December 29th

I am sitting here at work on Thursday. There is not much going on. Most people take this week off. So I am sitting here reading blogs about family, farming friends, hitch-hikers, train-jumpers, hippies(Rainbow people), and dreaming about a new adventure. I started a new book last night. It is called 'Into Thin Air' by Jon Krakauer. It is a autobiographical novel of his trip to the top of mount Everest. That is an adventure! Not sure I would ever undertake something that huge, but something new for me would be awesome. I am really looking forward to getting further into this book. I will keep you updated on how it goes.

I was asked the other day about how I felt about my kids and the way they were being raised. I think about them a lot. They come here pretty rough around the edges and by the time they go home, they have manners and act proper. I don't think this is all me, but I think it has a lot to do with a lack of TV and an increase in supervision. I don't think that their mother is involved enough in their daily lives and their education. I think that they are both very smart kids. I know they could be doing more and getting more out of life than simply being able to beat a Zombie video game and quoting Family Guy. Michaela spends large amounts of time coloring and drawing. Jonathan loves to be outside. Both of these traits I see in myself. I would really like to culture their more inquisitive sides and help them explore more options. We will see how everything plays out. The summer will be here before we know it again.

I have been kind of removed from my normal life this month. I am not sure why or what is going on with me. However, I made dinner and tried to watch a TV show with her. This was how we spent our normal evenings in. We both loved the show S.O.A. and so I put it on. I was not feeling it. I was so tired of the drama and bullshit they were selling. I just wanted to throw something at it!! So, before it was over, Ashley was falling asleep on the couch and so I started cleaning around the house. I picked up the living room, took out the trash, and when I came back in, it was over. I immediately put on some music and went to do up the dinner dishes. The music choice, I was really hoping she would like and we could discuss it, but that didn't happen. She hated it and asked if I wanted to have them play at my bar when I open it. I told here I thought that would be awesome, and she was not impressed. I decided to pull out some pants that I have had in the back of the closet for about 2 years. I was shocked, my two favorite pairs fit and were loose!! Three other pairs were too big and went into the Goodwill bag! I also decided to go through my shirt closet and get rid of things that I just never plan to wear again. I got rid of a nice sweater and my only Banana Republic shirt. Cuff links went with it!! I never want to have to dress like that again!! My clothes are not who I am, nor do they need to sell my social status. I am happiest in jeans and a t-shirt.

Ashley and I talked about the bar idea. We also discussed, me looking for a job in a bar 2 days a week, to do some research on how they are run and what the local laws are. I have never worked in a bar and I am not sure how it all works. I have lots of friends that have, but I need the personal experience. The bar idea, seems to be very romantic to me. I want something that is only open 2 or 3 days a week. This way I can do something else with my weeks. I could build something, or work with other people doing odd jobs and learning new skills. If the bar could make enough money to keep me in about $30k a year, then anything I do during the week would be savings,spending money. Along with giving me the opportunity to devote time to boating when the rains come. This could also be a great thing if the kids were to come and live with me. It would provide me with the time needed to raise them, through their teen years. It would also keep me appeased with new bands and new people all of the time. Like I said it is a very romantic idea! We will see what happens after I have spent some time working for someone else in the industry.

~RF

Holiday Plans!!

So this week has flown by!! I went and picked up my kids on Sunday in West Virginia. Melissa rode with me. We had good conversation and listen to lots of music. Once we crossed into WV the snow started falling lightly and the ground had a nice blanket of white. We stopped at the New River Gorge Scenic area and crossed the Do Not Cross line on the path and went down for a look! The river was flowing nicely and the hills were beautiful. We then headed on up to Summersville and went to Applebee's for a beer and a snack until Erin and the kids got there! They arrived about an hour after us. We had a snow-ball fight in the parking lot, then went into have lunch/dinner at Bob Evans. The kids were great the entire ride home. I am very proud of how they are growing up! I never dreamed they would be this well-behaved.

Since they have been here, Alyssa has been keeping them. It has worked out well. I am very pleased with her. They have been playing and really getting along well. I have only had to get on to them for arguing once. My parents are flying up Friday morning to pick them up and take them down to Darlington. They will spend the night and Ashley and I will drive down in the morning. Christmas should be nice, with lots of family around. It is crazy how much I miss the kids when they are not here!

Sunday, I am taking them back to WV. We are planning to have lunch in Huntersville, NC with my Aunt Ellen and her fiance'. It will be nice to see them. I have not seen them in quite some time. We will then head on up to WV and meet Erin. We should be able to meet Erin at 4pm and then get back to Charlotte by 8 or 8:30 for the Andy the Doorbum show at the Milestone! I love going to the Milestone. After all this driving this weekend, I am not sure how I am going to get home Sunday night, Monday morning. I will take some gear, in the car, so I can sleep in the parking lot if I have to rest before trekking home. Should be a good time, either way!!

I have plans to open a punk club here in Greenville. I am going to spend the spring researching bar owners and the requirements for a beer only bar that we can have local music at. I want to be open Thursday - Saturday only and always have music. Be open at 8pm and close at 2am. Nothing like a six hour day and an 18 hour week. I really want to give something back to Greenville. Asheville, NC has a great place called the Grey Eagle. Charlotte, NC has several places. Greenville, SC has the Handlebar and thats it. They get some big guys in there, but I want some more punk style stuff. I have lots of ideas, so once I get back from my walk I am going to devote all my extra time int o the research for the bar! So keep your eyes and ears open for what's happening with this.

