tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-97950002024-03-14T11:39:57.698-05:00Judy Ranelli's DangerBlogGet busy living, or get busy dying.Judy Ranellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18440771007400147932noreply@blogger.comBlogger861125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9795000.post-31564930432778887912024-03-01T08:16:00.008-06:002024-03-01T08:16:48.346-06:00Fun Stuff 2024<p><span style="font-family: arial;">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.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Jan 1 2024 BCC Feast on the Beach.</b> River too low to paddle but we had a nice get-together.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Jan 7 2024 G Cave</b> with Lee A., Emily L. and Tammy P.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Jan 14 2024</b> <b>Mulberry.</b> Level around 1.5 I think. With Lynn and Andy, Ryan, others. I didn't realize it but I was getting sick.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Jan 15 2024 I woke up with Flu A </b>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.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Feb 3-10 Ski Snowmass Aspen</b>. 17" of powder, beautiful days and usual (some others had unusual) adventures getting to and from Aspen airport.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Feb 23-25 Snorkel with manatees and SCUBA dive Rainbow River and Ginnie Springs</b>. Amazing weekend with friends in Crystal River Florida.</span></p>Judy Ranellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18440771007400147932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9795000.post-31644665982322678332023-12-31T17:46:00.008-06:002023-12-31T17:48:17.906-06:00Great end to 2023 - Skydiving<p>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.</p><p>Skydiving makes me feel so alive. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin1nY1Bs2qnK91fiB41gAWUJuOVPIlQKUYIq4ngRLGi_s_EAjBqN7XdhwMEOPelQu-Go51hR9jHFBegCUWrT_59sQ27lk14U2NvxgJMR9zzHoYgN9eWZwKjVnoXOnLHFk2AxruY0pOvISHl_9Iyi2Cwurh95A6bdmMa8aZxNurFdOQVJ23uVD0/s2048/409567714_902361144445837_5786733787632169127_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin1nY1Bs2qnK91fiB41gAWUJuOVPIlQKUYIq4ngRLGi_s_EAjBqN7XdhwMEOPelQu-Go51hR9jHFBegCUWrT_59sQ27lk14U2NvxgJMR9zzHoYgN9eWZwKjVnoXOnLHFk2AxruY0pOvISHl_9Iyi2Cwurh95A6bdmMa8aZxNurFdOQVJ23uVD0/w456-h608/409567714_902361144445837_5786733787632169127_n.jpg" width="456" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ca-Caw!!!!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIP6lvYW68UUmGdt-QJHtVD2IBA6u9mf9fq6HDq3LKT82KFZ0XlxnP30U6DXc3_OphJLxcQWlg1hCnQ5iAiXjI_ycVo4YDdqpzuNA12IIe7jB-L3Y0ugbSXcheGlmC2KsxAsg8iBnBOETZpjk5lq4Ui0lofdrLKAvTlIb8iC7qFbvzBwRf1Y4M/s2048/411113727_747145960664684_3828783932727692781_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIP6lvYW68UUmGdt-QJHtVD2IBA6u9mf9fq6HDq3LKT82KFZ0XlxnP30U6DXc3_OphJLxcQWlg1hCnQ5iAiXjI_ycVo4YDdqpzuNA12IIe7jB-L3Y0ugbSXcheGlmC2KsxAsg8iBnBOETZpjk5lq4Ui0lofdrLKAvTlIb8iC7qFbvzBwRf1Y4M/w422-h562/411113727_747145960664684_3828783932727692781_n.jpg" width="422" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The best</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Judy Ranellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18440771007400147932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9795000.post-63381578909454167362023-12-13T07:18:00.004-06:002023-12-13T07:18:21.839-06:00In The Beginning - Ocoee River 1977<span style="font-family: arial;">Check out this documentary by paddlers Gary and Beth Harper about the history of the Ocoee River, with footage shot during 1977!</span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/qWlK3kaDy08?si=lzB5mslDIzA_raMb" style="background-image: url(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/qWlK3kaDy08/hqdefault.jpg);" width="480"></iframe></div>Judy Ranellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18440771007400147932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9795000.post-79501477508326918112023-12-02T10:21:00.003-06:002023-12-29T10:48:12.886-06:00Fun Stuff 2023<p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Jan 1 2023 Feast on the Beach</b>. With the Birmingham Canoe Club. Air temps 70F! Mulberry Fork at approx. 5" on the second bridge gauge, .10 on Streambeam gauge. The lowest I believe I have ever done this run. In the Jackson Antix 2.0 using a 197cm Werner Sherpa straight shaft because I didn't want to beat up my wooden paddle. Video here: <a href="https://youtu.be/amiZb6rMKuA">https://youtu.be/amiZb6rMKuA</a> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Photos by my friend Dave H. here: </span><a href="https://zookster.smugmug.com/Kayak/Kayaking-2023/Feast-on-the-Beach-01-Jan-2023/" style="font-family: arial;">https://zookster.smugmug.com/Kayak/Kayaking-2023/Feast-on-the-Beach-01-Jan-2023/</a></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-DDpjFTb/0/X2/i-DDpjFTb-X2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="447" src="https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-DDpjFTb/0/X2/i-DDpjFTb-X2.jpg" width="595" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here I am, happily surprised 5-0 is surfable at 5" </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><b style="font-family: arial;">Jan 7 2023 Mulberry. </b><span style="font-family: arial;">Level 1.5ish on the gauge but felt more like 2.0. In the Jackson Antix 2.0. Using the RivrStyx Wildwater 7.5 wooden paddle, 40' feather. Air temps upper 60's but the water temps were cold. Missed my pogies but I had one tattoo artist glove in my PFD that I wore on my right hand. With BCC members including Vander H., Peggy R., Jason L., and new members Daniel, Daniel, Cason, and a young lady I don't recall the name of. I had good surfs in Training Wheels and Lunchstop. I didn't surf 5-0 but Jason reported 'It's back' to a prime river-wide wave.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinjRqNGfD1XZBR1bHZ1SxFmPjDmkgWseoKd1ooWH-6OsZ_uZb6CW3m5r71SMqZPzI4RyPNs9FteQ2lzmp5q2iRsictajnZEC5gxFaEV0IyamrB9PfjOoCTjAYdVh44-r1XiDbfjZRVbAQB0Vc_lhYHVoYlMT-OtLiJwHuymDyGKQozPSFRzg/s1600/324723560_850894706143822_3202939764644964254_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinjRqNGfD1XZBR1bHZ1SxFmPjDmkgWseoKd1ooWH-6OsZ_uZb6CW3m5r71SMqZPzI4RyPNs9FteQ2lzmp5q2iRsictajnZEC5gxFaEV0IyamrB9PfjOoCTjAYdVh44-r1XiDbfjZRVbAQB0Vc_lhYHVoYlMT-OtLiJwHuymDyGKQozPSFRzg/w609-h342/324723560_850894706143822_3202939764644964254_n.jpg" width="609" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soul Surfing Lunchstop 01-07-23</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Jan 14 2023 Upper and Lower Mulberry </b></span><b style="font-family: arial;"> </b><span style="font-family: arial;">Level 1.9ish estimated. In the medium Jackson Antix 2.0. Long day- we put on late, air temp 43F. House Wave was wonderful. Video <a href="https://youtu.be/VdBjiKiBvww">here.