A list of phrases to avoid & their true meaning
*Let's do some blue-sky thinking = Lets pretend nothing will go wrong (Used for the 2012 Olympic Bid).
*A light bulb moment =A good (often stolen) idea.
*That’s a No-brainer =Totally Obvious Enhancement that was completed five years ago.
*Low hanging fruit =Lets do the easy stuff first.
*My best ballpark figure = A total guess, that I know is wrong.
*Worst Case Scenario = I’ll just cover myself in case it all goes wrong.
*Heads Up = First View, normally wrong.
*Out of the box thinking = Create ideas that will never work.
*I don’t want to go down a Rabbit hole on the issue = I’m not prepared for this.
*Highlight, Target & Focus Key Resource = No one wants it.
*Let's park that Idea = That has no place in the discussion, so leave it for another time.
*Have you dialed my numbers in? = It was my idea & I want the meeting to know it.
*Highlights = Compilation of Business speak words, collated from anyone, endeavouring to show they’re still worth paying.
*An exercise in boxticking = An activity of completely wasted effort.
*I just want to touch base with you = Fancy a coffee?
*Can you let my secretary know? = I am more senior than you
*Keep me in the loop. = Make sure you email me.
*Starter for Ten. = Really bad first attempt.
*I will use Fish Bone Diagrams & the five whys to get to root cause of the issue. = I’ve just got back from a residential course.
*Well, he talks a good game. = He can't deliver on this.
*It’s not on my radar. = I’m not working on this.
*It's an aggressive schedule. = I can't do it in time.
*We need to round it. = Do it all again because its wrong.
*I can go through that in more detail later. = I don’t have any detail on that item.
*I'll take that on Board. = You're talking total rubbish.
*You need to come to the party. = Do it my way.
*Let's start singing from the same hymnbook. = Do it my way.
*Lets Slice & dice the data. = Do the Spreadsheet my way.
*Do a deep dive on the data. = Do a bigger Spreadsheet my way'.
*Push Back = NO !
*We need to ask the question! = I don’t know.
*I need to get up to speed = I don’t know anything.
*Lets take this Offline = Neither of us knows anything; Shut up!
*My mind is open on this issue = I will never know anything.
*We need a holistic, cradle to grave approach. = We need a plan.
*Challenging, but achievable. = Impossible & you will likely fail.
*Get all my ducks in a row. = The project is in a mess.
*Pareto the list = There is too much to do.
*Moving Forward = Delegate to someone else.
*Work smarter, not harder = Work harder to a incomprehensible process.
*The process is the Panacea = I need more time to understand what you want me to do.
*The process owner is the only person who can change the process. = I invented it, I know it’s rubbish but I want to keep my job.
*We need to benchmark our processes = I need to visit a dissimilar company to us in a nice location.
*We will use performance management to show progress. = I’ve got a spreadsheet in three colors.
*You need to flag it up = Is it wrong ?
*We’re on a Journey = It’s bad now & it’s going to get worse, but by then, we’ll have all moved on.
*We need to lay an Egg on this = You need to finish this task.
*Exam Question = What should we have done.
*We need to all be prepared to step up to the plate on this = You all need to understand that you will be blamed for my incompetence.
*I need to manage stakeholder expectations on this = I’m late, over budget, the spec is wrong & my customer doesn’t know.
*You've moved the goalposts = This is not what you asked me to do.
*We’ve mixed results = I’ve poor results with a bit of mediocre news.
*No serious bugs have been reported = No one has used it yet.
*I don't want to point fingers = ...but it's your fault.
*Moving to a Matrix Management system = No seniors will lose their jobs.
*Let's do some blue-sky thinking = Lets pretend nothing will go wrong (Used for the 2012 Olympic Bid).
*A light bulb moment =A good (often stolen) idea.
*That’s a No-brainer =Totally Obvious Enhancement that was completed five years ago.
*Low hanging fruit =Lets do the easy stuff first.
*My best ballpark figure = A total guess, that I know is wrong.
