Paddling from Old 421-Tanglewood- Hwy 64- Hwy 801- I 85- High Rock Lake- Tuckertown Reservoir-

Image via WikipediI know some of our readers are wondering, when are we going to release the report on the Paddle Trails above? We decided it would be best to wait until our paddle season had wound down. This way we can sit down as a group and go over each of these areas a little more in details.

The information we provide hopefully will prepare canoeist and kayakers on what to expect along these particular paddle trails.

Our report won't hold back or gloss over problems we see that need addressing. The most serious problem is still "Idols Dam". This area still remains just as deadly as that day we paddle it back in July. While there had been good response from the city with the promise of signs, to date all we have seen are sketches. We find this very disturbing that there are no signs posted. There has been more than enough time and there really is no excuse for not having done it. We all need to start asking "what is the hold up?" What will it take to get the signs up?


Our report will make recommendations just like our concerns regarding safety issues mentioned above. We plan to release our findings as concerned paddlers to all the media, paddle publications and paddling groups. It will take more than just our voices to make any recommendations we suggest a reality. This is why we will release our report to any reader or organizations with paddling interests.

HRL Paddlers doesn't like being a thorn in anyones side, all we want to do is paddle. Now if it takes being a "thorn" to make our paddle trails safer, we will gladly accept the role. Our main concern to make sure that safety issues like the "open death trap" at Idols Dam gets closed. So far the only positive move we have experienced were just a couple of meetings listening to our concerns and the display of some "graphic rendering of signs" that supposedly are ordered. I did do a personal follow up a few weeks back. A city department head informed me that they were working to resolve the portage issue. I also asked if the signs were up, but this official informed they weren't. It seemed they were wanting to resolve everything at the same time. I asked that the signs be put up immediately, knowing the portage issue will take a little longer.

Since that time I've heard nothing on signs being in place. Our group may have to paddle the area again and invite others along this time to see why we are so concerned. There is just no excuse for signs not being put in place by now. More than enough time has passed. The city was actually made aware of the problem back in June, so this wasn't suddenly overnight. When we discovered it we turned up the burners on what had been a low burning flame.

The public needs to see photos of the warning signs in place, not sketches of what is ordered anymore. We encourage anyone reading this to write the City of Winston-Salem Mayor or ask their city council member why this hasn't been done yet? HRL Paddlers is one dog that won't stop barking until this safety issue is resolved. We will continue our campaign to get the safety issues resolved once and for all.

"Only dead fish go with the current"