</a> House Wave video <a href="https://youtu.be/RbHRwrKZM14">here.</a> With Joe I., Halie, Peggy, Terra and Micah, Daniel and friend in their inflatable kayak with their dog Luna.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><b>Jan 15 2023 Lower Mulberry </b><span>Level 1.5 estimated. Online gauge reading lower than bridge gauges. Air temp lower 50s. </span></span><span style="font-family: arial;"> In the medium Jackson Antix 2.0. With Andy and Lynn, Halie and Jes, Peggy, Matthew and Allison.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><br /><b>Jan 16 2023 Ridgewalk. </b><span>MLK day, with Dave H. Air temps upper 50s, cloudy but pleasant. Relocated two known caves on the ACS.<br /><br /></span></span></span><p></p></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>I am certain I paddled the Mulberry again the last two weeks in January, but I didn't take notes.</span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisk88g8fkfHAScWnuHcdr2OfmZGDdl_qJCgGG6Gm84ouyHbeYPMov6Xd4i13ZtMzS55WeJOXzmb5QUVitaQeZVX_a_pHQ0t57L4rXbwQwLDyJn8M6HgUm-Rqs7gwfMRIGTxDdHKMaC2Lh7W0pg_XE7esByEwsLuvQUaBiJK9azPRTA2GGb3Q/s1280/20230207_113638-X2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisk88g8fkfHAScWnuHcdr2OfmZGDdl_qJCgGG6Gm84ouyHbeYPMov6Xd4i13ZtMzS55WeJOXzmb5QUVitaQeZVX_a_pHQ0t57L4rXbwQwLDyJn8M6HgUm-Rqs7gwfMRIGTxDdHKMaC2Lh7W0pg_XE7esByEwsLuvQUaBiJK9azPRTA2GGb3Q/w536-h402/20230207_113638-X2.jpg" width="536" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Return to Snowmass! I love it!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><b>Feb 4 2023 Snowmass. </b>With the Asheville Ski Club. I shared a ski-in, ski-out condo with Patty and Eva. Joan was supposed to be there as well but she got very sick Friday night with a fever and chills! </span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><b>Feb 5 Snowmass. </b></span></span></span><span style="font-family: arial;">Eva and I were going to go with Patty up Village Express for a beginner run to start off, but Patty ended up with some other ladies from the ski club on a seat behind us. The guys we were on the lift with told us if we kept going past the intermediate chair there were some green at the top. This meant we got separated from the others because they took off at the intermediate chair.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">There wasn't green at the top but it was managable blue and we went down Max Park to Monkshood back to the bottom of the lift. I fell twice. Eva and I then got on the gondola to Elk Camp.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">We did Bull Run first which was great, and then we did Gunners View, a favorite of mine from other visits. It has some ice patches on it.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">I then took a break and sent Eva up the lift. I told her I needed some time to myself, but I also felt bad that I was gassed so early and I didn't want her to miss out. I have made a note to do some leg work a few weeks before any ski trip. I've been paddling a lot, which means my arms are strong, but my legs not so much. <br />Eva went from the top of Elk Camp lift all the way down the hill (miscommunication) so after waiting for her for some time at the Elk Camp lodge, I called her and we sorted things out. I then went down Adam's Avenue and Funnel Bypass to the village, then up the skittles to the mall and took a shuttle to the condo. Funnel Bypass is marked green but it was a narrow, icy, horrible cattrack lol. Perhaps the hardest thing I ran all week. <br /><b>Feb 6 Snowmass. </b>Powdery day, which none of my crew was accustomed to. We went up Village Express to the intermediate and down Dawdler to the entrance to our condo so we knew where it was. Then we went to the top of Village Express, headed down Max Park and Trestle. Both were supposed to have been groomed but they didn't seem that way. Trestle was powder moguls and messy and I found it very hard and I fell twice. Our destination was supposed to be Elk Camp lift but we ended up at an intermediate stop on the gondola. This was nice because we didn't have to go to the village to get on the gondola.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">We had lunch at Elk camp. I had a piece of pepperoni pizza and a Coke. $16. Patty had Italian three bean soup that she said was delicious. Eva had a plate of Mac and cheese and brussel sprouts. She meant for a half plate of each but there was a language barrier so she ended up with a full plate of each, they were $10 a plate. I ate some of her brussel sprouts they were delicious but had a lot of oil. <br />After lunch we went up to Gunner's View. Powder and Joan would have been in heaven but I was nervous. I didn't fall but I felt exhausted by the end of it. We took Adams Avenue back across the mountain. I liked this but Peggy said never again. There were some flat spots.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">My left leg fatigued and I am clearly not in shape. The sun was brilliant, bluebird day.</span></div><div><b style="font-family: arial;">Feb 7 Snowmass </b><span style="font-family: arial;">Groomed blue corduroy, I met up with Jackie's group and then broke off with Debbie and Harriet who were with Princeton Ski Club. We did several runs on </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Max Park to Monkshood. Great day. Lunch at Sam's, I had cavateli with walnuts, mushrooms, and gorgonzola. Harriet had beef tartare. Debbie had a lamb burger. <br /><b>Feb 8 Buttermilk </b>We went to Buttermilk for the first time. It's a great mountain with hardly anyone on it! There is a little green terrain park that was fun to explore.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Feb 9 Aspen town. </b>We took a day off. Eva and I went into Aspen and shopped. Made a note to get a 6 day lift ticket next time. The weather was very cold but blue skies and skiing even half a day would have been fun. <br /><b>Feb 10 Snowmass. </b></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span> Eva, Patty and I left the condo at 10am and went down Village Express Max Park and then got on the gondola up to Elk Camp. We went down Bull run and then headed towards two creeks lift via Creekside. Top of Creekside was a steep blue and I fell once.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>We went back up to Creeks lift And then up Elk Camp lift and did two runs on Gunners View. That run returned to be my favorite on the whole mountain.