*Worst Case Scenario = I’ll just cover myself in case it all goes wrong.
*Heads Up = First View, normally wrong.
*Out of the box thinking = Create ideas that will never work.
*I don’t want to go down a Rabbit hole on the issue = I’m not prepared for this.
*Highlight, Target & Focus Key Resource = No one wants it.
*Let's park that Idea = That has no place in the discussion, so leave it for another time.
*Have you dialed my numbers in? = It was my idea & I want the meeting to know it.
*Highlights = Compilation of Business speak words, collated from anyone, endeavouring to show they’re still worth paying.
*An exercise in boxticking = An activity of completely wasted effort.
*I just want to touch base with you = Fancy a coffee?
*Can you let my secretary know? = I am more senior than you
*Keep me in the loop. = Make sure you email me.
*Starter for Ten. = Really bad first attempt.
*I will use Fish Bone Diagrams & the five whys to get to root cause of the issue. = I’ve just got back from a residential course.
*Well, he talks a good game. = He can't deliver on this.
*It’s not on my radar. = I’m not working on this.
*It's an aggressive schedule. = I can't do it in time.
*We need to round it. = Do it all again because its wrong.
*I can go through that in more detail later. = I don’t have any detail on that item.
*I'll take that on Board. = You're talking total rubbish.
*You need to come to the party. = Do it my way.
*Let's start singing from the same hymnbook. = Do it my way.
*Lets Slice & dice the data. = Do the Spreadsheet my way.
*Do a deep dive on the data. = Do a bigger Spreadsheet my way'.
*Push Back = NO !
*We need to ask the question! = I don’t know.
*I need to get up to speed = I don’t know anything.
*Lets take this Offline = Neither of us knows anything; Shut up!
*My mind is open on this issue = I will never know anything.
*We need a holistic, cradle to grave approach. = We need a plan.
*Challenging, but achievable. = Impossible & you will likely fail.
*Get all my ducks in a row. = The project is in a mess.
*Pareto the list = There is too much to do.
*Moving Forward = Delegate to someone else.
*Work smarter, not harder = Work harder to a incomprehensible process.
*The process is the Panacea = I need more time to understand what you want me to do.
*The process owner is the only person who can change the process. = I invented it, I know it’s rubbish but I want to keep my job.
*We need to benchmark our processes = I need to visit a dissimilar company to us in a nice location.
*We will use performance management to show progress. = I’ve got a spreadsheet in three colors.
*You need to flag it up = Is it wrong ?
*We’re on a Journey = It’s bad now & it’s going to get worse, but by then, we’ll have all moved on.
*We need to lay an Egg on this = You need to finish this task.
*Exam Question = What should we have done.
*We need to all be prepared to step up to the plate on this = You all need to understand that you will be blamed for my incompetence.
*I need to manage stakeholder expectations on this = I’m late, over budget, the spec is wrong & my customer doesn’t know.
*You've moved the goalposts = This is not what you asked me to do.
*We’ve mixed results = I’ve poor results with a bit of mediocre news.
*No serious bugs have been reported = No one has used it yet.
*I don't want to point fingers = ...but it's your fault.
*Moving to a Matrix Management system = No seniors will lose their jobs.
Dark Sands is a fantasy novel by author E. R. Law, originally released by Ronin Sword Publishing in the summer of 2007 as Dark Sands: An Earth Realmers' Tale, or Dark Sands: A Novel. Law later retracted the earliest version of the novel, however, and re-invented it as a series of sorts, or a Dark Sands 'trilogy.' The three books in the series are known as Bad News from the Next World, The Lamphire Line, and Rise of the Appointed. Apart from just cutting the original work into three seperate pieces, these books tell a similar but dramatically altered (and in the mind of the author, improved) version of the story. Still, Law considers them mere chapters in an overall novel entitled Dark Sands.