~RF

November Paddling

Wow. November is gone and December is deep upon us! It has been pretty crazy around my house. I have had friends split up, old friends fizzle out and new friends taking over for the old. Boating has remained pretty constant. I have been able to get on the water one day every weekend. I have made a first descent of the Five falls on Chattooga section 4. I have paddled the French Broad section 9 a few times as well. All have been good trips. My boating is getting way more controlled and I am happy with where I am. I have made it to the point where all class III water I am comfortable and class IV water I am able to read and make educated decisions on what I want to run and what I want to walk around. I have a lot of runs that have opened up to me and I am just waiting on water and guides. The southeast is just starting to get our winter precipitation. Soon all of the runs will begin to creep up!! I have decided that winter spring 2011 is my time to really start creeking. I am so amped up about stepping up!


I have been going through some shit in my head this fall and early winter. It all boils down to the following things.

Nomad: I have been moving for as long as I can remember, and now everything is in place and I have been so happy here. I am currently at the longest job I have ever had. I have lived here the 2nd longest of anywhere in my life. So I have been ready to see something new for a little while.

30 years old: I made my 30th birthday alive! I have had a recurring dream since the time I was 16. I just knew that I would never see 30. For the months before my birthday, I was paranoid every time I got in the car or went boating. Once my birthday passed, I have been wanting to run!!

Hiking: I have been talking about getting in to hiking for over a year. I have read books about hiking, and they were good. I have done several short ones. A couple of miles in and back, just to go see some waterfall or some other highlight. Over the past 2 years, I have been buying gear for boating and when I purchase something I have been making sure it is light enough to carry in a backpack. I don't even own a backpack. Yet, every time I went to the store to buy something, I was asking myself if I could fit it in a bag and carry it long distances.

A random hike in the woods is not what I am searching for. I joined a gym and have been losing weight all year. I am now down to 203. I have been preparing myself for some kind of a change. So two weeks ago it hit me!! I want to go for a walk. Not just in the woods, like normal Appalachian hikers, but through towns. I want to hitch-hike and jump a train. I want to go to Asheville, catch a train and see where I end up. I want to wake up and not know where I am and be at peace in that moment!! I asked Ashley for a few weeks to do this. She was not so happy about the idea. She is not really happy with me at all anymore. I am less active at home and I have been drinking more. I am very restless. Ashley gave me two weeks. I have not set a date yet to leave, but I am waiting on spring. I want it warm!! But I am going to see a different life than the one I have chosen to lead!!

I will keep you posted on how all of this turns out!!
~RF

2010 15th Annual Green Race

This weekend was the famed Green Race! The Monster Mile. We had the largest turn out this year ever for racers! I did not count them but the preliminary numbers were 150+ racers! I do not know who won in each category, but I know this was the best of the last three years I have been hiking in. To all the racers you did great! to all the hikers and friends, thanks for the memories!!

Weekend 10/15-10/17

This weekend was crazy!! I got so much accomplished and had such a good time. I will start off with my Friday.

Friday: I got off of work at 4pm and went home to get everything ready for my weekend. At 6pm I headed for Charlotte. The doors at The Milestone were set to open at 8pm and I wanted to be there early. Little did I know, that was completely unnecessary. However in getting there WAY early, I was able to meet Tim Barry and Josh Small outside in the parking lot just hanging out!! The doors opened at 8 and I went in along with no one else. I sat down at the bar and there were two other people in there. I had a few beers and then about 9:30 Andy the Door Bum started the night off! I had heard a few of Andy's songs before and did not really care for him, other that Love song for cigarettes. Once I saw him live and got to hang out and talk with him, I really started digging him. I bought one of his CD's and he threw me a few stickers for Daniel and myself. Pullman Strike took the stage next and they were alright. They were a full band and I got the impression, they had not been together very long. They had 2 copies of their set list taped to the stage floor! After Pullman Strike broke down their equipment, Josh and Tim came up on stage and played a set together. It was all of Josh's music, but it was good. Josh is a hell of a songwriter. Once Josh stepped off the stage, Tim really came on full force! He played about 15 songs and really interacted with the crowd. It was great! I can't wait to go back!!

Saturday: This day began on my leaving the concert about 1:15 am!! I thought I was drunk and really wanted some Waffle House coffee! So I decided against my better judgement to drive down the road and find some food and coffee. I had a text on my phone from Kris, from around 11pm, so I texted her and called Ashley. Ashley called me back and kris was texting me, while I am driving around in Charlotte in the middle of the night, looking for a Waffle House. (Note: This is a bad idea!!!) I got lost, told Ashley I needed to use my phone to find a waffle House and hung up. I started looking through my phone and next thing I know there are blue lights behind me for swerving! I explain to the cop that I was messing with my phone and not paying attention. I am also very tired, an hour from home and yes I have been drinking. He immediately gets me out of the car and administers a breathalyzer test. I blow and begin to shake!! .04 comes back and I am not drunk!! Stupid!!! But not drunk!! The cop wanted to wait a few and try it again. So bhack in the car I go and 10-15 mins later ha came to get me and we tried again. Again I blew .04 and was allowed on my way. He was really nice and I was polite through the entire event. He gave me directions to the nearest gas station, where I could get some coffee! I went there and then a little after 2am I got back on the road heading south towards home! No more excitement on the ride home, thankfully!! I got in the bed and the next thing I know it is 7am and I need to get up because Rick will be there just before 8am to pick me up, so we can go paddle section 4 of the Chattooga!!


