Fun Stuff 2024

The drought has finally ended in the SE, but we didn't have local water for a long time. I have been making this blog post as a general list and will add media as I find time.

Jan 1 2024 BCC Feast on the Beach.  River too low to paddle but we had a nice get-together.

Jan 7 2024 G Cave with Lee A., Emily L. and Tammy P.

Jan 13 2024 Georgia Aquarium. With Eva and her family.  It's really cool, but it was also really crowded, and I think it's where I picked up my flu.

Jan 14 2024 Mulberry.  Level around 1.5 I think.  With Lynn and Andy, Ryan, others.  I didn't realize it but I was getting sick.

Jan 15 2024 I woke up with Flu A in the middle of an ice storm.  Not fun stuff.  The ice storm meant I didn't see a doctor until I had been sick four days, so no Tamiflu for me.  It took me a good three weeks to feel over it.  Fortunately it didn't ruin my ski trip mentioned below.

Feb 3-10 Ski Snowmass Aspen.  17" of powder, beautiful days and usual (some others had unusual) adventures getting to and from Aspen airport.

Feb 23-25 Snorkel with manatees and SCUBA dive Rainbow River and Ginnie Springs.  Amazing weekend with friends in Crystal River Florida.

March 2-3 Mulberry Fork Races.  I gate judged Saturday, went home that night and came back up to race OC2 with Steve I.  Level was a beefy 3.5 feet Saturday and 2.5 feet Sunday.  

March 24 Mulberry.  In the WS EZG 50.  Level around a foot, perhaps a bit less.  Sunny, warm but in drysuit still.  It was a day for the Antix on Lunchstop and 5-0, the EZG was too slow.  Training Wheels still wonderful.  With Ed Russell and others.

March 30 Cahaba Grants Mill to Overton.  Level 233 cfs/1.38 ft. Sunny cloudless day, upper 70's, very little traffic on the river, plenty of current.  Trip took 4.5 hours going at a very relaxed pace.  With Dave H. and Angie A.

We got skunked on local water in this spring as well as last winter.  

April 6-7 Locust Fork Races.  I didn't race; I did camp with Joan and Eva.  There was a low country boil for dinner.  The night was cool but air temps during the day were warm; perfect camping weather.

April 19-21 Spring Fling.  With various BT friends including Dneesh, Ronzo and Jocelyn and their awesome kids, Kathy, Trey, Terrell and Michelle...  we did not paddle. We camped together and went to the NOC and to ERA's Nantahala Open and watched friends paddle pool toys down the falls.  Had dinner at 4 queens and did a hike up Big Creek in Bryson.  It was the best time!

Me with the Ronzo fam!

April 28 Dive at Blue Water Park.   First time in the quarry in 2024. With Helen and Andy.  I wore my new to me 5mm wetsuit - it is Bethany's old suit she gave to me - water was cold and murky and I was happy to have the 5mm on.  Helen and I lost Andy.  We were headed to the airplane and well, it all worked out fine.  We never found the airplane. We did find the boat and decided that was enough discoveries for the dive.  This all sounds scary but instead for whatever reason I found it all fun.  

May 10 Northern Lights in B'ham.  It wasn't dramatic; had to use cell phone camera on night setting to see it.  But still - it was here, and I do wonder if that will ever happen again in my lifetime.

May 12 Mulberry.  Perhaps 8-9 inches, low but everything goes. Warm, sunny day. With Peggy.  We met up with Phil, Chris, and Eric who were on their own trip down, and we discussed how people think the Mulberry is too low at these levels to be worth it, and how they are missing out.  Training Wheels was in and wonderful.  There were Cahaba lillies in an eddy by the little waterfall above Lunch Stop.  Lots of turtles.  

May 20 Diving at Blue Water Park.  With Bethany, Helen, and Andy.  In 5mm, water temps are still cold.  Murky and lots of fish.

May 25 Hello to the Hiwassee.  Did a day trip to the Hiwassee with Tim and Christine, Tim's daughter Gabby, and Stacy W.  I continued my tradition of saying hello to the Hiwassee Memorial day weekend, but decided not to camp.  The day trip drive home wasn't bad, I was home by 7pm CT. 

May 26 Dive at Blue Water Park.  I met Bethany around 1pm and we did two dives, and left as the park closed at 5.  I have been so sad recently and Bethany was kind enough to indulge me spending a long time hanging out in shallow depths with the fish and turtles.  I love them! 