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>I took the gondola down by myself and took Village Express up to the top. I ran Max Park and used Lunch Time to get over to Dawdler. I went in the condo and had lunch. After lunch I went up Village Express to the top and took a couple runs down Max Park to Monkshood. Then I took repeated runs down from the middle of Village Express lift down Dawdler until about 3:00. I will miss sking until the next time! </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>SNOWMASS pics<a href="https://dangerjudy.smugmug.com/Other/Other-1/Snowmass-Aspen-2023/" target="_blank"> HERE.</a></span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjHs_Ul9u577kSI9lnm0_JSl_5_6WUpd6gmOR9efuP9-Ur3p7ufRQ-DtKoTx72mK0KxemXknJKktQ80jS1S84_1Fhwl3kcq6gsD21-a4xXLmYKhnSNKRakREkUaBtPbgD8HdeovzUGNb8zIaRMmwdtlnHWUhWWePAzdTdCruSxjMvUXK6HWA/s4496/95482195-DSC_4217adjusted.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4496" data-original-width="3000" height="637" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjHs_Ul9u577kSI9lnm0_JSl_5_6WUpd6gmOR9efuP9-Ur3p7ufRQ-DtKoTx72mK0KxemXknJKktQ80jS1S84_1Fhwl3kcq6gsD21-a4xXLmYKhnSNKRakREkUaBtPbgD8HdeovzUGNb8zIaRMmwdtlnHWUhWWePAzdTdCruSxjMvUXK6HWA/w426-h637/95482195-DSC_4217adjusted.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I purchased this photo of myself coming down Bull Run. I love skiing!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div 0px="" 10px="" 22px="" 2px="" arial="" class="yj6qo ajU" color:="" cursor:="" font-family:="" font-size:="" helvetica="" margin:="" none="" outline:="" padding:="" pointer="" sans-serif="" small="" width:=""><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><b>Feb 12 Mulberry. First Carin Burford Memorial Paddle. Level was high, at least 4 feet.</b> I was exhausted from my ski trip, so I didn't paddle. I ran shuttle for folks, and then started a campfire on the beach, much of which was under water. It was a nice day.</span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><b>Feb 17-19 Grotto Getaway. </b>The Birmingham Grotto getaway was back at Guntersville Park's lake cabins, and I had forgotten how nice it is there. I started to go on the Saturday Ridgewalk, but I got perhaps 200 yards down the trail and had to stop, as my right knee was not happy at all. I went to Unclaimed Baggage instead.</span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><b>Feb 19 Mulberry. </b>In the Pyranha Scorch Medium. Level maybe 2.5. I had a nice day, but had to ask for a boat sherpa at the take-out because of my knee.<br /><b>March 11 ALF.</b> Middle Tellico level 1.7.</span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><b>March 12 ALF.</b> Clear Creek Jett to Lilly, low level.<br /><b>March 18 Locust Fork</b> to Swann, Pyranha Scorch Medium. Level 3.6ish.<br /><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><b>March 19 Ridgewalk</b>. With Dave Caudle and Dave Howell. Found a marginal qualifier. Video <a href="https://youtu.be/hUwX7wWMT0A">here.</a> </span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b style="font-family: arial;">March 25 Locust Fork</b><span style="font-family: arial;"> race wire setup.</span></div></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span><b>March 26 Mulberry. </b>Upper and lower. In the Pyranha Scorch Medium, level 2.7. With the seat adjusted to middle. </span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span>I'm reasonably sure I paddled the Locust to Swann the weekend of April 1 or 2. <br /><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b style="font-family: arial;">April 6 - 15</b><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Visit to Guatemala. With Mary M, Andrea P, Lola C., Carli B., and Jen S. Amazing trip! Photos</span><a href="https://dangerjudy.smugmug.com/TRAVELS/Guatemala-2023/" style="font-family: arial;" target="_blank"> here</a><span style="font-family: arial;">. Video</span><a href="https://youtu.be/43HpIK_Mvg0" style="font-family: arial;" target="_blank"> here.</a><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>April 6</b> <b>fly to GUA then shuttle ride to Antigua. Our Air BNB was awesome, with rooms surrounding a courtyard garden with an rooftop patio. The views from the rooftop were of Agua and Fuego volcanoes. We watched Fuego erupt day and night. </b></span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0tJa4qAZvHwJpT5_m0xNdR8jjpDBhT7PYjJ_BADtnFaFbhAl3IPlAYgidaslNdLPRTCoOT1UiUq9ja4GesqFj4-cMe39xvpdaExJEpNRv5pqnMnXUmE7leZN0skEdFojRrof90g_uQLdxf0ZhPg_jSNBpvb8bX_J44yMbUe5XZEpb6u8O7A/s1280/20230406_154952-X2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0tJa4qAZvHwJpT5_m0xNdR8jjpDBhT7PYjJ_BADtnFaFbhAl3IPlAYgidaslNdLPRTCoOT1UiUq9ja4GesqFj4-cMe39xvpdaExJEpNRv5pqnMnXUmE7leZN0skEdFojRrof90g_uQLdxf0ZhPg_jSNBpvb8bX_J44yMbUe5XZEpb6u8O7A/w428-h321/20230406_154952-X2.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Air BNB courtyard garden</td></tr></tbody></table><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: arial;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8l5N3hC5XgXflr8YFmVo1dORxr3e9eF19y7n4QzBceorYw5FK8D8qT1j5FSwAuoixrKqlZA7R626ZD1igDenQe32g-CC2QWht8mIjVCde-CJ2vBUyimzgSSNW7xJfzwaRNYA8BLLHwL7AvgFTSRh2lmvK2q72t27VBDtmDs7PoXTCaEazjA/s2048/340287838_169482509346462_1489833149754631352_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8l5N3hC5XgXflr8YFmVo1dORxr3e9eF19y7n4QzBceorYw5FK8D8qT1j5FSwAuoixrKqlZA7R626ZD1igDenQe32g-CC2QWht8mIjVCde-CJ2vBUyimzgSSNW7xJfzwaRNYA8BLLHwL7AvgFTSRh2lmvK2q72t27VBDtmDs7PoXTCaEazjA/w335-h446/340287838_169482509346462_1489833149754631352_n.jpg" width="335" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Volcan Fuego erupting at night, view from our rooftop patio.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>April 7 Free day to explore Antigua.</b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: arial;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipDTn9vFVgr8bPpGGsnVZ6Bnzg8jz_e99MoF2hAmpU9tYYQit1tvXqFvASFNV0B24mHCeiVLMLu1Afw5pT0bqIZx07SXMm9rM1gnfQvr8cazhVoZkhtW-LqcjAB21arltdTyDuNclNXSjLG9ulUHHoAy91mc9biaxZ5_gwoFtQlOp3zdQt5g/s960/340009803_213610187970653_324051910457639938_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="403" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipDTn9vFVgr8bPpGGsnVZ6Bnzg8jz_e99MoF2hAmpU9tYYQit1tvXqFvASFNV0B24mHCeiVLMLu1Afw5pT0bqIZx07SXMm9rM1gnfQvr8cazhVoZkhtW-LqcjAB21arltdTyDuNclNXSjLG9ulUHHoAy91mc9biaxZ5_gwoFtQlOp3zdQt5g/w302-h403/340009803_213610187970653_324051910457639938_n.jpg" width="302" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and Andrea in Antigua sign.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b><br />April 8 Chocolate Workshop Bean-to-Bar. Dinner at Montagu, a wonderful closed door restaurant in Antigua. <br />April 9 Macadamia nut farm visit. </b><b>Volcano hike / Easter Sunday</b><b><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_taUi0AOvnFbJiXB4Ethbb91z1GjAxjS_aysk--iRViGwqvQQMLVLFozxrIMmsMdewpxHXItvzfuf3FkvQte7-JDn38KOjJInnk0dfN-p2MRgF7NbI2qRu1P5z2S-Y4vV5p_swUjhD_Hmgly-KbgLUIZvyThhWcXAKskifLon82-l-0bUrQ/s1280/20230409_173029-X2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_taUi0AOvnFbJiXB4Ethbb91z1GjAxjS_aysk--iRViGwqvQQMLVLFozxrIMmsMdewpxHXItvzfuf3FkvQte7-JDn38KOjJInnk0dfN-p2MRgF7NbI2qRu1P5z2S-Y4vV5p_swUjhD_Hmgly-KbgLUIZvyThhWcXAKskifLon82-l-0bUrQ/w455-h341/20230409_173029-X2.jpg" width="455" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hike up Pacaya volcano to a lava field, a very intense other-worldly experience.