10/16/10 Chattooga Bull to Campcreek

.85ft on Bridge Gauge

61 deg Put on at 11:30am.

Rick, Jake, and Zack

This was Jake's first run on this section. It was Rick's 2nd! Zack had paddled it a bunch! We put in below the Bull, since it was so low! We paddled down and just hung out mainly till we got down to Woodall. Once we got down to 7 foot, we took out and scouted the drop. Jake ran the sneak and set safety for us to run the drop. All three of us had great lines off 7 foot! Rick was totally stoked and was pumped for the rest of the day. We got some video of everyone running it, but it is all on Rick's camera. I will try to post it later. Jake had a dry hair run! I think we will be seeing him down there more now! Once back in Greenville, Ashley and I had a short argument about the events of the night before. Then we went to dinner and went to Daniel and Melissa's to play some cards. We played spades for a while and then headed home about 11pm.

Sunday:

10/17/10 Lower Saluda

860cfs online gauge

68 deg Put on at 9:30am.

Steve C.

So I got up Sunday at 7am and got ready to head south to Columbia. I met up with Steve at the Zoo and went down to the river for some park and play action on Mill's Race. As long as the weather holds this year, I am going to run the race in January. If it is too cold, I am just going to paddle and watch! It was nice to see the river at this level. It was much different than two years ago when I was there! At 11 we got off the water and Steve had to leave so he could meet some of his friends for a flatwater paddle. I went to Lexington and sat in a Rush's parking lot reading and relaxing! I was due to meet a friend near there about 1pm. The weather was great and I even got in a short nap. At 1pm I got directions to Shafe's house and went and picked him up. We went and had lunch then went to Bailey's for some pool and football! We had a good time catching up and then about 5pm I headed for home. Ashley and I went to dinner at Chili's and went back home for a movie. Weekend done!! Tired today, but happy with my eventful weekend!!

Summer Blend

Well you coffee drinkers out there get this reference. For some reason all coffee companies have come up with blends for each season. I like the regular. Maybe a nice mocha once in a while, but for the most part Folgers or Maxwell House will do just fine. My summers are usually pretty busy with the kids being here and trying to plan a ton of flat-water trips with the meet-up group. This year, I took things a little slower. This year's summer blend was more of a relaxation then a caffeinated crazy blur. It was a much better pace for me this year! So let me tell you about the highlights!

The kids came to visit the first weekend of June. I took them home the first weekend of August. They were great! Jonathan lost two teeth while here! Michaela was her normal opinionated self. We had a great time. Ashley took them to Atlanta for a weekend of Aquariums and the Zoo. I paddled the Chattooga and made my first descent of section IV. I took the family on a rafting trip to the Pigeon. Everyone loved it! We had a blast! Camped the entire weekend and I got in two trips in the Fun. I am going to try and do more camping with them next year. They are both very interested in it!!

After taking them home, things around Greenville got very busy. I was all over the place! I had plans for every weekend for two months. Today is the 4th of October, I have the next two weekends free, then I am booked again for the following 3 weeks! Next time I turn around it will be Thanksgiving!! All is well, though, as I said before! I turned 30 last week!!! Ashley and I celebrated our birthdays together this year. That was nice! Got friends together at Chief's and had some beers!! I got to paddle both days this weekend. Went to two topless bars with a group of about 9! It was a fun weekend!!

Paddling info:

I paddled Chatooga section IV Got out at campcreek

I think that is the only first descent I have had. I am praying daily for rain. I ant the creeks to come up so bad!! Got lots planned for this winter!! I will try to keep this a little more current than I have been doing!!

I had to retire the Fun already!! Got 5 holes in the bottom of it. I am selling the Ammo. Planning to post it for sale later today!! May buy just a creek boat for now and then worry about a play boat in the spring. We will see!!

New Boat Update

Okay, so for the last few trips I have been paddling a borrowed Jackson 4 Fun. It is a classic, not the new style. I have been loving it! It makes all of my old runs that were starting to get a little dull, new again! I borrowed it off my friend Mac, and after the first two paddles I wrote her a note asked her to sell it to me. She declined, which I am not at all surprised by! I paddled it again and was still thrilled with it. I mentioned to Ashley how much I liked it and told her that I was thinking of getting rid of the Pyranha Ammo, that I had been paddling for the last year. She was not at all surprised! I was!! She seemed cool with it and so I started looking around for one.

Thomas, a member of the paddling club, had posted that he was considering selling his. I sent him an email and asked for the year and some pics. He replied and it was exactly what I was looking for! It was a little more than I was wanting to spend, at $450, but it looked good and was not damaged, so I went ahead and bought it! It is an '05 and is lime green! I took it out last night and went for a float down the Upper Green. It was perfect! I have put in a call to a buddy of mine, that has been out of the sport for about a year and made him an unbelievable offer on the Ammo. He is going to try paddling it on Sunday on the Chattooga. We are going to paddle Earl's to Sandy and see what he thinks. If he buys it, I will be just about back to even on the swap!

