   
We put our canoe into the Cahaba River at the Radford "ditch" on June 23, 2005, and took the following photos of conditions on the road and at the take-out.
   
Ricki Morrison and Valerie Burnes hope that we are not stuck Tree limbs and bushes scratch cars
   
Sliding the canoe down the ditch The old Radford Bridge which collapsed in about 1960
   
Big trees have fallen in the river close to the take-out Approaching the take-out
   
Ricki Morrison heads toward ditch takeout
Ricki and Valerie prepare to pull the canoe up the ditch
   
   
   
Tree tops block the take-out Brian Burnes pulls the canoe up the ditch
   
Ditch take-out Thomas Wilson at top of ditch take-out
   
Howard Richie of Marion supports our efforts to improve the take-out Pulling the canoe up the ditch
   
Pushing the canoe up the ditch Carring the canoe out of the ditch
   
Parking area at the Radford take-out The Radford parking area is full of weeds, mudholes, and ruts. It could be a very nice place.
   
   
A group of people with a long history of "helping" the river is working hard through political channels and paths to get an official State ramp constructed at the Radford take-out. If you want to help with this project, contact me, Thomas Wilson, 334-683-6389.
 
 
For more information, contact:
Dr. Thomas Wilson
wils5789@bellsouth.net