<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><b>April 10 Travel to San Pedro de la Laguna. Stop to visit Iximche mayan ruins on the way.<br />April 11 Birding tour to see quetzal birds. Amazing! We also saw Azure Rumped Tanagers and other birds.</b><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVE-HDQdMftPJv_v_uetDzRt2Pt5cwaUSpJFKO6bzPgAn3zstwigfYjAotUtNrbfAqdH_rMc0V56MPq5Ld0P8YZbjn1W-Dx5VL-OMoEx8Z585cqR7_5-YBdlEIf0x-VKVo4pPVqysh9L_FPtulmJ-r5PXhFBilTs0Wytl-Afvf07qukCljrA/s1280/20230411_075844-X2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVE-HDQdMftPJv_v_uetDzRt2Pt5cwaUSpJFKO6bzPgAn3zstwigfYjAotUtNrbfAqdH_rMc0V56MPq5Ld0P8YZbjn1W-Dx5VL-OMoEx8Z585cqR7_5-YBdlEIf0x-VKVo4pPVqysh9L_FPtulmJ-r5PXhFBilTs0Wytl-Afvf07qukCljrA/w458-h343/20230411_075844-X2.jpg" width="458" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quetzal bird taken with my phone through a scope.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b>April 12 Dressed as mayan women and watched a fire creremony. Then went to San Juan to a women's weaving collectiva to watch a demonstration of backband weaving, then shopped for scarves and bags. We then went up the Mirador. Afterwards we made tamales at Clarita's sister Maria's house, so fun and delicious!<br /></b></span><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif_Cd_oTThgXEXMNpbQYUW8MB5fH7RmBLTs0ehvRRai2yEExxI4ePFirwc_V-8pBDndiKUGifcUc5IGijbrpbGm3awO6LYlD7-_cH-kruCoNwPmMrWFUKN-taaNTX0FxacZcKKIQBb5sacVQ73-CDpFuL2QpLdocALVk6Wo1MViC0vlvxhsg/s960/20230412_073027-X2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="473" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif_Cd_oTThgXEXMNpbQYUW8MB5fH7RmBLTs0ehvRRai2yEExxI4ePFirwc_V-8pBDndiKUGifcUc5IGijbrpbGm3awO6LYlD7-_cH-kruCoNwPmMrWFUKN-taaNTX0FxacZcKKIQBb5sacVQ73-CDpFuL2QpLdocALVk6Wo1MViC0vlvxhsg/w355-h473/20230412_073027-X2.jpg" width="355" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think I could pass for a native. I felt like my Sicilian<br />great-grandmothers were kissing the top of my head.</td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUGJONNWsbZ4nwdt6Ppz_wDo7H2A2o0VIBrmNqET8w74_-A8aD89hS8xj-NKfiQAhkJxdBSlJj8uumMTifDzVYgl02tFy55Tv3wwnbGGiLrCvrsPmbdGTH670OSTiL3pewunjJPjbwTNeSupzUM8MfgEEnqHzsG_hqYOkKSsrNihCJwir_rQ/s1280/20230412_134849-X2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUGJONNWsbZ4nwdt6Ppz_wDo7H2A2o0VIBrmNqET8w74_-A8aD89hS8xj-NKfiQAhkJxdBSlJj8uumMTifDzVYgl02tFy55Tv3wwnbGGiLrCvrsPmbdGTH670OSTiL3pewunjJPjbwTNeSupzUM8MfgEEnqHzsG_hqYOkKSsrNihCJwir_rQ/w450-h337/20230412_134849-X2.jpg" width="450" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Weaving demonstration</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_rPSJhL2otFBIUVksIWqvZY5MpeSuINqYKrCupDa4joRDZPI6LsFyb9RRuGIIMpjpTVhum7dYNpNmmN6oRXyFSF-4s6fMNFUp8f1jjwhwEC4wJ-gDSmyiuqth6i8NmxhynVg6_CKQgrqEP8R86q_DSqBSZRI9B1KLrVVsrA_0yR5c_PayQ/s2048/341058265_228592829839802_5468602205451917630_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1537" data-original-width="2048" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp_rPSJhL2otFBIUVksIWqvZY5MpeSuINqYKrCupDa4joRDZPI6LsFyb9RRuGIIMpjpTVhum7dYNpNmmN6oRXyFSF-4s6fMNFUp8f1jjwhwEC4wJ-gDSmyiuqth6i8NmxhynVg6_CKQgrqEP8R86q_DSqBSZRI9B1KLrVVsrA_0yR5c_PayQ/w586-h440/341058265_228592829839802_5468602205451917630_n.jpg" width="586" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of us at the Mirador in San Juan de la Laguna<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_BKZ7Io7u_A1Z1Gia3SjvpPe8h5caVSOXdLWqejqWdY_EhQRl4LldMTgX1Nvc-fYoKuHsg8-pnjPrSLp5Ggsjrg7E3_qDl2YBeOq0KxNeynA5CtimN65FeLcz_5DVz1t2hcrWgBB3MHAyPc0JoKoA3SfqNDQJi3pWj9VymT4c6mfSdEk2hg/s1280/20230412_190513-X2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_BKZ7Io7u_A1Z1Gia3SjvpPe8h5caVSOXdLWqejqWdY_EhQRl4LldMTgX1Nvc-fYoKuHsg8-pnjPrSLp5Ggsjrg7E3_qDl2YBeOq0KxNeynA5CtimN65FeLcz_5DVz1t2hcrWgBB3MHAyPc0JoKoA3SfqNDQJi3pWj9VymT4c6mfSdEk2hg/w516-h388/20230412_190513-X2.jpg" width="516" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andrea trying on a banana leaf</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_4uUC2M1DqDprOAEJGMWJKjIvP_JWRh3GBpYql1iT3xJAJxA22OXOPi08QNE0rlm9FzsBs67mRgq1YEMnRwcheSLt0xWmNLVpHAfYwrhdf10kyRCjGGhEnMi38QI1lkkXfOnU50Tc6y69Zqoh4W6N4yyWXOnHyM4UO8EbqAUN_PD5cBWfFw/s1280/20230412_185319-X2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_4uUC2M1DqDprOAEJGMWJKjIvP_JWRh3GBpYql1iT3xJAJxA22OXOPi08QNE0rlm9FzsBs67mRgq1YEMnRwcheSLt0xWmNLVpHAfYwrhdf10kyRCjGGhEnMi38QI1lkkXfOnU50Tc6y69Zqoh4W6N4yyWXOnHyM4UO8EbqAUN_PD5cBWfFw/w470-h352/20230412_185319-X2.jpg" width="470" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Busy in Maria's kitchen! Everything prepared from scratch.</td></tr></tbody></table><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJFj4RRVqAuclFQcrwZHcQci0LVdDwg2RSathQYD3enASFxEWUf01uVW3g8q3co_-zP0cGU8VQDossuOLdQF5v-QKTHYOY3UebfQBi7n7YFPwcCOEK8h_bpJjT9CdjGrD2tZhwb1659SRYS9rVz4MHJj08cNTf59hYVrMid6Kz_MlFu12CBA/s1280/20230412_194153-X2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJFj4RRVqAuclFQcrwZHcQci0LVdDwg2RSathQYD3enASFxEWUf01uVW3g8q3co_-zP0cGU8VQDossuOLdQF5v-QKTHYOY3UebfQBi7n7YFPwcCOEK8h_bpJjT9CdjGrD2tZhwb1659SRYS9rVz4MHJj08cNTf59hYVrMid6Kz_MlFu12CBA/w497-h373/20230412_194153-X2.jpg" width="497" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mashed potatoes, vegetables, raisins, plums and homemade sauce.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>April 13 Chichicastenago markets visit. Famous busy market, we had so much fun shopping. <br /><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg50eyuUt_hpOaZprok4cI_JNvwY__KSYimXCZuxUee7ySygtgJ7OKpQzH8ckFFyqk4ykZtDqxvXEescFLMwY24vl4Tsc64PYb1JAeY36CMieSfQXEb5P8EEl9aIZ8XNtx94N7osatK-rSXeNduEsTH3_PO_F7Hq3eHS5QOsbkDE3d6HPAeg/s3840/20230413_123708-4K.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3840" data-original-width="2880" height="489" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg50eyuUt_hpOaZprok4cI_JNvwY__KSYimXCZuxUee7ySygtgJ7OKpQzH8ckFFyqk4ykZtDqxvXEescFLMwY24vl4Tsc64PYb1JAeY36CMieSfQXEb5P8EEl9aIZ8XNtx94N7osatK-rSXeNduEsTH3_PO_F7Hq3eHS5QOsbkDE3d6HPAeg/w367-h489/20230413_123708-4K.jpg" width="367" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Street markets in Chichicastenago</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></b><b>April 14 Visit to pottery makers in San Antonio. We also got to dress up again. So fun! Great last day in Guatemala.