Future: I am planning to buy a full out creek boat in the spring of '11. I am going to try paddling a Jackson Villian and a Liquid Logic Jefe. Then, after careful consideration, I plan to purchase one of them to start creeking in the fall. I figure if I made it this far in my paddling career the use of a play boat for a year will have me just about ready for creeking! So heres to the next year of spins and enders!

-RF

Trip Report 5/22-5/23

5/22/10 Upper Green

100% release from dam 7-12

78 deg Put on at 10am.

Melissa P. and Todd D.

I borrowed a Jackson 4 Fun from a friend on Friday. I had plans to paddle the Upper Green with some friends and decided this would be a fine place to try out a playboat. There are lots of waves to play in and it is a river I am very comfortable on! So I committed to it! I grabbed Melissa on the way up and met Todd at the put in just after 9am. Barry pulled in just after us and said that he was meeting Tim, Casey, and Mike ? at 9:30. I told Barry all about this being my first trip in a playboat and it being first time in one period! He seemed enthusiastic about it! That is all I was wanting. He and Todd kind of got into it about boat weights and outfitting! All bullshit that means very little to me! So I drank a beer and enjoyed the beautiful morning!

We headed to the put in and got into the water. (crazy anxiety) I had in the back of my mind that I would probably be very uncomfortable and have to hike out. I thought I might do well, but I knew I could get out before Bayless and be able to walk back to the Jeep. I slid into the water and ferried back and forth a handful of times and seemed stable! I led us down around the first bend where I could practice rolling and the boat just seemed to know what it was doing! It rolled so smooth! Made me look like I actually know what I am doing! So we continue on and I am feeling pretty comfortable. We get to Bayless and this is the point of no return. If I run it, I am pretty much committed tot he entire run. Melissa offered to run down first and film me on the my first descent in a playboat, so this was a little added pressure! Her nad Todd headed down through and I was sitting in the eddy above, alone! I was going over the strokes and imagining all of the other playboaters I had seen go through unscathed! I heard the whistle blow to let me know things were ready for me and I just did what comes naturally. I paddled like hell and boofed! It was perfect! I had kept my cool and the stayed in the box. the boat performed perfect! Then Melissa drops the bomb, she forgot to turn the camera on to video and she got one still of me near the top! So I had to run it again, which was great and this time she got it on video. She also got to record Todd run the entire rapid backwards!

I played the rest of the way down the river! I jumped in anything and everything! I worked my 360's in the 360 hole! Todd and I shared the surfers wave at the bottom! It was my best run on the section ever and i was in a brand new boat! Totally made my day. By the end of the run i was convinced I would be taking it to Chattooga 3.5 on Sunday. I was also pretty certain I will be putting one of these in the garage soon! We hiked out and had a few beers and relived the highlights of the trip!

Once back in town, I got cleaned up and went over to Glen and Pam's. They were having a party for Pam because she was celebrating her 50th birthday! Bethany came home and they had about 40 friends and relatives that came to wish her a great one! We had a great time and Ashley made it over right about 11pm. We left there just before 1am. It was a great day! Happy birthday Pam! Hope you had a great one!


5/23/10 Chattooga 3.5

1.60ft Bridge Gauge

82 deg Put on at 11am.

Jim S., Rick L., Joe O., Steve C., and Guy L.

We met up at Bull Sluice and headed to Thrifts. We set Shuttle and I stayed behind and drank a beer! We got on and immediately did some rolls in the playboat! We picked apart the river all the way down to Bull Sluice! I had another great day. Jim S. had a couple of swims due to pulling his head up while trying to roll. I worked on trying to learn to stern quirt! That one is going to take some time!! I rolled a bunch, but none were in combat situations. Just me cooling off! It got pretty hot on the water! We kind of went fast from the Bull on down to Woodall! Not a lot of playing. Most of us were pretty tired by then! All in all another great weekend on the river! Thanks to all of my friends for joining me this weekend!

5/8 - 5/9 Weekend

5/8 Pigeon River Dam to Hartford

1st lap = 800cfs

74 deg. Put on at 11:30.

Barry, Robert, Becca, Rita, Tim, & Todd

This trip was my first run down the pigeon and they all called it Pigeon lite! The flow was small and nowhere near its normal push! We made our way down and I was nervous. I always am on first descents. I made it all the way to Lost Guide before clipping a rock and spending some time practicing my freestyle strokes. From there down I was loosened up though! So maybe it was a good thing! We got to the end and I was sad to see it come to an end. We all stood in the parking lot for a while and chatted. Barry and his group decided they would head back to Greenville. Becca and Todd decided they wanted to run it again. I was hesitant since I had already changed. When we got back to the put in we noticed it was a lot higher, so I was in for a second trip.

5/8 Pigeon Dam to Hartford

2nd lap = 1500-2130cfs

78 deg. Put on at 3:00.

Becca and Todd

This was the real thing! Big waves and new holes that weren't there the first trip. We paddled down to Lost Guide and I did much better! We got out to take a break and watch some carnage and while we were sitting there the water surged up about 6" and my boated floated off. I had to jump in off the rock and swim out to chase it down! We finally got back in our boats and finished the run with a cool move over Hawaii 5.0. (Thanks Todd) We got off and went to the general store for dinner and sat and talked for a long time! It was a great trip to the Pigeon! Thanks everyone, for my first two runs down the Ol' Dirty Bird!

