Wednesday, September 11, 2019
Week of Rivers
WoR 2019 got off to a bit of a rocky start when Mame picked up Ford and Jack from camp. Jack had crashed on the giant rope swing and broken his wrist. The good news was that after an initial consultation in Morganton, the doctor in Asheville was able to fit him with a new kind of custom cast that he could take on and off to allow to dry. It prevented him from paddling but he was able to join in some of the one the water fun.
Meanwhile, Sam and I were the advance party and went and set up at Smoky Mountain Meadows. For the first weekend we got runs in on the Upper and Middle Ocoee. It was my first time on the Upper section since college and my first in a canoe. We had a great group and all went well.
On Monday Ford, Sam and I participated in the clean up on the Tuck while Mame and Jack visited the doc.
Tuesday - Mame and Ford participated in a canoe clinic on the Tuck. He's really taking off with his solo boating. Sam played the wave at NOC and then caught the US women vs. England. And Jack and I had a great hike up to Haeo Pinnacle in the Joyce Kilmer National Forest.
Wednesday - we were around the NOC for racing and Bad Idea Theater (folks running the falls on pool floats). In the afternoon, Ford was feeling confident and had his first solo run of Nantahala Falls!
Thursday was Pirates of the Tuck day - lots of water fighting all the way down. Friday we were back on the Nantahala. Jack took the day off the water and we canoed with Ford. In the afternoon we caught up with friends for the release on the Upper. Meanwhile, Sam connected with a trusted adult for his first run of the Nantahala Cascades! We were very relieved when he and a friend passed us on the Upper on their way downstream.
Saturday we wrapped up with a small group of friends on the Chattooga. Ford and Jack love the warmer water and swim opportunities. A great way to wrap up the week.
Meanwhile, Sam and I were the advance party and went and set up at Smoky Mountain Meadows. For the first weekend we got runs in on the Upper and Middle Ocoee. It was my first time on the Upper section since college and my first in a canoe. We had a great group and all went well.
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| Sam at the NOC play wave |
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| Sam at Alien Boof on the Upper Ocoee |
On Monday Ford, Sam and I participated in the clean up on the Tuck while Mame and Jack visited the doc.
Tuesday - Mame and Ford participated in a canoe clinic on the Tuck. He's really taking off with his solo boating. Sam played the wave at NOC and then caught the US women vs. England. And Jack and I had a great hike up to Haeo Pinnacle in the Joyce Kilmer National Forest.
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| Ford styling the creek line at Nantahala Falls |
Thursday was Pirates of the Tuck day - lots of water fighting all the way down. Friday we were back on the Nantahala. Jack took the day off the water and we canoed with Ford. In the afternoon we caught up with friends for the release on the Upper. Meanwhile, Sam connected with a trusted adult for his first run of the Nantahala Cascades! We were very relieved when he and a friend passed us on the Upper on their way downstream.
Saturday we wrapped up with a small group of friends on the Chattooga. Ford and Jack love the warmer water and swim opportunities. A great way to wrap up the week.
# posted by ben @ 9/11/2019 