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKp37exLdbK6eOS4yUUDDB5WWw53UBw5eWsP_M-I80B0S0_owWzcgKiHr9uPLMk_d4eBbN7xr3ImlQqKZ-_adlSsbWnVfn_KMzwctOVy5Zbcq6sKjXxg7qoUWiw0a3p8x7N0YiyoJhdSNzzVY1WL8FHWgtBUTCdluanSp4yptYKctKhPr0Ug/s1280/20230414_141036-X2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKp37exLdbK6eOS4yUUDDB5WWw53UBw5eWsP_M-I80B0S0_owWzcgKiHr9uPLMk_d4eBbN7xr3ImlQqKZ-_adlSsbWnVfn_KMzwctOVy5Zbcq6sKjXxg7qoUWiw0a3p8x7N0YiyoJhdSNzzVY1WL8FHWgtBUTCdluanSp4yptYKctKhPr0Ug/w464-h348/20230414_141036-X2.jpg" width="464" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andrea, Mary, and Jen in a pottery shop</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBDBwTI77xu1p1o58TJ5wylvmbhMJjkP3VPn4TH5pyVoYegYqdcP09EXJ5hweMmWByspIYTa6rnMJe1NgJd2ZpntHUVaPqwlGsb35EDaZySZfMhsviJ5FSFzsvc9GyttHyv4DId0aHquiBvpR-eBIjXtavX1_SVCEDF3vUQMPcEBgo8P5cFw/s1280/20230414_143309-X2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBDBwTI77xu1p1o58TJ5wylvmbhMJjkP3VPn4TH5pyVoYegYqdcP09EXJ5hweMmWByspIYTa6rnMJe1NgJd2ZpntHUVaPqwlGsb35EDaZySZfMhsviJ5FSFzsvc9GyttHyv4DId0aHquiBvpR-eBIjXtavX1_SVCEDF3vUQMPcEBgo8P5cFw/w401-h301/20230414_143309-X2.jpg" width="401" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andrea and I dressed up. </td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfT5FsQXGGkStfzZCv19XGG4jewsiPiCaqcb3DKEwG74qOlwv7_gbvY-P5fBmyvokC7IEljUMTjYpwsgaWqnknqhgMPukzgSK1zBf3tHrTeHR_kmKKaTveW-1bX80xObDWI7_6AKdEF5T38KCTy4jKeEz4tAzkmOKIqbYCWAccy7oXcf4ECg/s960/20230414_144427-X2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="511" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfT5FsQXGGkStfzZCv19XGG4jewsiPiCaqcb3DKEwG74qOlwv7_gbvY-P5fBmyvokC7IEljUMTjYpwsgaWqnknqhgMPukzgSK1zBf3tHrTeHR_kmKKaTveW-1bX80xObDWI7_6AKdEF5T38KCTy4jKeEz4tAzkmOKIqbYCWAccy7oXcf4ECg/w383-h511/20230414_144427-X2.jpg" width="383" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mary getting her hair wrap. She looked so medieval English!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibRA3-DWnxZxAk6gMRtGBbAmO8nAzzAUXinhioGDS0E7TywsV6VIK3jReOYHXMMnebovP9zdvO27nRIjDEv1MPtSy6FT7_k8A02YdXPMbjjAA4k182gy-z3iXtHHWRPObq_-k651RJFSl7V0LfR35rlP2L6DXhiW0ORHjw0JmiJovqystUfw/s2048/341318616_949084836107267_685939842279356927_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibRA3-DWnxZxAk6gMRtGBbAmO8nAzzAUXinhioGDS0E7TywsV6VIK3jReOYHXMMnebovP9zdvO27nRIjDEv1MPtSy6FT7_k8A02YdXPMbjjAA4k182gy-z3iXtHHWRPObq_-k651RJFSl7V0LfR35rlP2L6DXhiW0ORHjw0JmiJovqystUfw/w401-h301/341318616_949084836107267_685939842279356927_n.jpg" width="401" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me, Jen, Andrea, and Mary dressed up fancy!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></b><br /><b>April 16 Locust Fork to 160</b>. My friends said sure you just got back 10pm the night before from a whirlwind trip to Guatemala, but there's<i> local water,</i> so join us! In the Aire Spud. Level 2.8. lowish level but fun.<br /><b>April 22 Locust Fork to 160</b>. In the Dagger Nova. Level low, perhaps 2.2. I would say this is a minimum to go to 160. I went over the side of a rock below Swann and braced with my legs and pulled a muscle in my right hip. ouch that's new. With Stacy W., Vander, Russell B., Greer M. <br /><b>MAY </b>I have been lax in updating my blog. But - we went to the Locust a couple weekends in a row at about 2.7-2.3, then May 20 I went down the Mulberry at half a foot, the grasses have made that lower than usual and I was in the Nova, so I wasn't able to surf Lunchstop or 5-0. Training Wheels was still good. <br />I swapped boats with Kevin S. at Ender Hole, and for some strange reason decided to try surfing his boat there. It was a medium Antix like mine, only his seat didn't have any padding and I couldn't get my knees past his bees knees setup, also barely touched the bulkhead. Why decide to try anything then? I don't really know. But I did. I flipped and tried to roll twice, then swam. And it was awesome. Video here: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D17_9L51AMU">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D17_9L51AMU</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><b>May 21 Cahaba Lillies. Bridge-to-bridge. </b>In the Dagger Axis 10.5. Level low 900s, this was enough to see the lillies and have current without having to get out and drag boats, also the paddle below the shoals to the takeout was pleasant. It took us 3 hours. Jes and Halie had new boats, there was also Russel and Stephanie B., Jeff and Leigh Ann H. Lisa Buck kindly loaned us a boat and helped shuttle us so we had no vehicles at the boat ramp putin. photos <a href="https://dangerjudy.smugmug.com/Other/PADDLING/Cahaba-Lillies-2023/" target="_blank">here. </a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><b style="font-family: arial;">May 27-29 Memorial Day Weekend. With the Birmingham Canoe Club. In the Jackson Antix 2 M. </b><span style="font-family: arial;">Saturday - Hello to the Hiwassee! Great trip with 24 paddlers participating. My annual tradition to say Hello to the Hiwassee on it's first official release day of the season continues. <br />Sunday - Ocoee lite. First time on the Ocoee in over a year for various reasons. It was like hugging an old friend. With bestie Mary Mills, Debbie M., Stacy W., and Emily L. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Monday - IFly indoor skydiving. I returned to use a voucher I had bought a year before - and the second I went into the tunnel I felt that free-fall flight that made me wish to skydive again. Maybe this year I'll get my first AFF flight... </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>June 3-4 TVCC Paddle School. </b>Hiwassee river, I support boated a class. In the Jackson Antix 2 M. <br /><br /><b>June 9-11 Visit Friends in NC. </b>I went to visit Mary and we stayed over at Otter Creek, went to the Endless River Adventures 30 year anniversary party, played 5 Crowns, and paddled the Tuckaseegee. <br /><br /><b>June 17 Bear Creek in NW Alabama. </b>With the BCC. In the Jackson Antix 2 medium. Beautiful day. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>June 18 Visit the new Montgomery Whitewater park. </b>I didn't paddle; just did a walking tour and watched friends run the Adventure channel. I also purchased a season pass which is good through Thanksgiving weekend.