5/9 Lower Green

100% release

72 deg Put on at noon!

Ian, Lee, & Kimberly
picked up Fred, Craig, & Steve @ Fred's

I decided to join Lee and Kimberly for a trip down the Lower as a way to relax on a beautiful Sunday! We got there and got a late start due to some forgetfulness. I will not name any names! We put on and floated comfortably down the river!We all played a good bit and worked on our rolls. We played at Superman's for a long time. I spent some time ferrying and tried to teach Ian how to skip rocks long distances. He will get it sooner or later. It is all in the rock and not the thrower! We paddled down to Fred's and picked up the guys. They needed to remove a poplar that had fallen in the Ledges. We got down there and Steven ,Fred and I worked for about 40mins getting the tree out of the middle of the river. Craig kept Ian and Lee company and Kimberly watched us from the rock above where the tree was lodged! We were able to cut up most of it and then push it down stream so that it was less of a hazard. We all played at the surfing wave for a while and Ian was tired out. Lee and Ian stayed there and the rest of us boogied on down and got the car. After paddling we hung out at Fred's for an hour and talked. It was a great day on the river!

5/1-5/2 Tellico weekend

Wow! What a weekend!

5/1 Tellico Ledges

1.6ft online gauge

80 deg. Put on at Noon

Mark, Zack, Kimberly, Todd, Fast Fred, Daniel

We all had a blast and not too much carnage. I walked Baby Falls again, Everyone else ran it clean! We had two swims, both happened in Jared's Knee. I was one of them! We met up with the rest of our group at the put in for the Middle and had a nice lunch before starting our way down the Middle.


5/1 Middle Tellico

1.6 ft online gauge

82 deg. Put on at 2pm.

Mark, Zack, Kimberly, Fast Fred, Todd, Melissa, Daniel, Ana

We all had a good time! Had a few swims but nothing bad and no injuries. Melissa took out about half way down and went for the car. A small group of us paddled ahead for some much needed peace and quiet! All in all it was a good day on the river!

5/2 Tellico Ledges

1.5ft online gauge

86 deg. Put on at 11am.

Todd and myself

We had a very nice and quiet trip down the river. No carnage at all. I walked Baby Falls. We picked our way through Jared's Knee and I finally made it through without needing to practice my freestyle stroke. Todd and I paddled down to Turkey Creek and walked back up to the put in. It was nice and very laid back! A wonderful day on the Tellico!

4/24-4/25

4/24 Chattooga 3.5

1.46 on bridge gauge and rising with heavy rain fall

70 deg. Put on at noon.

Mike, Kimberly S.

Three of us put on and paddled down to Woodall. It was cloudy when we put on but it was nice. we started down river and before we got to Bull Sluice it was raining and occasionally thundering. We all had good runs through bull and after we got to Surfer's rapid it was lightning! we got of f and sat for a while talking and watching the lightning. Then it moved off and we got back under way and made it safely to Woodall. This was my first thunderstorm. Kimberly had a swim at Screaming Left. All good though!

4/25 Nantahala

Full release and run off total 1010cfs

73 deg. Put on at noon.

Melissa, Daniel, Kaitlyn, Kimberly, Rick

We had a great run down the Nantahala! I was really enjoying the pushy water and having a great time trying to get into these weird eddies. I was practicing to get up to speed for the Ocoee, but by the end of the day I had changed my mind on the Ocoee next week. It will have to wait till the fall. I decided really early in the day to run the falls and run the boof line. I ferried across the main flow from truck stop to billboard. Then I peeled out into the current and shot hard for the left bank. I was right on course and then boofed hard. I landed right in the eddy! I was totally stoked! It was flawless. I landed right where I wanted! I went to peel out and go on down river then found out the I was peeling out into the back wash from the falls! I got turned completely down river and was paddling hard but was not going anywhere but towards the center of the river. I realized I was going to be sucked in backwards, so I turned around quick and went in to the falls bow first. I decided to surf the falls to the center where I thought would be my best bet at getting loose. I got to the center of the river and reached out to get some green water and I could not get to it. The hole at the bottom of the falls began to turn me to the right and then I was side surfing. Staying upright became full concern and I rode it out for about 10 seconds. the hole let loose and I was leaned too far down river and rolled in. I felt it suck me back in and thrash me then flush me out. I set up and tried to roll but it was weak from the exhausting surf session and I swam out of the boat. I self rescued myself and all gear. Great time though! I think I figured out how to get loose from that side, so I can't wait to get up there and try it again!

4/21/10

4/21 - Middle Saluda

Level Unknown. Need to setup a river gauge.

75 deg. Put on at 5:30 pm.

Melissa P., Daniel P., Todd D.

I was having lots of roll practice in whatever moving water I could find. I missed one roll and when I setup for another the skirt imploded and I was flushed out of the boat. Resulting in swim # 13. This was my 100th white water paddle. We really need to setup a painted on gauge on one of the bridges while it is low. I would say that yesterday is as low as you can paddle it. Maybe I will see if someone wants to ride up there and we can mark the bridge pylon.

