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!
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Monday, May 10, 2010
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!
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!
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
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!
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!
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