Me floating with bream in my happy place

May 31 - June 2 TVCC Paddle School.  I support boated with a class on the Hiwassee. Won a kayak at the raffle!  

I won a new Jackson Mixmaster 7.5!
Thank you TVCC!

June 9 SSI Try Freediving class.  At Blue Water park.  Was so cool!  I have now signed up to do the SSI Basic Freediving class in July.

I tried to dive down and touch the airplane at Blue Water Park.

To learn freediving, scuba diving, mermaiding and more go to Bethany's site at: https://mermaidingandmore.com/

June 17 - 25  Middle Fork of the Salmon trip. Amazing return to the Middle Fork of the Salmon river in Idaho. Pics here: https://dangerjudy.smugmug.com/Other/PADDLING/Middle-Fork-Salmon-2024

June 29 Dive. With Helen Hays at Blue Water Park.

July 4-7 Week of Rivers.  
   July 5 French Broad Section 9.  Level low.  In the Jackson Mixmaster 7.5.  With Andrea, Keith, others.  FUN TIME

   July 6 Tuckaseegee.  High release.  In the Jackson Mixmaster 7.5.  Had vertigo when rolling - ear infection - so I didn't roll as much as I wanted, but I still had some good surfs.
Trip Report: Had a short version of Week of Rivers this year, which I think may be at least 20 for me which is crazy to think about...

Also had some firsts: my first run of the main line of Pinball on FB9, previous runs we have always gone to the river right boof line. Level was in the 900s and we had plenty of water. The commercial rafts doing the S-Turn rapid line amazes me. French Broad River is a rare treat for me. Rolled a lot, didn't wear earplugs which was stupid but whatever.

First paddles in my new mix master 7.5, I had one I sold last year and won this one in a raffle last month so I figured the universe was telling me to paddle it.

First run for me of the Dillsboro dam rapid. Didn't realize the nice parking area etc.was there. High release, nice day except I got vertigo after rolling a couple times and now I am worried I have another ear infection.

First visit to Innovation Station in Dillsboro. So cool! We had takeout from Forager's Canteen next door.

I use this stuff called Ear Shield spray when I dive, it's mineral oil with some other things, and have had no ear problems after. I am now wondering if I should just use it before the river as well.

July 13 Hiwassee.  In the Jackson Mixmaster 7.5.  Special day with friends who have had health challenges returning to the river.  

July 14 Diving. At Blue Water Park.  With TPH, Bethany, Helen, and Andy.  Great dives.

July 20 SSI Basic Freediver Course.  At Blue Water Park.  Learning more about freediving. 

July 21 Montgomery Whitewater.  In the Jackson Mixmaster 7.5.  With Joan.  We stayed on the feature at the bottom of the creek course.  Lots of rolls and ferries.
July 28 Montgomery Whitewater.  With Joan, Stacy, and Hayward.  I'm starting to appreciate the park for improving my skills. (translation - I swam)

August 2 Diving. At Blue Water Park.  With Bethany and Helen. I love it.

August 3 Bear Creek float.  In the Jackson Antix medium.  With Peggy, Ed, Bug, many others. So much fun! 

Brittany and Bug!

Waterguns!

Jumping off the jump rocks on Bear Creek!

August 4 Coosa 8000. In the Jackson Mixmaster 7.5.  With Stacy, Andy, and Lynn. The Mixmaster wanted to pearl and ender, I should move the seat back for surfing.  Another great day. I *think* this was the day I had a giant popup in Moccasin Gap.  

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I haven't updated this blog in awhile, but I also haven't been going to Tennessee/NC like I used to.  I spent most weekends going to dive at Bluewater one day and then doing the Coosa or Montgomery Whitewater the other day.  
It was kind of easy to talk myself out of driving 3-6 hours one way when I had closer options.  Also I am addicted to diving in the quarry.  I find it a strange, surreal, psychedelic? visit to another world.  It closes mid-November for the season and I will miss it dearly.
I didn't expect this at all when I took the dive course in June of 23.  I thought I would get certified for Open Water and maybe go to the Caribbean once in awhile, and be a tourist seeing pretty critters.  At first going to dive in the quarry was scary for me, and yet I kept feeling drawn to go back.  Now it has become a great way for me to find stress relief, floating weightless with the fish.  Even the murky waters (sometimes it's clear, sometimes it's not) give me comfort.   Yesterday I did 3 dives, perhaps the last for the season because the water is getting cold even in a 5mm wetsuit.  And I realized at one point I had completely forgotten I was under water.  It was like being under water was 'normal' and the world above was abnormal, heavy with gravity and grief. 
 

