Yesterday, 5-29-10 Tim and Susan from Beebe and I floated from Heltons Farm to Longpool. I must say it was a magnificent time. I can't find the words to describe the wonderment of the bluffs, all the areas where the water is running down the face of rocks with thriving plant life. The creek was getting a bit low but we didn't have to drag the boats at all.
At the Standing Wave rapid I was able to get my big old canoe riding the hydraulics which is alway fun to do. At the "Cascades of Extinction" (the Mother) I didn't see anyway to canoe the whole rapid due to the low water. As I was looking at the Mother rock I noticed something blue under water, I dove into the swiftly moving water and got to the other side. I swam up to the back side of the Mother. I thought maybe it is a raft. But as I got closer I saw it was a Kayak. I started moving it every which way, didn't seem to get free. At one point I held on the rope at front of the boat and I floated out in the the current, it was like body surfing. Still wouldn't come free. I wasn't going to leave till I freed it which I did. Then trying to get it to the other side wasn't easy. We managed to get it ashore. Tim and I pushed out the bend with our feet. Then I found a 20 pound rock in it. Not sure how that got in there.
We arrived at Longpool, our take out. It was a great day with great company. Moore Outdoors knows who owns the boat I found and I'm waiting to hear from him.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cosmicdude1/
Monday, May 31, 2010
Thanks to Moore Outdoors
Race day at the Big Piney. I arrived an hour or so early. Talked with several canoers and then I met Minna and Donna. The three of us sat in the shade and I enjoyed their company. Then we heard, "ALL BOATS IN THE WATER!". The excitement was building.
We are now floating around waiting to speed off. Myself I'm in a 17ft Coleman "Barge" and I know there is no way I'm going to paddle 5 miles at top speed. The day before I floated from Heltons Farm to Longpool and I'm sure that played a part in my energy levels.
I"m next, seconds are ticking away, I've told a few that I am going to give it my best till I pass all the crowds. So here I go, can't run over any swimmers now. Into the fist rapid as the pool empties, it is tricky little rapid that many people just aren't ready for it. As I shot through it their were cheers, pictures being taken, ...invigorating.
Very quickly I came up to a upturned kayaker. He said he was ok so I sped on. There were many people on the banks along the way and I sure enjoyed their loud encouragement. In one neat little chute, as I went through it a guy in the water told me I had the best approach into it as anybody, cool. Two rather young guys pass me and they were really into it, in to a rhythm of switching sides. Just ahead of me they got hung up and were using their paddles as pry bars, they got off that and then the canoe upturned to the rushing water side, hit a rock and started to bend (alum canoe). I turned around to help them but they manage to rotate it off. Shorty after that they passed me again and said they managed to get the bend mostly out.
I got to the finish line at 1 hour 9 minutes. I was happy with that. I came in 3rd in my division. I then bummed a ride back to Longpool to retrieve my truck. Back at Moore Outdoors Campground they had the awards ceremony, some hooting and hollering going on. Then I enjoyed fellowship with many people. A great day indeed.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cosmicdude1/
We are now floating around waiting to speed off. Myself I'm in a 17ft Coleman "Barge" and I know there is no way I'm going to paddle 5 miles at top speed. The day before I floated from Heltons Farm to Longpool and I'm sure that played a part in my energy levels.
I"m next, seconds are ticking away, I've told a few that I am going to give it my best till I pass all the crowds. So here I go, can't run over any swimmers now. Into the fist rapid as the pool empties, it is tricky little rapid that many people just aren't ready for it. As I shot through it their were cheers, pictures being taken, ...invigorating.
Very quickly I came up to a upturned kayaker. He said he was ok so I sped on. There were many people on the banks along the way and I sure enjoyed their loud encouragement. In one neat little chute, as I went through it a guy in the water told me I had the best approach into it as anybody, cool. Two rather young guys pass me and they were really into it, in to a rhythm of switching sides. Just ahead of me they got hung up and were using their paddles as pry bars, they got off that and then the canoe upturned to the rushing water side, hit a rock and started to bend (alum canoe). I turned around to help them but they manage to rotate it off. Shorty after that they passed me again and said they managed to get the bend mostly out.
I got to the finish line at 1 hour 9 minutes. I was happy with that. I came in 3rd in my division. I then bummed a ride back to Longpool to retrieve my truck. Back at Moore Outdoors Campground they had the awards ceremony, some hooting and hollering going on. Then I enjoyed fellowship with many people. A great day indeed.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cosmicdude1/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)