Premise
Dark Sands tells the tale of several so-called 'Earth Realmers' who find themselves embroiled in a fantastic adventure in a mysterious otherworld known as the Mythrealm, where a corrupted half-elf known as Octwar seeks to avenge the death of his father, a former king among the elves known as Kilron, and simultaneously resurrect him from death so that together they might subjugate the various elves, dwarfs, and humans who dwell in the Mythrealm. To accomplish this goal, Octwar seeks out the so-called Lamphire line (aka, the blood lineage of Kilron's arch-nemesis, a man called Shantir, who escaped to the Earth Realm in the early 1800s).
Van Dines, a twenty something nobody from small town America and Employee of the Month at the local Value Mart department store, is unaware when he first meets a mysterious and beautiful young woman named Dawn Morgan that she is of that very bloodline. This is a fact that even she is unaware of. The two begin dating, but during an excursion to a secluded park known as the Reubensville Reserve, Dawn is abducted by a band of otherworldly creatures who appear and disappear almost without a trace. Van seeks the help of his best friend and fellow nobody Ashton Campbell, and together they return to the reserve to discover what happened to Dawn, only to find a dwindling portal amidst the forest. They enter it, and promptly find themselves deposited in the Mythrealm -- a place that is very, very similar to the worlds they read so much about in their youth (see J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings or Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain).
Van and Ash (as Ashton is most often called) soon discover the truth behind Dawn's abduction, and discover that they are her only hope of rescue. After all, Octwar plans to force her hand in marriage and sacrifice her to the ghost of his slain father, and usher in a season of darkness and despair the likes of which the Mythrealm has never before known. What follows is an epic quest frought with peril -- and lots and lots of self-depricating humor. Van and Ash are geeks, after all. Their observations as avid readers of fantasy fiction contribute most of the series' humor.
For example, when Van's character first learns of the existence of elves, he quickly asks, "So are we talking little guys with pointy hats who bake cookies in their magic trees, or big tall androgynous guys with bows and arrows prancing through the forest?" When the former seems the closest to the answer, he balks. "Everybody since Tolkien's been telling that same story. The man all but invented it! Surely you can do better than that, right?"
This quirky, revisionist sensibility permeates Dark Sands, allowing readers to see the Mythrealm through the eyes of their fanboy protagonists. Author E.R. Law describes the work as a "love letter to the fantasy genre" (see the Author's Note at the end of the 2007 version), therefore incorporating familiar but re-imagined elements so that Van and Ash can poke some fun at their adventure despite the ever-present danger that threatens them every step of the way.
In the author's own words... "If Dark Sands were a movie, I'd describe it as some weird three-way marriage between The Lord of the Rings, The Princess Bride, and The Breakfast Club."
The Trilogy
Author E.R. Law opted in early 2009 to re-imagine Dark Sands as a trilogy for the sake of keeping costs low (so that potential readers could afford the book as well as to scale back the overhead costs of publishing the novel himself via Ronin Sword Publishing). He also claims it allowed him the time in an otherwise busy writing schedule to go back in and further develop the story one piece at a time, dramatically "improving" it and altering it as needed.
The first book in the series, Bad News from the Next World, details the mundane lives of would-be heroes Van and Ash and chronicles the first stage of their journey to rescue Dawn Morgan from the clutches of the monsters who hold her captive. The title of said volume was inspired by the title of Scottish rock band Simple Minds' 1995 album, Good News from the Next World. The novel was released in February of 2009.
The following chapters in the series, set to the titles of The Lamphire Line and Rise of the Appointed, have yet to be released, but are expected to follow in summer 2009 and early 2010.
Themes
The central theme of Dark Sands is the importance of fantasy and imagination in a modern world as a cure for adult apathy. This is represented in Dark Sands by the true nature of the Mythrealm, revealed in the third book in the series, Rise of the Appointed. A lack of belief by adults in all things fantastic and outside the realm of the mundane is slowly destroying the Mythrealm and creating powers like the one represented by the villain, Octwar. It could be argued as well that Dark Sands itself (a slowly expanding sea of endless dunes beneath an eternal, starless night) is the spread of that disbelief consuming the wonderous Mythrealm, much like The Nothing in the similarly themed The Neverending Story by Michael Ende.