<br /><br /><b>The month of June - SSI Open Water Diver course. </b>With Helen and Andy. Instructor Bethany from Scuba Ventures in Vestavia Alabama taught us at the Blue Water Park in Pelham. We got our certification done on July 1st-2nd. Stoked to have some SCUBA adventures in the near future! </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2WN_40c3eoc3GegxUL8fNjYvYmH9v6zUQyBIm3N60v2fNxoMwImG8BYsU3huPyK7IQKNxycDRhBMPSuYZUYt07SbTieWgRXyjIQbgNE8hMCTuVnkOR7c9Tuar8_jyd6Cj1iFsj56kk1QKzWHDWEuCo_JjqXaTIxlNyZvAXFrOQKf-7tDEbLJN/s2048/357705457_10159626997842361_3021181633664059991_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="377" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2WN_40c3eoc3GegxUL8fNjYvYmH9v6zUQyBIm3N60v2fNxoMwImG8BYsU3huPyK7IQKNxycDRhBMPSuYZUYt07SbTieWgRXyjIQbgNE8hMCTuVnkOR7c9Tuar8_jyd6Cj1iFsj56kk1QKzWHDWEuCo_JjqXaTIxlNyZvAXFrOQKf-7tDEbLJN/w502-h377/357705457_10159626997842361_3021181633664059991_n.jpg" width="502" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me in the airplane at the quarry. Peace and Love! </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRnET6cPaQWgYED_cJDF4wu1lm8a-UpagS1y2ZGdG29Ihz-8Ef20Y1ruD4BTrsmom8fvA1gm1TFsxleBNXhof3O4qCvL8xEVksrXzrJ6FxlKU9EjjE-fRsxgwOPoZHZnGsy9tcXW2bPbGdMFbMnfyTKy8y59KYKxOVx8u_AWc0SjApxLIEERp4/s2048/357725630_10159626412397361_8404080888553508404_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRnET6cPaQWgYED_cJDF4wu1lm8a-UpagS1y2ZGdG29Ihz-8Ef20Y1ruD4BTrsmom8fvA1gm1TFsxleBNXhof3O4qCvL8xEVksrXzrJ6FxlKU9EjjE-fRsxgwOPoZHZnGsy9tcXW2bPbGdMFbMnfyTKy8y59KYKxOVx8u_AWc0SjApxLIEERp4/w459-h345/357725630_10159626412397361_8404080888553508404_n.jpg" width="459" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Graduating SSI Open Water Diver class</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5sSTGqThQNudhBTqW5TUPZYsn4qkJt6pP_9wiWdSLG6jFBcCmAceXpKWNtKOI9OrxiTS2TQDLDiYNd9WYDvU2yXueJjVeoXlPJR6xMrvyPccOZJKwgjGHL6ipVAwKFTrXpKj7deRwMsw4aiF1N3Zs1kIig_xoejaZYrckLJY4v4o2HltlwkGb/s2048/357770681_10159626411487361_7533616348831892064_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5sSTGqThQNudhBTqW5TUPZYsn4qkJt6pP_9wiWdSLG6jFBcCmAceXpKWNtKOI9OrxiTS2TQDLDiYNd9WYDvU2yXueJjVeoXlPJR6xMrvyPccOZJKwgjGHL6ipVAwKFTrXpKj7deRwMsw4aiF1N3Zs1kIig_xoejaZYrckLJY4v4o2HltlwkGb/s320/357770681_10159626411487361_7533616348831892064_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I missed the cue for fish lips</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><b>July 5-9 Week of Rivers 2023. </b>With the Carolina Canoe Club. Great fun, did Town Tuck/Island Park on Thursday, Nantahala Ferebee thru the falls on Friday in the SPUD, and Tuckaseegee Gorge on Saturday. The only hardshell boat I took was the Jackson Kayak Antix 2.0 medium, such a great all-arounder for whatever comes up.<br />Sunday a bunch of us paddling gals did the Andrews Valley Rail Tour, a very cool experience. Check out their website here: <a href="https://www.andrewsvalleyrailtours.com/">https://www.andrewsvalleyrailtours.com/</a><br />I made a video of our rail tour here: <a href="https://youtu.be/V1gDrtHnD50">https://youtu.be/V1gDrtHnD50</a><br /><br /><b>July 15-16 Nantahala and Ocoee. In the Pyranha Scorch M. </b> Personal first descents of the Nanty for Matthew C. and Dave H. Sunday I did Ocoee Rails to Goforth with Eva and her crew. Stayed at Mary's house with Andrea and Keith, what fun!<br /><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLRWWUup1oiCqe9cdwx1v0z4e9zENaU6yfkrfM19cx3f_Btal_Ncbv-Omj-v88uF6lmwKivQJvmfQuPp9qNdK9F8A_Cq7UhSvsSvTAAFcjNEGtSerWVgxlnch94F3bzk1Q1UjSQ1pC4s_NoEiABFZHoASxXXDB_Z7S4ReewRtS4nGgnY-6aTOv/s4928/DSC_7101.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3280" data-original-width="4928" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLRWWUup1oiCqe9cdwx1v0z4e9zENaU6yfkrfM19cx3f_Btal_Ncbv-Omj-v88uF6lmwKivQJvmfQuPp9qNdK9F8A_Cq7UhSvsSvTAAFcjNEGtSerWVgxlnch94F3bzk1Q1UjSQ1pC4s_NoEiABFZHoASxXXDB_Z7S4ReewRtS4nGgnY-6aTOv/w493-h328/DSC_7101.JPG" width="493" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Double Trouble in the Scorch! Photo by Dee at Ocoee Photos.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='504' height='418' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyFIRm8Qgu7y1SJUecBIBpTHwHByup1gX3onco34-bFUSnD4veI1hn2JlhxSbP_jC-Yw49Y2AFKGCM' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><span style="text-align: center;"> Double Suck boof in the Scorch! </span><br /><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>July 22 Blue Water Quarry. </b>With Helen, Andy, and Scott B. Our first dives after being certified. Entry to the park and rental gear was $99. Hot day, warm and cool water, great friends. <br /><br /><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXYh7xbAec9xjGDkX95AWCcT5zR5Qex4AV8hKKVWv2BUDPMjcODsfoFnG6zmmO8cXgH5rLRCch9oUDBboD0Lcfzoj28An0PcqhAnmupd07nTIBxc0Y0ciV4Qc3bvMaQp8_051bnEuhn1LireXsLEmBGdluRNxSDlSwG6EccERoJvI49ucMOlZb/s960/362269387_6546877715334095_8021499187602897709_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="660" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXYh7xbAec9xjGDkX95AWCcT5zR5Qex4AV8hKKVWv2BUDPMjcODsfoFnG6zmmO8cXgH5rLRCch9oUDBboD0Lcfzoj28An0PcqhAnmupd07nTIBxc0Y0ciV4Qc3bvMaQp8_051bnEuhn1LireXsLEmBGdluRNxSDlSwG6EccERoJvI49ucMOlZb/s320/362269387_6546877715334095_8021499187602897709_n.jpg" width="220" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">underwater peace and love</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn0pnWuMxG3o8knx-9aF5ee0aOXY5z70tfgmV3iQLjNb9WSHP6ccgvjW1mOYTEXmFUdTnNc1iB357SHdqozVv-Db1e6hXFEC5O2ts3dj84F2hpZ6PWVIIkVCKladNCXtstRsmQFTjt_Wf2VVIxJqILLaZGZdoZhQvb9nBricCFAoCAjHdzPGwL/s734/363330868_6546877405334126_2548208279010007081_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="734" data-original-width="727" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn0pnWuMxG3o8knx-9aF5ee0aOXY5z70tfgmV3iQLjNb9WSHP6ccgvjW1mOYTEXmFUdTnNc1iB357SHdqozVv-Db1e6hXFEC5O2ts3dj84F2hpZ6PWVIIkVCKladNCXtstRsmQFTjt_Wf2VVIxJqILLaZGZdoZhQvb9nBricCFAoCAjHdzPGwL/s320/363330868_6546877405334126_2548208279010007081_n.jpg" width="317" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bream guarding bed in the quarry!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><b style="font-family: arial;">July 23 Montgomery Whitewater Center. My PFD.</b><br /><div><span style="font-family: arial;">My thoughts on Montgomery Whitewater Center. Well, wow. I did three laps on the milder channel, aka the Adventure Channel, and it is continous and swirly and pushy. This means having to have good posture and taking good strokes, not being lazy. And every drop has a hole that must be punched. Lots of energy burned and attention focused. This place is going to make those who visit regularly much better boaters! </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Water is warm and clean, facilities are terrific. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Difficult? Hell yes at first but I could see memorizing the features and lines starting by that third lap. I took the SPUD inflatable kayak down the first two laps and swam once each time. jeez didn't expect that! So Hayward was kind enough to lend me his Machno and skirt and I ran a clean lap. And was worn out after! </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">So stoked to return there and see how I do in my Antix. I do wish traffic down I-65 was better. It took me an hour and 20 minutes to get there, but with afternoon traffic it took me 2 hours to get home. Once I am more familiar with the drive it will seem shorter. It is weird to be able to do a day trip to a great place like that!