These dates are estimates from my memory, my calendar, my messenger, and my credit card statements. Montgomery won't show up unless I buy something, because I have a yearly pass.  

August 17 Tuckaseegee.  With Mary and others.  Normal 'high' release. In the Jackson Mixmaster 7.5.  I love the Tuck.

August 24 Dive at Bluewater Park.

August 25 Coosa 8000.  In the Jackson Mixmaster 7.5.  I had moved the seat back and had a glorious feeling surf in the Gap.  But Baby Gap was meh in that boat.  I switched back to the Antix for later trips.  

Sept. 01 Dive at Bluewater Park.

Sept 02 Coosa 10000.  With David P. and others.  It wasn't as fun as I thought it would be, some stuff I like was flushed out.  The crew I was with had no interest in trying to surf the Gap, we went river left of the island, which was cool because I rarely get to go that way.

Sept. 07 Dive at Bluewater Park.

Sept. 15 Coosa 8000.   In the Jackson Antix 2.0. I've been enjoying that boat.  I *think* this was the trip with Andy and Lynn where Andy took a line river right of the Gap and I followed him.  It's swirly and manky over there.

Sept. 22 Montgomery Whitewater. In the Jackson Antix 2.0.  My home-made noseplugs broke so I had to buy a pair from the shop.  So nice to have a gear store on site!

Sept. 27 Devastation from Hurricane Helene destroyed many places and friend's homes and livelihoods in WNC and TN. The Pigeon as we knew it is gone.  The Nolichucky and Green as we knew it is gone.  

Sept. 29 Dive at Bluewater Park.  2 dives with Andy and Dale.  Bethany showed up after awhile and we went snorkeling with the fish by the docks. Dale joined us snorkeling while Andy took my tank home by mistake.  

October 4 TAG fall cave-in.  I just went by for a few hours.

October 5 Dive at Bluewater Park.  With Bethany and Scott. 

October 5 Cabin stay with Joan and others.  I drove down to Montgomery WW after diving and met my friends there who had been kayaking all day. We went to Joan's family's hunting cabin the "Sugar Shack" and spent the night. It is close to MWW and to the Coosa.

October 6 Coosa 8000.  In the Jackson Antix 2.0.  With Joan, Heather, Stacy, others. I got a few surfs in at Baby Gap and one brief surf at Moccasin Gap.  1 roll trying to stern squirt that first eddyline.
 

October 12 Coosa 8000.  In the Jackson Antix 2.0. With Hayward and Stacy.  I got better surfs at Baby Gap and a long (for me) surf at Moccasin Gap.  Also flipped trying to catch Pipeline and ended up in a long stern pirouette in a whirlpool, pretty wild.  2 combat rolls that day, the first was trying to stern squirt at the first eddyline in the beginning of the run.

October 13 Dive at Bluewater Park 2 dives with Bethany, Tony, Tina, and newbie diver Ben who asked to join us. Both dives had some interesting moments. Examples include 3 backwards tanks in our crew, Tony's tank came loose from his BCD, and Ben got floaty. 

October 18 Trolley of Terror.  With Helen M., Liz, others.  A ride through Birmingham with ghost stories and historic locations.  It was fun and different.

October 19 Dive at Bluewater Park.  One dive with Reed, one with Reed and Bethany, and one with Bethany.  I was chilled in my 5 mm, the weather has changed for fall.  

Middle Fork of the Salmon 2024 Trip beta and gear notes

Middle Fork Salmon paddler beta with lots of nerdy details:  This was my fourth visit to the MFS and my second in a ducky.  Level started in the lower 3ft and ended in the upper 2ft range, which equals big water class III perfection.   Rapids were comparable to the named rapids in the New River Gorge when it is around 1 ft.  We put in at Indian Creek, which means we skipped the top section.  That also meant we missed some rapids that might have been more similar to NRG Fayette Station in terms of difficulty.  For the rest, it was wide, busy beautiful lines. Big holes, but bigger lines to miss them, and the best wave trains over and over. A few technical moves that were harder for the rafts than the small boats. Some of the bigger rapids were III-IV, but I don't think anything crept into the IV range.   The cleanest, clearest water quality, snowmelt cold at first, though towards the bottom of the run we were able to swim/hang out in the river at camp.  Drysuit or drytop were necessary in the kayaks.