Some less obvious themes deal with topics as diverse as love, loyalty, fatherhood, and even sex. Much is made of Van and Ash's loyalty to one another in times of crisis and Van's stubborn love for Dawn, but more subtle are Dark Sands elements of fatherhood, which depicts both the hero Van and his arch-nemesis Octwar as sons who have lost their fathers to death. Sexual themes are more subtle still, though author E.R. Law claims that Dark Sands is not unlike a Dave Matthews song -- "It's about sex even when it doesn't seem to be." After all, a sexual love affair is what shattered the peace of the Mythrealm, creating the forces of good in the guise of Dawn Morgan and her cousin Mia Lamphire, and the forces of evil in the shape of Octwar and his vengeful father Kilron. Law even challenges his readers to second-guess Van and Ash's motivations, for as Dawn and Mia are of elfish lineage and therefore bewitchingly beautiful, is it love that truly guides their actions or mere physical attraction?
Ronin Sword Publishing
Ronin Sword Publishing is the official publisher of Dark Sands. It is an invention of the author, E.R. Law, who self-published the series to maintain full creative control of the work. Ronin Sword Publishing was created specifically to publish Dark Sands and all related works, exclusively.
Law courted the large publishing firms with the work for well over a year, earning words of encouragement and a special note from an editor at Tor Books that praised the writing despite a refusal to publish the novel. Others described the manuscript as "too personal" and "not high concept enough," followed by suggestions on how to make the book more commercial. Even so, Law secured a small press called Capri Publishing that was enthusiastic about the project and planned to publish it in December of 2006. Unfortunately, the company closed its doors before then due to financial troubles.
Citing that he had never intended Dark Sands to be a commercial bestseller in the first place, Law opted to publish the novel himself under the banner of Ronin Sword. "This was something I did for myself, something I had to do," Law is quoted as saying. "Originally, I conceived of Dark Sands as something for me and my friends only. It acted as a venue for our own wish fulfilment as a couple teenage nerds. I mean, what could be better for guys like us? Visit a generic version of Middle-earth, play the hero, and get the girl. I mean, come on! Gradually, though, I took on this concept of becoming a professional writer when I got older, and Dark Sands was my rite of passage. I had to finish it to a point where I was satisfied with it, a point where it felt like something that was deeply personal and at times almost autobiographical, and then I'd see if anybody else wanted to read the thing. Hopefully they do. I mean, it'd be a shame if nobody cared after well over fifteen years of work, but that's a chance I'll take gladly. I care, and that's all that matters to me."
To maintain full creative control, Law eventually decided to publish the novel himself. This fact is also what allowed him to re-invent Dark Sands as a new and improved series.
Similar Works
Dark Sands is a fantasy novel in the tradition of Three Hearts and Three Lions by Poul Anderson, the Spearwielder's Tales by R.A. Salvatore, and other various wish fulfilment yarns whereupon the protagonists are normal, everyday people from "the real world" who find themselves at the epicenter of a fantasy adventure in some distant world inspired by myths, legends, and/or the works of the genre's most prolific authors. A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain is one of the earliest examples of this.
The Author
E.R. Law is the pen name of Evan Law, who also co-wrote the feature film Hero Wanted (2008). Law has since disavowed the pen name, and cites it as Dark Sands exclusive.
Premise
Dark Sands tells the tale of several so-called 'Earth Realmers' who find themselves embroiled in a fantastic adventure in a mysterious otherworld known as the Mythrealm, where a corrupted half-elf known as Octwar seeks to avenge the death of his father, a former king among the elves known as Kilron, and simultaneously resurrect him from death so that together they might subjugate the various elves, dwarfs, and humans who dwell in the Mythrealm. To accomplish this goal, Octwar seeks out the so-called Lamphire line (aka, the blood lineage of Kilron's arch-nemesis, a man called Shantir, who escaped to the Earth Realm in the early 1800s).
