Astronaut Charles E. Brady will be remembered and his example honored in Robbins this weekend as the jug he once used to bring clear water down the Haw from its headwaters is repeated again.

This will be the third annual Charles E. Brady Memorial Paddle. Last year, Bear Creek headwater was brought down to where Haw and Deep rivers meet to form the Cape Fear. This year, Tom and Aaron Israel are taking the Charles E jug with them as they paddle the entire Cape Fear all the way to the Atlantic.

Saturday is another in a number of outdoor celebration weekends in the foothills area around Robbins. Volunteers with Foothills Outdoors have been doing cleanup operations already.

"Thanks to everyone who came out last weekend for the cleanup," said William McDuffie, president of the N.C. Canoe Racing Association and one of the organizers of the nonprofit Foothills Outdoors. "The weather and water were perfect. John Robbins (retired Carthage postmaster) brought a group of teenagers who made quick work of the trash at 705 and then went on to Reynolds' Mill Access to finish up."

McDuffie offered a special thank-you to Darrel Cockman who came equipped to handle a floating carcass the cleanup crews discovered.

"I'll spare everyone the details," McDuffie said. "Other enthusiastic stream sweepers were Beth Lyerly, Randall Moore, Tom and Aaron Israel, and Lynne and River McDuffie. I think River had the most fun while taking pictures of Darrel."

Brian Allen provided access at the Bear Creek dam, and crews spent most of their time on section 2 of Cabin Creek (Spies Road to Bear Creek).

"I encourage everyone to put in at the Spies Road access and take advantage of this beautiful section of Cabin Creek," McDuffie said. "It's an easy upstream/downstream paddle.

"It's easy to find. Start at the stoplight in the middle of town and head out Talc Mine Road. This will put Village Market grocery store on your left. Go about one mile and take Spies Road on your right. The put-in is on your right before you cross the bridge. I think everyone had a great time Saturday.

"Beth Lyerly even demonstrated her ability to walk on water while picking trash out of a logjam at the spillway. We finished in time to catch the bagpipers playing at Middleton Mercantile Saturday afternoon. Another 'only-in-Robbins' moment."

Another adventure starting Saturday is the first Firemen's Market. The Robbins Volunteer Fire Department is sponsoring outdoor flea and farmers' markets to be held every first and third Saturdays starting this Saturday.

"The market will be held downtown in the open field by McDuffie's Plumbing," said Robbins Commissioner Lynn Loy, himself a former fire chief. "Spaces and tables will be available for rent. Setup time starts at 6:30 and the market opens at 8 a.m., closes at 3 p.m, has to be cleaned up by 4 p.m. Do your spring cleaning, box it up and bring it out to the Firemen's Market."

Loy said to remember that one man's trash is another's treasure.

"Maybe you have a hobby or craft you'd like to offer to the public or a new business idea you've wanted to try out," he said. "Well, try it out at the Firemen's Market. You could be an avid gardener and grow your own fruits, vegetables, plants and flowers. Why not make a little extra money and sell them at the Firemen's Market? This could be an economical way for somebody to maybe start something new they always wanted to try and never have to leave their hometown or spend a lot of money trying it."

Loy hopes a lot of folks will bring those ideas, do a little selling, do a little shopping, and check out other new and local businesses in downtown Robbins.

Contact John Chappell at 783-5841 or by e-mail at jchappell@thepilot.com.