4/16-4/18

4/16 - Upper Green

100% release +0"

82 deg. Put on at 5:15 pm

Daniel P., Melissa P., Becca C., Kimberly

Great trip. No carnage to speak of. Still have not hit the eddies between Pinball.


4/18 - Chattooga 3.5

Thrifts to Woodall

1.50 on bridge gauge

76 deg. Put on at 12:15pm

Daniel P., Melissa P., Rick L.

I made first run on Bull Sluice and it was flawless. This was Melissa's first descent of this section and did wonderful! She even had two combat rolls!

April Notes

I feel I need to make a few notes about the month of April and plans for the month of May.

April -

So far I have not gotten to paddle as much as I had hoped, but the paddling I have done has been excellent! I have a couple of solid runs on the Upper Green. I have been leading trips down it! I have had great runs down Chattooga 3.5! I ran Bull sluice this weekend, flawless. I had an excellent boof. Felt like I cleared the foam at the bottom. I have run Woodall Shoals close top a dozen times now and I am comfortable everywhere in there! I always run back up and run it again! I am getting pretty confident in my skills. These next six weeks are really going to be exciting. I have several First Descents coming up and a clinic to hone my skills even more. I really need to work on this boof thing! I can hit it pretty decent but it is no where near as good as I would like it to be! This weekend I have not planned anything yet. I want to wait and see what the rain does to a couple of the runs close to home. I really need something that is going to work the crap out of me.

May -

1-2 - The first weekend of May is the Tellico trip! I am so excited to be getting back up there! I am planning to run the Upper and half of the Middle together on Saturday. Sunday, so long as I have a reliable guide, I will be making my first descent of the Middle Ocoee! I think I am ready for it! I have been practicing holes and trying work on ferries in fast moving water along with several other things I think will be key to a successful run of the middle. I am so excited about this trip!

8-9 - The following weekend, I am planning to make my first descent on the Pigeon. I am planning to get with Barry and Robert about leading me down it! I look forward to having to chance to add this run to my resume! I have been looking forward to this river since November. It ran all winter but due to the rockslide on I-40 it was all but unreachable. So they are supposed to I-40 fixed pretty soon, and I will finally get my taste of the Ole Dirty Bird!

15-16 - I am going to be at the CCC Novice/Intermediate clinic. Last year I learned all about boat control. I was really wanting to learn how to eddy more percisely and peel-out more controlled. Needless to say I got all I wanted and more in just one day! This year I am really needing the use of water features and whatever else they can throw at me! I am so anxious to see who they set me up with for instructors this year. I paddled with Becca, my safety boater from last year, and she said I have come a long way since then! She said she was not sure if she was going to help safety boat again this year or not, but to keep her informed of who they pair me up with!

22-23 & 29-30 - I am keeping open. My anniversary is the last weekend of the month and I don't know if Ashley wants to do anything yet.

June -

5-6 - On the 5th I am planning to make my first descent on the Nolichuky with David B. I have already gotten cleared to go and make the trip with him! I am especially looking forard to this run. When I first started boating I saw pictures of this river and said that I wanted to get to this point and that is as big as I wanted to go. Now I am a month away from it and there are so many more rivers opening up!

Last few weeks

For the last few weeks I have been pretty busy and boating a lot!! I have run the Upper Green a couple of times and the Lower Green, where I worked on my combat roll. This month was the start of my flat-water obligations. I had the 3rd Annual French Broad thru Biltmore on the 3rd. It was another huge success! I had 80+ people show up!

Ashley and I are going to Helen this weekend with Melissa and Daniel so I will let you guys know how the Beer Fest goes!

Talk to you later!

Tellico Weekend

Okay, so this past weekend I decided to take off for the Tellico. Monday, Ashley was planning to go to see her parents for the weekend and said I did not have to go along this time. So I put the word out, that I was free to go paddling and camping. There were several people open to the idea of the Tellico, so I put the ball in motion. On Friday, at lunch time, Ashley changed her mind on the trip to see her family and I talked her into going with me to the Tellico. So she packed her stuff and we got underway about 4pm. We went through Georgia to get over there, and had dinner in Murphy, NC at a Dairy Queen. We got to take this awesome gravel road for about 15 miles that was cut into a mountainside. It kind of dumps you out onto River Rd way up the Tellico and it lets you see the head waters of the river.

We camped at the little camping spot at Baby Falls. We got there just after 8pm and set up camp. We got the tents up and got a fire going and then were able to relax for a while. It got pretty chilly Friday night and Ashley had to get up and sleep half the night in the Jeep. We got up and had breakfast about 8am. We were all pretty anxious about paddling and seeing the river, so we were dressed and ready to go by 10:30.

We decided to run the Middle, on Saturday, since I had only been there once and the rest of your group had never been there. The other couple that went with Ashley and I did great! We had a very large group that ran the middle and about a half mile from the bottom we all got off. I had my first combat roll and was totally stoked by it! I was on top of the world for the rest of the paddle. I truly love this river! Here are a few photos of the middle.

Me at the put in for the Middle



Me and D rescuing M's boat!