Van Dines, a twenty something nobody from small town America and Employee of the Month at the local Value Mart department store, is unaware when he first meets a mysterious and beautiful young woman named Dawn Morgan that she is of that very bloodline. This is a fact that even she is unaware of. The two begin dating, but during an excursion to a secluded park known as the Reubensville Reserve, Dawn is abducted by a band of otherworldly creatures who appear and disappear almost without a trace. Van seeks the help of his best friend and fellow nobody Ashton Campbell, and together they return to the reserve to discover what happened to Dawn, only to find a dwindling portal amidst the forest. They enter it, and promptly find themselves deposited in the Mythrealm -- a place that is very, very similar to the worlds they read so much about in their youth (see J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings or Lloyd Alexander's Chronicles of Prydain).
Van and Ash (as Ashton is most often called) soon discover the truth behind Dawn's abduction, and discover that they are her only hope of rescue. After all, Octwar plans to force her hand in marriage and sacrifice her to the ghost of his slain father, and usher in a season of darkness and despair the likes of which the Mythrealm has never before known. What follows is an epic quest frought with peril -- and lots and lots of self-depricating humor. Van and Ash are geeks, after all. Their observations as avid readers of fantasy fiction contribute most of the series' humor.
For example, when Van's character first learns of the existence of elves, he quickly asks, "So are we talking little guys with pointy hats who bake cookies in their magic trees, or big tall androgynous guys with bows and arrows prancing through the forest?" When the former seems the closest to the answer, he balks. "Everybody since Tolkien's been telling that same story. The man all but invented it! Surely you can do better than that, right?"
This quirky, revisionist sensibility permeates Dark Sands, allowing readers to see the Mythrealm through the eyes of their fanboy protagonists. Author E.R. Law describes the work as a "love letter to the fantasy genre" (see the Author's Note at the end of the 2007 version), therefore incorporating familiar but re-imagined elements so that Van and Ash can poke some fun at their adventure despite the ever-present danger that threatens them every step of the way.
In the author's own words... "If Dark Sands were a movie, I'd describe it as some weird three-way marriage between The Lord of the Rings, The Princess Bride, and The Breakfast Club."
The Trilogy
Author E.R. Law opted in early 2009 to re-imagine Dark Sands as a trilogy for the sake of keeping costs low (so that potential readers could afford the book as well as to scale back the overhead costs of publishing the novel himself via Ronin Sword Publishing). He also claims it allowed him the time in an otherwise busy writing schedule to go back in and further develop the story one piece at a time, dramatically "improving" it and altering it as needed.
The first book in the series, Bad News from the Next World, details the mundane lives of would-be heroes Van and Ash and chronicles the first stage of their journey to rescue Dawn Morgan from the clutches of the monsters who hold her captive. The title of said volume was inspired by the title of Scottish rock band Simple Minds' 1995 album, Good News from the Next World. The novel was released in February of 2009.
The following chapters in the series, set to the titles of The Lamphire Line and Rise of the Appointed, have yet to be released, but are expected to follow in summer 2009 and early 2010.
Themes
The central theme of Dark Sands is the importance of fantasy and imagination in a modern world as a cure for adult apathy. This is represented in Dark Sands by the true nature of the Mythrealm, revealed in the third book in the series, Rise of the Appointed. A lack of belief by adults in all things fantastic and outside the realm of the mundane is slowly destroying the Mythrealm and creating powers like the one represented by the villain, Octwar. It could be argued as well that Dark Sands itself (a slowly expanding sea of endless dunes beneath an eternal, starless night) is the spread of that disbelief consuming the wonderous Mythrealm, much like The Nothing in the similarly themed The Neverending Story by Michael Ende.