I paddled the Canyons ducky (inflatable kayak).  Greg from Canyons worked with the owner of Maravia to design these for the MFS.  It has high rocker in the bow, which makes it a very dry ride.  I haven't paddled other ducks in big water to compare, but I think this design is a great big water duck that can accomodate different sized paddlers.  If I had my own I might choose a smaller version but keep the high rocker.  I should have brought my own paddle, because immediately the battle axe NRS ducky paddles started making my elbow tendonitis flare up.  I rode the front seat of the oar rigs on the longer days, which I was surprised to find was a great treat.  I was able to observe my surroundings and really be in the moment, instead of focusing on lines.  Oh yeah it's a very wet ride through big rapids as well. I rode an oar rig through the Tappan series and another for some of the stuff below Hancock including Cramer. I have video I will post later.  I could have run Fred's gear on some of the days; he brought his medium Dagger Code and his sprayskirt would have fit me.  But I decided not to; it is dangerous demoing boats (dangerous to wallet).  Big water fun in the duck on so many rapids including Weber, Rubber, and Hancock.  Dreaming of them right now but had to return to work to pay for all this fun.  

I have now had two big water runs and two low water runs of the MFS; one run in a Wave Sport EZ, one in a Shredder, one in the ducky and one in the duck/oar rigs.   It did make me think about taking a hard boat next time though.  I think the level this past week was my favorite.  Proud of my SE boater peeps, they styled it.

GEAR NOTES:
My gear: Sweet Protection Rocker helmet, one NRS hydrosilk shirt I wore every day, IR thick skin shirt I only wore the first day in the duck, Kokatat Session semi-dry top, NRS capri pants (will bring longer leggings next time), Melgarita leggings in the drysuit, Astral PFD sandals - highly recommend and on sale right now on Astral's website 06-27-24.

Kokatat Icon drysuit w men's zip, Freshette funnel, Astral Hiyak booties, brand new NRS Ninja Orbit PFD which I will review later after some runs in the hard boat, but it was great for this trip.

For raft/ducky guests Canyons will provide PFDs but they are big rafting style and I knew they would annoy me, so I brought my own. They also provide NRS helmets to raft/ducky customers, which were OK and made me think I could have left my helmet instead of bringing it. Just FYI for packing considerations.

I wore the drysuit in the duck on the big water end of the trip and was glad to be in it. I only wore the semi-dry top on the oar rigs. In 2021 it was so hot I didn't wear the semi-dry top in the duck but noted that if I was in a hardshell kayak I would have. We didn't bring drysuits on the trip in 2021.

Gear I wished I had: 

Spray on sunscreen, should have bought in Boise and didn't so I used Helen Hays'. I owe her a cocktail. Buff or similar face sun protection for sitting on the oar rig.

Small drybag I could keep nearby. We were given the big bag and a smaller bag to use on the trip but a personal size drybag like I use in my boats at home would have been handy.
Item I brought that was useful: 

My own camp chair. I was worried that Canyons would have the wooden green chairs again which frankly suck. They did not have the green chairs but said they were in use on another trip, so be aware (beware?). I brought this little chair which worked out great to have at my campsite: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RSBD32Z/?th=1

I found out about this chair from this review: https://youtu.be/rhIsUl08oI8?si=yy4dgvkvpc6OQXwp

Another useful item - changing robe. I used it to change, as a towel, and as a pillow!  Available here: https://www.pd-performancedesigns.com/changingrobes.aspx

Important items! Sun hat and sun glasses. I brought two pair of sunglasses because I had only one pair in 2018 and lost a lens, and had to borrow Christine's spare pair.

Sun screen - use it or you will be cooked! Make sure it's not expired. Some camping areas do not have shade.

A few plastic grocery bags to put wet gear or dirty shoes in when you have to pack to go to the next site. Most wet items dried out overnight, but just in case.

Some zip lock bags. Wet wipes to clean up. Lotion for dry skin. Chap stick for dry lips.