<br /><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPMH-potFnnBoThXBH4K10fIuJlS7Xb-xXwXuq0Kv19ELmlqd561bNuYv0af8EJf8f0NKTbEncGLFeVWuAGQWaUHkjYm2rbiueoJD3zVqL1LptOwSerP2KiL-8hgJIkCS743DEeFRiwHDYaRfoCSVuAmESwofNDwllYb-9haD4gbQFZkKHQeea/s960/361652811_6486559361404969_3192927075770747249_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPMH-potFnnBoThXBH4K10fIuJlS7Xb-xXwXuq0Kv19ELmlqd561bNuYv0af8EJf8f0NKTbEncGLFeVWuAGQWaUHkjYm2rbiueoJD3zVqL1LptOwSerP2KiL-8hgJIkCS743DEeFRiwHDYaRfoCSVuAmESwofNDwllYb-9haD4gbQFZkKHQeea/w509-h382/361652811_6486559361404969_3192927075770747249_n.jpg" width="509" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thank you Hayward for loaning me your Machno and skirt! And for this photo!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div></div><br /><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3Mzp80l__UI" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><b style="font-family: arial;">July 29 Adult Canoe School. Hiwassee, in the Pyranha Scorch M. </b><span style="font-family: arial;">With The Lost Tribe.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>July 30 Ocoee. In the Pyranha Scorch M. </b><span>With Mary M, Tom and Carli B, Stacy W., Helen and Andy, Ed and others from Huntsville and Birmingham Canoe Clubs. Nice day from the top. 99 eddies had a tree in the bottom "Squeeze Play" so I took the big boof on the right. Tablesaw had wood in it as well so I portaged it. Awesome day.<br /><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><b>August 6 Blue Water Quarry. </b>With Helen and Andy. Did two dives. Hot sunny day.<br /><b>August 12 Blue Water Quarry. </b>With Helen and Andy. Bethany taught us two SSI specialties, Nitrox and Perfect Buoyancy. We also got in 5 dives. (Helen and Andy did 6, I had to go to dinner that evening so I got out at 4.)<br /><b>August 13 Locust Fork.</b> One of those magical, rare, summer Locust runs. Level was 2.7 and temps in the 90's. With Peggy, Andy L., Halie and Jes, Chad D., Ryan S.<br /><b>September 1-4 Labor Day weekend at Smoky Mtn. Meadows. </b>Drove up Friday. Had dinner at 4 Queens in Bryson City (awesome Mexican food). <br /><br /><b>September 2 </b> - <b>Pigeon</b>. I was in the Wave Sport EZG-50. Level was a little low. My first time back on the Dirty Bird in years. It's not so dirty anymore! Wendy Arthur was in the Aire Tater and gave us excellent lines. Halie was in her brand new Jackson Flow medium. Peggy was in her small Pyranha Scorch. With Wendy, Halie, and Peggy.<br /><b>September 2 - Off Road Adventure. </b>Halie drove Peggy and I to the river, so afterwards I mentioned that we could drive up and check out Big Creek. After that wee ended seeing a sign that said to Cataloochee on a nice paved road... Cataloochee is where I want to get people to ski this winter so we said, hey let's check out this route. The road changed after a bit to a gravel forest road, no worries right? Then it changed into a dirt road, then a rough ATV road with a creek crossing. We turned around soon after. Halie's Chevy Trail Boss was just that, a total boss with us and three kayaks in it. I was scared, the other two ladies were having fun. What a crazy day.<br /><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhpDuW6vPl52vOXVgCySxxqs4cpJDIA93tRqJhrmyRrejwtM0PS5hSul2HfBl71wCUP8aypQCs722q4ijkeZiVDfVz31EFqGRUjcvXLgYgYrwz-YrpULNV_Oty2gPrEd0VZyRZFdduzvhZnOowljw-UhrmG2lCWvC6IgNH3xXWq51-3liHpldX/s2048/369732266_10227620504330646_6434119810222399028_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="429" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhpDuW6vPl52vOXVgCySxxqs4cpJDIA93tRqJhrmyRrejwtM0PS5hSul2HfBl71wCUP8aypQCs722q4ijkeZiVDfVz31EFqGRUjcvXLgYgYrwz-YrpULNV_Oty2gPrEd0VZyRZFdduzvhZnOowljw-UhrmG2lCWvC6IgNH3xXWq51-3liHpldX/w572-h429/369732266_10227620504330646_6434119810222399028_n.jpg" width="572" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pigeon Crew, Saturday 09-02-23</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b>September 3 - Nantahala. In the Aire Spud. </b>Kathy King joined us in Halie and Jes' SPUD. Jes was in her Tater, Peggy, in her Scorch, and we had the Brayleys and Andy Lee with us along with Wendy and her friend Jay. A flotilla. Fun day. I took the creeky sneak at Nanty Falls in the Spud and it did fine (as expected). </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>September 4 - Ocoee. In the Pyranha Scorch M. </b>I did the Entrance ramp to Go Forth. I had not slept well and was pretty tired. The Scorch loves me though, so it took good care of me. With Mary, Andrea and Keith, Andy Lee, the Kirks, and the many friends we saw on the river. <br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>September 9 - Bear Creek run. </b>In the Jackson Antix 2.0. With Peggy, Angie, other members of the BCC and HCC. Nice easy float.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>September 10 Remembering Ed Reynolds. </b>Memorial event at Workplay. Video <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yaiz97lQS2c" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>September 16 - 17 SSI Deep Water specialty. </b> I did not pass on Sunday. Will return soon.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>September 22 - 24 GAF 2023. </b>With Trey C., Kathy K., Terrell A., Mary M., others. I drove up Friday to Smoky Mtn. Meadows campground. Went by the NOC for the GAF festival. Jammed around a campfire with Trey C. and visited with Halie, Jes, Peggy, and others from the BCC. Saturday did a hike in the GSMP with Mary and Kathy and Debbie W. We saw bear scat and bear fur on the trail to Cabin Flats. Then Kathy and I drove up to Newfound Gap and going back down the Blue Ridge Parkway we saw Elk near the Oconluftee Visitor Center. Video <a href="https://youtu.be/bvOQ6uTg3qs">here.</a> Jammed again with Trey at a campfire on the Lawrences' site by their camper, and Terrell and his boys stopped by along with Dave H. and others from the BCC.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Sunday I did an Ocoee run in the Pyranha Scorch M. with Mary and Stacy S., met newer paddler Justin and older paddlers Dave and Greer. I ran the rails to Go Forth. <br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>September 30 Montgomery Whitewater. </b>In the Wave Sport EZG-50. With the Select Wild fiberglass whitewater paddle, length 197cm, 30 degree feather. Great day, one combat roll, nice weather.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>October 1 Blue Water Park. </b>I completed my SSI Deep Water Diver specialty! And did another fun dive after. One more dive and one more specialty and I'll have SSI Advanced Open Water.