Some less obvious themes deal with topics as diverse as love, loyalty, fatherhood, and even sex. Much is made of Van and Ash's loyalty to one another in times of crisis and Van's stubborn love for Dawn, but more subtle are Dark Sands elements of fatherhood, which depicts both the hero Van and his arch-nemesis Octwar as sons who have lost their fathers to death. Sexual themes are more subtle still, though author E.R. Law claims that Dark Sands is not unlike a Dave Matthews song -- "It's about sex even when it doesn't seem to be." After all, a sexual love affair is what shattered the peace of the Mythrealm, creating the forces of good in the guise of Dawn Morgan and her cousin Mia Lamphire, and the forces of evil in the shape of Octwar and his vengeful father Kilron. Law even challenges his readers to second-guess Van and Ash's motivations, for as Dawn and Mia are of elfish lineage and therefore bewitchingly beautiful, is it love that truly guides their actions or mere physical attraction?
Ronin Sword Publishing
Ronin Sword Publishing is the official publisher of Dark Sands. It is an invention of the author, E.R. Law, who self-published the series to maintain full creative control of the work. Ronin Sword Publishing was created specifically to publish Dark Sands and all related works, exclusively.
Law courted the large publishing firms with the work for well over a year, earning words of encouragement and a special note from an editor at Tor Books that praised the writing despite a refusal to publish the novel. Others described the manuscript as "too personal" and "not high concept enough," followed by suggestions on how to make the book more commercial. Even so, Law secured a small press called Capri Publishing that was enthusiastic about the project and planned to publish it in December of 2006. Unfortunately, the company closed its doors before then due to financial troubles.
Citing that he had never intended Dark Sands to be a commercial bestseller in the first place, Law opted to publish the novel himself under the banner of Ronin Sword. "This was something I did for myself, something I had to do," Law is quoted as saying. "Originally, I conceived of Dark Sands as something for me and my friends only. It acted as a venue for our own wish fulfilment as a couple teenage nerds. I mean, what could be better for guys like us? Visit a generic version of Middle-earth, play the hero, and get the girl. I mean, come on! Gradually, though, I took on this concept of becoming a professional writer when I got older, and Dark Sands was my rite of passage. I had to finish it to a point where I was satisfied with it, a point where it felt like something that was deeply personal and at times almost autobiographical, and then I'd see if anybody else wanted to read the thing. Hopefully they do. I mean, it'd be a shame if nobody cared after well over fifteen years of work, but that's a chance I'll take gladly. I care, and that's all that matters to me."
To maintain full creative control, Law eventually decided to publish the novel himself. This fact is also what allowed him to re-invent Dark Sands as a new and improved series.
Similar Works
Dark Sands is a fantasy novel in the tradition of Three Hearts and Three Lions by Poul Anderson, the Spearwielder's Tales by R.A. Salvatore, and other various wish fulfilment yarns whereupon the protagonists are normal, everyday people from "the real world" who find themselves at the epicenter of a fantasy adventure in some distant world inspired by myths, legends, and/or the works of the genre's most prolific authors. A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain is one of the earliest examples of this.
The Author
E.R. Law is the pen name of Evan Law, who also co-wrote the feature film Hero Wanted (2008). Law has since disavowed the pen name, and cites it as Dark Sands exclusive.
Kayaking and Canoeing on the Chattooga River
The Chattooga River, on the Georgia/South Carolina border, offers some of the best whitewater in the southeast United States. Because of its protection as a National Wild and Scenic River, it is almost untouched by civilization, and offers some exceptional scenery. For the novice paddler, or the expert whitewater kayaker, it offers plenty of excitement. This page gives a brief description of each section of the river, and a guide to paddling it. However, those who are not familiar with the river should obtain a detailed map, or go with someone who is familiar with the river.
Conditions for paddling the Chattooga
To continue the preservation of the river, and for the safety of boaters, these conditions must be followed:
1. Each float party must register.
2. All floaters must wear a life jacket rated "Coast Guard Approved."
3. All persons in decked craft, and all floaters below Woodall Shoals, must wear a helmet.
4. Minimum party size: Above Earls Ford - 2 persons, 1 craft; Below Earls Ford - 2 persons, 2 craft.
5. Inner-tubes are prohibited below Earls Ford.
6. Rafts must have a minimum of two air chambers.
7. All floating is prohibited north of SC 28.
8. Air mattresses, motorized craft, or other craft deemed unsuitable by the US Forest Service, are prohibited.
Guide to the River
Following is a brief guide to the river. It is recommended that each party have at least one person who is familiar with the river, and who is an experienced whitewater paddler. Do not attempt anything beyond your skill level. If in doubt, always portage around the rapid.