Then after paddling we met up with L, another boater from Foothills Paddling Club. She sadi she met up with some friends and ran the Upper and the Middle together. She said she had a great trip and only one out of boat experience at Jared's Knee. I told her about the plan to go to the Chattooga the next morning and she was steady trying to talk me into running the Upper. I was not really sure of it and so I decided to go for a walk and look at it. After looking at it and picking out different lines through all of the rapids, I was still unsure. I got up the next morning and was perfectly calm. I was ready! We packed up the campsite and got all geared up for the trip. Before even getting on the water I already opted out of Baby Falls, but I was going to run the rest of it.

So, four of us decide to run it. Myself and D had never run it before. K had one run on it and C had about 3 runs on it. We put in above the bridge and started to pick our way down. We made it throught the entrance rapid and picked a line down 7' Falls and all had a good lines. Here is a photo of us bunched up after the first set of falls.
This ledge is just above 9' Falls
This rapid is just behind the campground we stayed at and just above
the entrance to Baby Falls.
This is Baby Falls (15') I walked and set safety for our group.
Looking up at Jared's Knee from the take-out.

So, we were all doing great until we hit Baby Falls. K had a bad line coming off the drop and ended up with a short beating from the falls. This resulted in our first swim of the day. She was able to get to the side before going down Diaper Wiper sans boat. She decided she had enough and was pretty wiped out after her OBE. C and D had great lines through the Falls. We took a short break here and then got under way down the rest of the section. We were all feeling great and I was loving the tight creeky feel to this section of river. I ran the Bald River Falls rapid backwards and never even got spooked. Once we got down to the beginning of Jared's Knee we jumped out and walked down to scout the majority of it. We picked the lines we thought would be best and I took the lead! I made it down through the first half without incident. I took the first big boof perfectly and was not expecting the curling hole that followed it. I was not able to set up for the roll and ended up setting up swimming.

Boat scouting the entrance to Jared's Knee
Me leading the way into Jared's Knee
The other hole that got me!

This was the scene of my second swim. Here I rolled over adn set up and missed two rolls. After missing two I pulled out. Even through having two swims, I had one of the best trips ever! This is such an awesome river! I cannot wait to get back there in May!
Last boof of Jared's Knee

Upper Green

Mid Week Crap

Okay, so this week has been really crazy. One of the girls that works on our front counter has been out sick. That means I have been on counter duty and trying to coordinate! It has been stressfull to say the least. - I have roll practice tonight, which I am really looking forward to. I had a swim last weekend on the river and I need to pradctice more combat style rescues today at the pool! - I have worked out twic already this week and I am developing a pain in my right knee. I am hoping it is just muscle growing, and not something more serious. I have not lost that much weight. I was really hoping to have been down to the 200lb mark by now. I started 6 weeks ago and I was at 216lbs and I am currently at 212lbs. So I guess that is progress, but I just feel it is not up tp what I thought I would be at! There is something I am missing in either my routine or in my diet. I have switched to a mens multi-vitamin and added a third fruit to my daily intake. I have also cut back on my portin sizes again. I am hoping that this will begin to show some effects in the next week or so. I have noticed some of my clothes are fitting a litlle better. I know I feel a little better. I guess I will just have to wait and see what happens.

T.H. has been calling a bunch lately. All of his Keys talk is starting to make me long for the beach. I do wish I would have taken the plunge earlier. I think it may be too late for me. I will have to see how I feel in about 11yrs. I will be 40 and the kids will be grown. Ashley and I want a cabin so bad! Living in the Keys and partying sounds like a ton of fun, but the woods and mountians seems to be where my heart is and has been for the last few years. We do want to go down to visit and attend Fantasy Fest. I think that would be awesome. I am still watching Craigslist for a good deal on land or a rent-to-own deal out in the country. This too, we will just have to wait and see how it turns out.

Till next time, have fun!!!
~Russ

Chattooga Weekend

So you all know I was planning to make my PFD (personal first descent) on Section 3.5 this weekend. You also know my hesitation about the level. The level never dropped below 2.20 the whole entire weekend. I have been wanting to get on there so long, that I said bump it and lets go anyways! So I sent some messages out letting people know that I was going to run it regardless of the level. T.D. called and asked me if he could car-pool and I told hom that was cool and we could just meet in Easley at the Wal-greens. I was excited and I knew a few really good boaters were going to be there.

I woke up to a beautiful Saturday morning! I loaded up and head to pick up T.D.. We met up and he had his creeker which kind of made me nervous. We got about two miles from the Long Creek store and T. asked me who all was going to be there. I told him I was unsure, but I would bet on a crowd. I knew of 6 for sure but even I was surprised. We got there top find over twenty people!! That is the same size as some of my flat water paddles and this is easily class III+!!! We quickly realized this was too many people to be going down together and so about 8 of them decided to run Sandy's to the Bull. I told everybody thanks for coming out and for the support and we headed to thrift's ferry to start changing and setting up shuttle. As we started down the river there were 13 of us! Three people got out at the Bull and the rest of us continued down to Woodall shoals. In all, I did great! I walked the bull, because it looked HUGE from the other side of the river! We as a group, had 3 swims total. I was very glad to have all of you there!

