What are the chances of flipping a canoe in the Smith River at Black Falls and then doing the same thing again 22 years later?

Ward Stone knows the odds are fairly good.

A retired deputy with the Patrick County Sheriff’s Office, Stone also is a long time canoeing enthusiast who tells a tale of twice borrowing a canoe, convincing a paddling partner and heading down the Upper Smith River for a 19-mile canoe trip.

The first jaunt was with his brother, Stone said, and explained that when he was transferred to Virginia from Texas by the Army in 1985, he and his wife and children visited this part of the state. He picked up a brochure on white water canoeing. The first river listed was the Smith River.

It was described as having the first 15 miles continuously, being class I thru III rapids, with the last few miles as flat paddling. He thought this sounded like fun and held on to the brochure.

He and his family moved to Patrick County after his retirement from the Army. When his brother came to visit a year later — in 1996 – the two took their adventurous trip on the Smith River, but alas, they were not well prepared for their white water experience. Their canoe overturned and all their on-board possessions which were not tied down began to wash down stream.

As they hurriedly tried to gather the essential items, one paddle washed out of the craft, out of sight into a crevice of a rock. Unable to retrieve the paddle, the two continued with a freshly cut sapling in the front, using it for steering and rowing, Stone said.

Stone’s first experience navigating this part of the river had taken much longer than expected, he said, and explained that he and his brother thought they would not be able to exit the river and would be forced to spend the night there. With no supplies, they were ill prepared for an overnight trip. Luckily, a boater found them as they idly floated along and gave them a tow.

That experience taught Stone an important lesson, and on a recent second canoe trip all supplies were tied down, according to Stone, who invited William Ross to be his rowing companion on the second journey.

Both men served in the Army. Ross, a Vietnam veteran, served four years; Stone served 20 years in the military before coming to Patrick County in 1999 to serve as a JROTC instructor at Patrick County High School (PCHS).

The two met through the American Legion and the Patrick County Honor Guard, and found they shared common interests.

Having reached mellow ages — Stone, 65 and Ross 70, both men were convinced that they could complete their river journey. After all, Stone works tirelessly to stay physically fit, and Ross maintains his concern for health following open-heart surgery.

Stone knew that Ross had built and flown his own gyrocopter (a type of rotorcraft that uses an unpowered rotor to develop lift), and Stone said he felt sure the two could navigate the class I through class III rapids on the Smith River.

After gathering supplies and borrowing a flat bottomed canoe, they were transported to the Iron Bridge Road, near Charity, where they confidently put-in and headed down river.

The head of the river is located in Vesta. From there, it flows into Philpott Lake. It curves and flows from 2,841-feet above sea level to 974 feet, through wilderness that would be reminiscent of the days when Native Americans only used canoes out of necessity.

They would have no cell phone service but could be tracked by GPS (global positioning system) through a GPS app.

They carefully proceeded over the white water and portaged around White Falls, planning to conquer the Black Falls aboard their canoe.

But the river had other plans, and as luck would have it, the canoe flipped just as it had on Stone’s first trip.

The paddlers fared better this time, with all their possessions fastened down except for Ross’s wallet. He put it in a water proof bag for safekeeping, but the bag and contents were washed away.

Fortunately after getting upright, the two once again headed down stream, where they later recovered the wallet.

When analyzing their recent tumble into the river, Ross described how the water became very rapid. He said the canoe went nose-first over the rocks and the water began to fill the canoe. He said the water was quite deep, and noted they were both wearing life-jackets. They pulled the canoe to the side, emptied it of water and continued on the journey.

According to Ross, the White and Black Falls are named for the color of the rock formations which create the falls. He explained that the river would take them, down-stream, but at times, “It was pretty rocky and we couldn’t paddle; we had to get out and drag the canoe around the rocks.”

Stone said canoeing requires a lot of coordination between the canoe partners. “We could handle that front position well, it really takes team work,” he said.

Also coincidentally, both Stone and Ross are Ohio natives who now have retired in Patrick County.

After his 20-year stint in the Army, Stone spent another 20 working in the Patrick County Sheriff’s Office. He and his wife decided to remain in Patrick County, and opted to live near Stuart.

Ross, who retired from the aerospace industry, said he and his wife were looking for a retirement community. They have now lived here five years.

Both own canoes and have had various canoeing experiences, Ross said, and added that he preferred using a small motor on his aluminum canoe.

Stone said much of his previous paddling was in the swamps and rivers of Florida, but he also has competed in the Red Bank Ruritan Club’s Kibler Valley River Run on the Dan River. The event is held annually in July, according to Stone. During the last competition there, Stone recalled that he and paddling partner, David Byrd, finished in second place even though they flipped on Shallow Falls.

The key is learning the lessons offered by individual experiences; lessons Stone and Ross have taken to heart.

Their advice when canoeing the upper Smith River is simple: “Make sure everything is secure. Don’t try it in the dry season, the water will be too shallow, and be mentally and physically alert,” they said.

When asked if they would do it again, given the circumstances of their last trip, the two no doubt recalled the serenity and natural beauty of the area, as well as the sheer power of the water.

After a brief hesitation, they answered: “Give us another 22 years or so, and we’ll think about it.”

(Hill, a retired educator from the Patrick County School division, enjoys writing and sharing her talent with others.)