Section II: Hwy 28 to Earls Ford
This 7 mile section is good for beginners, and includes numerous small rapids. The only major rapid is Big Shoals, a class III with a 5 ft. drop. It can be recognized by the big rock ledges in the center of the river. It should be scouted from these ledges, and run on the right side. The takeout at Earls Ford is on the left, where you will have about a 1/4 mile walk to the parking lot.
Section III: Earls Ford to Rt. 76:
At Earls Ford, the river gains momentum, and the rapids increase in difficulty. Only experience boaters should attempt this section. It includes numerous class III and IV rapids, some of which can be dangerous. At the Narrows, a class IV, the river runs through a narrow canyon, and is very difficult to portage. Just above the Rt. 76 bridge is Bull Sluice, a class IV-V that can be very dangerous, especially at high water levels. The takeout is on the left just before the bridge.
Section IV: Rt. 76 to Tugaloo Lake
This section is only for expert paddlers. It includes Woodall Shoals, which is the most dangerous rapid on the river. Several miles below this is Five Falls, a series of five major rapids in a 500 yard stretch. These rapids contain undercut rocks and dangerous hydraulics, and should be run only by the most skillled paddlers, as a mistake could result in serious injury or death. This section ends with a two mile paddle across Lake Tugaloo to the boat ramp on the left.
The Chattooga River, on the Georgia/South Carolina border, offers some of the best whitewater in the southeast United States. Because of its protection as a National Wild and Scenic River, it is almost untouched by civilization, and offers some exceptional scenery. For the novice paddler, or the expert whitewater kayaker, it offers plenty of excitement. This page gives a brief description of each section of the river, and a guide to paddling it. However, those who are not familiar with the river should obtain a detailed map, or go with someone who is familiar with the river.
Conditions for paddling the Chattooga
To continue the preservation of the river, and for the safety of boaters, these conditions must be followed:
1. Each float party must register.
2. All floaters must wear a life jacket rated "Coast Guard Approved."
3. All persons in decked craft, and all floaters below Woodall Shoals, must wear a helmet.
4. Minimum party size: Above Earls Ford - 2 persons, 1 craft; Below Earls Ford - 2 persons, 2 craft.
5. Inner-tubes are prohibited below Earls Ford.
6. Rafts must have a minimum of two air chambers.
7. All floating is prohibited north of SC 28.
8. Air mattresses, motorized craft, or other craft deemed unsuitable by the US Forest Service, are prohibited.
Guide to the River
Following is a brief guide to the river. It is recommended that each party have at least one person who is familiar with the river, and who is an experienced whitewater paddler. Do not attempt anything beyond your skill level. If in doubt, always portage around the rapid.
Section II: Hwy 28 to Earls Ford
This 7 mile section is good for beginners, and includes numerous small rapids. The only major rapid is Big Shoals, a class III with a 5 ft. drop. It can be recognized by the big rock ledges in the center of the river. It should be scouted from these ledges, and run on the right side. The takeout at Earls Ford is on the left, where you will have about a 1/4 mile walk to the parking lot.
Section III: Earls Ford to Rt. 76:
At Earls Ford, the river gains momentum, and the rapids increase in difficulty. Only experience boaters should attempt this section. It includes numerous class III and IV rapids, some of which can be dangerous. At the Narrows, a class IV, the river runs through a narrow canyon, and is very difficult to portage. Just above the Rt. 76 bridge is Bull Sluice, a class IV-V that can be very dangerous, especially at high water levels. The takeout is on the left just before the bridge.