Today was another wonderful day on the Chattooga. We had a much smaller group today. there were only four of us so at the last minute I changed the plan form Earl's to Sandy's, to Sandy's to Thrift's. With the group we had today it was a much better choice. The water level was still at 2.2 feet. We put in just below Sandy's rapid and ferried back and forth a few times to get warmed up. then we headed into the Narrows. I aced it this time round. I did end up having a swim, but it was not a day ruiner! I came down off 2nd Ledge and was angled too far left. I went to paddle forward to get loose from the recirculation, but the water already had me! I went over and the pour-over snatched my paddle. I was able to keep a hold on one of the poggies, but I could not get the shaft back into my right hand. I was able to pushed off the bottom once and took a breath. Then I slid off the rock I was pushing off on and tried again to get the paddle shaft. After another two tries, I gave up and pulled skirt. Swim #8!! I swam over to the left bank and emptied out my boat. I tried all I could to get back up, and it just was not in the cards today! I was still happy! I was going to walk up and run it again, but I lost my drain plug and had to go 100 yards down river to get one from one of the guys in my group. So I will get it next time! All of the other rapids were great and I had a blast! I can't wait to run these two sections again soon!

Quick Catch Up

It has been pretty crazy around here lately. I have been paddling about every weekend. Been working late and going to roll practices on Wednesday evenings. I am hitting my off side roll about one in three. My on side is pretty reliable. I am planning to run Chattooga Section 3.5 this weekend, so long as the level continues to fall. It is currently holding steady at 2.33ft. I need it to be down at the 2.0 level or below. I am really hoping it does fall off. I will definitely post after the run this weekend. I will be so excited!!

I had my best run ever on the Upper Green this past Sunday. All of the rapids seemed to slow down for me and I was able to pick my way through most of them. I was totally in control of what was happening and where I wanted to be. Pinball, was the most note-able. I was coming into the entrance for it and it just sort of stood still. I actually felt as if it was near still. I was able to clearly see the eddies on both sides with out it just being a blur. Next time up there I am planning to try and hit both of them. I was also able to side surf a couple of holes and surf the wave at the end. Like I said it was a good trip.

Well time to get back to work. I will talk to you guys next week with a description of the trips from this coming weekend.

New Years Weekend

This was another long weekend! This one was much needed. I really didn't think I was going to make it through it! Thankfully, I did. Thursday was New Year's Eve and as city dwellers do, we went out and had a night on the town. A couple of friends, M & D joined me, to start the evening off, at Chief's. We had dinner and a few rounds of beers, then headed to another friend's house (K) where we ended up consuming 3 bottles of wine between 5 of us. The sober...est of us drove us back to my friend's home and we hung out there till Ashley could join us. Ashley had to close, but was off on New Year's Day. So about 11:30 pm we ended up going down-town to see the festivities there. We watched the balloon drop at the Hyatt and then went across the street to the blue Martini. We danced the night away and welcomed a new year with out anyone getting sick or arrested. We all made it home safe and in one piece about 3 am.

The next day was another story. I woke up with my first full-tilt hangover! I got up with the rum-shits, then the room spun for a while, then I dry-heaved, and followed all that with lots of Advil! This was all way before 9am. You see, I had to meet up with the same friends from the night before to go paddling. Nice thing is, I was not the only one messed up. I got feeling immediately better once I was in my boat and on the water. It just does something to me. The waves were just what my guts and head needed. M didn't fair so well and was miserable the entire time on the water.

Every year a group of kayakers meet and paddle a local river on New Year's Day and they call this a Hair of the Dog paddle. The name is a mystery to me, but I take part every year and assume I will continue the tradition. This year was the Tyger in Spartanburg, SC. We normally run the Green in Saluda, NC but Duke Power had the water off. The Tyger was at an ok level and gave us all some fun spots to play around. It is always a good day to be on the river. Here is a picture of M paddling through the first rapid.




So, we all had a blast and the next day, M & D invited me to join them for a Garage Sale @ REI in Asheville, NC. I had never been there and thought this would be a great opportunity o see the place. Wow! Lots of stuff and the people were great! The garage sale really drew a crowd. I am guessing about 600 or so people paraded through there.

After REI, we went down-town Asheville for a pizza and a beer. We ate at Mellow Mushroom and then got out plan together for a short hike to see some waterfalls. We went to Pisgah National Forest and hiked in to see Hooker and Triple Falls. Below are pictures of both. Notice the ice and snow on the ground! Air temp. was about 28!!!
Triple Falls


Hooker Falls

So Sunday is now upon us. Ashley is working days again today so I go do what any crazy person does. I go boating! The air temp is a blistering 17 when I wake up. The weather guy says it will be 35 by 3 pm so that means, lets go paddling!! D and I decided to paddle the Chattooga. I called a few friends who all too quickly said I was crazy and to be safe! One friend came through and was a trooper with us. We met at 12:30 and headed for the put in. The temp was climbing and it was nice and sunny. We put in and splashed around a little before deciding it was way too cold for playing. After about 20 minutes on the water I noticed it was getting harder to move around and then realized why. My PFD and drytop were coated in a thin layer of ice. Below is a few photos from the trip. We all made it without counting fish or swimming. Another successful run on the Chattooga.
Yes that is ice on a branch in the middle of the river!
D practicing his boof stroke!

I got home about 6:30 pm and I made dinner. We had a nice relaxing evening at the house. We have been dog sitting two beautiful labs since before Christmas and their owners came to get them about 9 pm. Ashley snapped this picture of them before their parents picked them up.

And that was my weekend. Hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did. See you guys next week.