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.  

October 24 -27 GAF 2024.  I am updating this blog on Dec 14 so I don't have all the details I usually do, but I stayed at SMM, hung out with Kathy K, Ryland and Jenni, Scott B. I paddled the putin to ERA/Swinging Bridge on the Nanty with Dave MC and others in the Pyranha Scorch Medium. Kathy and I visited the Road to Nowhere, and the colors were peaking.  Kathy, Ry and Jenni and I then did the hike at Deep Creek, gorgeous. I had a parking lot encounter with a rock so I had to get my truck repaired (cosmetic). We had a nice dinner at 4 Queens.  

November was a slow month. Bluewater Park closed for the season.  No local water except for Montgomery, which I didn't visit for various reasons.  This drought sucks!

November 30 Ridgewalk.  With Dave H. Jeff H. and others.  We went back to the area we've been going to for a few years and found some new leads, including an interesting lead I found that looks like it's newly opened.  Video here: https://youtu.be/Nc-uoWsy1n4