Section IV: Rt. 76 to Tugaloo Lake
This section is only for expert paddlers. It includes Woodall Shoals, which is the most dangerous rapid on the river. Several miles below this is Five Falls, a series of five major rapids in a 500 yard stretch. These rapids contain undercut rocks and dangerous hydraulics, and should be run only by the most skillled paddlers, as a mistake could result in serious injury or death. This section ends with a two mile paddle across Lake Tugaloo to the boat ramp on the left.
Avoid Your Next Traffic Ticket
Let's face it, getting a speeding ticket or traffic ticket sucks! Here are a few tips to help you avoid seeing a red light in your review mirror.
Think Smart - Act Smart - Drive Smart
They say that prevention is always better than cure and speeding tickets are certainly no exception to this wisdom of the ages.
When you think about it, there are actually plenty of things that can be done to avoid a speeding ticket in the first place. There are dozens of simple and useful precautions that will help you avoid hundreds of dollars in speeding ticket fines.
Most people slow down only for a very short time after receiving a speeding ticket -- some only for a few minutes! You can imagine the frustration of getting yet another ticket shortly after you've settled the fine for another. Or even worse, before you've settled your previous fine. This one actually happens frequently enough.
In fact, chances are that you are seeking information on this subject after just such a situation. And remember that the expenses related to a speed ticket are several and tend to add up quickly, briskly causing devastation to any pocket book. One possible extra expense as a result of a ticket or two is an insurance premium surcharge.
To start with your choice of car can make a huge difference. There are some cars that scream for a speeding ticket from miles away. Consider a red Ferrari, or any other noisy high performance car which usually come in very conspicuous colors that make them stick out like a sore thumb to the speed police? Like in everything else in life perception can be dangerously quick in getting a person into trouble.
Know where the police usually hide to set up their speed traps can be of great help. But there are also many situations where folks have fallen into traps that they should never have fallen into. For instance why carelessly speed past that oddly slow moving semi-truck when it is rather obvious that there must be a reason why they are going so slow. Reasons like a hidden car in front of it just waiting for you to behave predictably.
But there is one major and significant precaution that will keep you out of trouble a vast majority of the times. And that is avoiding the left lane like the plague itself. Just think about it for a minute. If you wanted to catch speed offenders which lane would you position your radar close to?
Source
*http://www.paynofine.com/ticket-help/avoid-ticket.html
Let's face it, getting a speeding ticket or traffic ticket sucks! Here are a few tips to help you avoid seeing a red light in your review mirror.
Think Smart - Act Smart - Drive Smart
They say that prevention is always better than cure and speeding tickets are certainly no exception to this wisdom of the ages.
When you think about it, there are actually plenty of things that can be done to avoid a speeding ticket in the first place. There are dozens of simple and useful precautions that will help you avoid hundreds of dollars in speeding ticket fines.
Most people slow down only for a very short time after receiving a speeding ticket -- some only for a few minutes! You can imagine the frustration of getting yet another ticket shortly after you've settled the fine for another. Or even worse, before you've settled your previous fine. This one actually happens frequently enough.
In fact, chances are that you are seeking information on this subject after just such a situation. And remember that the expenses related to a speed ticket are several and tend to add up quickly, briskly causing devastation to any pocket book. One possible extra expense as a result of a ticket or two is an insurance premium surcharge.
To start with your choice of car can make a huge difference. There are some cars that scream for a speeding ticket from miles away. Consider a red Ferrari, or any other noisy high performance car which usually come in very conspicuous colors that make them stick out like a sore thumb to the speed police? Like in everything else in life perception can be dangerously quick in getting a person into trouble.
Know where the police usually hide to set up their speed traps can be of great help. But there are also many situations where folks have fallen into traps that they should never have fallen into. For instance why carelessly speed past that oddly slow moving semi-truck when it is rather obvious that there must be a reason why they are going so slow. Reasons like a hidden car in front of it just waiting for you to behave predictably.
But there is one major and significant precaution that will keep you out of trouble a vast majority of the times. And that is avoiding the left lane like the plague itself. Just think about it for a minute. If you wanted to catch speed offenders which lane would you position your radar close to?
Source
*http://www.paynofine.com/ticket-help/avoid-ticket.html