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!