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.