GEAR BLOG

I have decided to start blogging the camping, caving, kayaking, and diving gear that I use, why it's working for me, and where to get it.

First - my canopy - I can put this up and take it down by myself without needing any help. It's not heavy. It's also not heavy duty, but it is sturdy enough. I don't need a commercial grade canopy for my car camping. I do stake it down. I got this on the suggestion of my friend Peggy Robertson; she is really good and finding what works for car camping setups on a budget, and a lot of my gear choices have come from her own setup: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Best-Choice-Products-10x10ft-Easy-Setup-Pop-Up-Canopy-w-1-Button-Setup-Wheeled-Case-4-Weight-Bags-Red/628927217

My setup at the TVCC Paddle School 2024

Pros - can keep your tent dry at least on the top - I dried some items on the top of my tent during an overnight rain storm.  You can hang items off the frame to dry as well, depends on weather for the success of that of course but it does get them out of the way.  

Cons - none - it's great.

I use these clamps to clip items to the frame: https://www.lowes.com/pd/Pony-14-Pack-Assorted-3260SERIES-Spring-Clamp/1000988948

Next - my tent - I have several tents for different scenarios.  For car camping 1 or 2 nights I am using a QOMOTOP cabin tent I bought off of EBAY.  This tent was sold in places like Walmart but they discontinued it.  There are similar versions out there - the tent contains the poles attached so you just unfold it and pop it up, takes about a minute.   I bought a 4-person like Peggy's and was sent a 6 person.  It fits under the canopy but the legs are close to the edges, so the sides do get more wet in rain than if it was a 4 person.  Now this tent is nothing fancy, it probably won't have the 10+ year life span my REI Base Camp 4 has had, but it was around $100 and it stays dry inside even without the canopy - the first time I used it I had no canopy and was in a torrential rain and wind storm at Adventures Unlimited by the Ocoee -was really worried I'd get off river and back to a mess but it was dry! 

My fancier big tent is a 4 person REI Base Camp 4 - I use this for Carolina Canoe Club Week of Rivers.  It has a full fly with 2 vestibules.  Week of Rivers is notorious for big rain storms and the REI Base Camp has served me well for over 10 years.  I choose this tent when I am doing a multi-day campout and need the vestibules for gear storage and privacy.  

I sometimes use a cot to sleep on and the Roll-a-Cot has also served me for over 10 years.  It is the same cot that the outfitters use on trips out West, and is quick-dry, light, and very comfortable.  It also comes in a pocket that can be hung on the frame for items. 

I also sometimes use a Jack's Plastic Welding Paco Pad to sleep on.  This is the same pad that the outfitters use on trips out West.  It's made out of raft material and foam; it's very comfortable, it's durable; the cons are it rolls up big and the material can feel clammy when it's rainy and cold.  Again I have used this for over 10 years. Here is a link to an outfitter that sells Paco Pads.

This past Fall, I started using an insulated pad I discovered from this review: https://youtu.be/-UdNG57isU0?si=N8QqUkdaIJV4jnT4
The SKYEMAC Self Inflating Sleeping Pad: https://www.amazon.com/SKYEMAC-Inflating-Sleeping-Inflatable-Insulated/dp/B0C2HGT1Y8?ref_=ast_sto_dp

Which was $79 off of Amazon at the time.  And it is super comfortable, light, packs away smaller than the Paco Pad... and feels warm when it is cold and rainy out.  I LOVE IT.

Unfortunately it is out of stock right now...  the cons are I simply don't know how long it will hold up, and that you must top it off after letting it self-inflate, using the bag that it comes in (it has a connector to the valve for topping it off).  Unlike the Paco Pad which you can throw down with the valve open and let it self-inflate, the Skyemac will not fully inflate by itself.  I found this out the hard way.  

More updates to this blog page coming, I got a lot of stuff! 

 

 

Swims With Fishes 05 26 24

I am a tree hugger!

 

Great end to 2023 - Skydiving

We went skydiving today, myself, Helen, Emily, Alicia, and Drew.  It was awesome and made me fired up to start the AFF progression again.  I can't think of a better way to end 2023.  I hope we all have a great 2024 with new adventures and friends to meet.

Skydiving makes me feel so alive.  

Ca-Caw!!!!

The best

In The Beginning - Ocoee River 1977

Check out this documentary by paddlers Gary and Beth Harper about the history of the Ocoee River, with footage shot during 1977!