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>October 8 Coosa fall colors. </b>In the Wave Sport EZG-50. With members of the BCC. Gorgeous day, cool wind and warm water. Tried a roll in Dennis C's new Jackson Flow Medium. Nice boat!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>October 14 Farewell to the Hiwassee for the season. </b>In the Wave Sport EZG-50. With members of the BCC. Warm, beautiful day indlucing warm water. We camped at Adventures Unlimited and they had the Ocoee Race party including a great band at the Bus Bar. Rainy night with cold and wind the next morning helped me decide to go home instead of saying farewell to the Ocoee for the season Sunday. I went by Moe's house and visited with her which was awesome as always.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>October 20 - 22 GSMP Catahoochee elk and fall colors hike; Andrews Rail Car tour. </b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">For once, I did not go to North Carolina to paddle! I drove up to Smoky Mountain Meadows to camp with friends. Saturday October 21 Kathy King and I went to Cataloochee to hike. We saw lots of elk, beautiful fall colors, and some cool old houses.<br /><br /></span></div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5ZXpPD-IakQ?si=LfbefwRbKxhYc6Pe" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Sunday we joined Mary Mills and crew for a return to the Andrews Valley Rail Tour. The leaves were perfect and the weather was too.</span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div> <iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yQBvO2RTVmo?si=pbnKAOB_9S6jYAEZ" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><b style="font-family: arial;">October 28 SSI Night Dive Specialty and Halloween in the Blue Water Quarry.</b></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">With Helen and Andy. We got our Night Dive Specialty and SSI Advanced Open Water certification. One of the coolest trippiest things I have ever done. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW4rpL8g-9eDJgOYyfLk6THsGwAtTio1gQlvLQV65QI9PYzMTxdRoZSwfQYbkPYhV_tYOBmEbZ6J9zL0OhyphenhyphenfIPgYa89hbSZtsxAibArmm3gqHA63ZrP63Hq5SdPMlkWdVoezTYbpnKug7jW-q2JjIjgJoAkdLHm1-jryWXuqx06vGmuQzytLV_/s2048/396705117_10230170655119256_3678740151888334764_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1930" data-original-width="2048" height="401" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW4rpL8g-9eDJgOYyfLk6THsGwAtTio1gQlvLQV65QI9PYzMTxdRoZSwfQYbkPYhV_tYOBmEbZ6J9zL0OhyphenhyphenfIPgYa89hbSZtsxAibArmm3gqHA63ZrP63Hq5SdPMlkWdVoezTYbpnKug7jW-q2JjIjgJoAkdLHm1-jryWXuqx06vGmuQzytLV_/w425-h401/396705117_10230170655119256_3678740151888334764_n.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Light sabers in the dark...</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfB_KoRhD1z4ZUlCSulXmJiMy6l0tcxeodoAJ3bRM2Reld7PwdPbKX1cQLf2v_SBiqYR4WSKihZrhmovNFsgHUdEvUmSJjVnpEZ7HkmMzqLjkFXffzomaJofSsI-KbLRhu4fM8fI6CdkH8HFcwTi-tdb4W098Ll82nvaY55TfV6KyPliLE-aMc/s2048/396725157_10230170655239259_8162359668432563120_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfB_KoRhD1z4ZUlCSulXmJiMy6l0tcxeodoAJ3bRM2Reld7PwdPbKX1cQLf2v_SBiqYR4WSKihZrhmovNFsgHUdEvUmSJjVnpEZ7HkmMzqLjkFXffzomaJofSsI-KbLRhu4fM8fI6CdkH8HFcwTi-tdb4W098Ll82nvaY55TfV6KyPliLE-aMc/w415-h311/396725157_10230170655239259_8162359668432563120_n.jpg" width="415" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's me with my green blinky light</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUwcQJV9Coq_KjgiSPBcfQdkc-Z75E_ktbxl8d2jKSmexWFbMZOoErUfUtucx22D3XImcXWIu_ZA3tGvpySXjLk3j6pqX1VsBnkMKHWoVrssQuwIfaNn6QnCmaWSehDDfSgs0vMOuy2bLvrhbJWcIZxEqV6GpYTAa55RF9bEGgSGl4gq7iEuN7/s2048/396843795_10230170653919226_8360922954949571533_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUwcQJV9Coq_KjgiSPBcfQdkc-Z75E_ktbxl8d2jKSmexWFbMZOoErUfUtucx22D3XImcXWIu_ZA3tGvpySXjLk3j6pqX1VsBnkMKHWoVrssQuwIfaNn6QnCmaWSehDDfSgs0vMOuy2bLvrhbJWcIZxEqV6GpYTAa55RF9bEGgSGl4gq7iEuN7/w407-h305/396843795_10230170653919226_8360922954949571533_n.jpg" width="407" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Turtles! </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Wt8cn0otONYjcZ-x9lFMdPdVVMQcfHp6bNr3QJWsAnkwDZ_YDh7a9-O5r5NTS0iNoqfA_-2MbDsl_w-FUmlwFlAVlshm8uOyZYS0PfYmal-XvEyuI09_GUv18Y8srkZMgTq6AkWFNY7lUGyXQN1Wqefm0G5A4lkAJlGWrPmj3qNhxYaD7te5/s2048/397483199_10163147878834447_9003789909508093761_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Wt8cn0otONYjcZ-x9lFMdPdVVMQcfHp6bNr3QJWsAnkwDZ_YDh7a9-O5r5NTS0iNoqfA_-2MbDsl_w-FUmlwFlAVlshm8uOyZYS0PfYmal-XvEyuI09_GUv18Y8srkZMgTq6AkWFNY7lUGyXQN1Wqefm0G5A4lkAJlGWrPmj3qNhxYaD7te5/w500-h375/397483199_10163147878834447_9003789909508093761_n.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Instructor Bethany, Andy with devil ears, me, and Helen with kitty cat ears.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b style="font-family: arial;">October 29 Coosa Halloween weekend float. </b><span style="font-family: arial;">In the Wave Sport EZG-50. 8000 cfs, warm water and warm day. Costumes! I had some good surfs at Baby Gap and Moccasin Gap and a good combat roll in the runout of Moccasin Gap. I know this sounds crazy but I roll better with my Select Wild paddle. With Ryan S., Stacy W., Emily L, Andy L. and legendary Lonnie with others from the Coosa River Paddling Club. Farewell to the Coosa recreational releases for the season. I wish it ran 8000 in November!<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OXCKuv5ApIY?si=ijLMRpDCTKu4nfdZ" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><b style="font-family: arial;">DRY SEASON in Alabama, in drought! </b></div><div><b style="font-family: arial;"><br /></b></div><div><b style="font-family: arial;">ROATAN Dive Trip Nov 19-26.</b><span style="font-family: arial;"> I did 3 dives on Monday, 2 dives on Tues.-Saturday. Wednesday one of the dives was a night dive. So many details I am not going to write, simply going to say this was an awesome adventure. With Andrea and Keith, Elizabeth and Clayton, and Jen. Pics <a href="https://dangerjudy.smugmug.com/Other/SCUBA-DIVING/Roatan11-2023/">HERE.</a> Videos <a href="https://youtu.be/h-UgI9tUciY?si=qgc2ieww53IF4rb-">HERE.</a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHyFlZcuJsHu2fYKIP1Ce9hf2mtoTusDvCUZvH1h4_NvpxQah8iWmplxfQnTviywJ96Tr76anWEYJAJb9qGAF7BIB8FDj2dNT9kiVLtfr-7t8sCRPHcHRltO35enTtYQ_k43k72gV6rnGbTx1lNTlYv_N_vidsTA-Z_jbjUdTnYpc9j8dRbGoc/s2048/Sequence%2001.00_17_28_06.Still025-X4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHyFlZcuJsHu2fYKIP1Ce9hf2mtoTusDvCUZvH1h4_NvpxQah8iWmplxfQnTviywJ96Tr76anWEYJAJb9qGAF7BIB8FDj2dNT9kiVLtfr-7t8sCRPHcHRltO35enTtYQ_k43k72gV6rnGbTx1lNTlYv_N_vidsTA-Z_jbjUdTnYpc9j8dRbGoc/w476-h268/Sequence%2001.00_17_28_06.Still025-X4.png" width="476" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andrea in the ocean. Ca-Caw!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>December 10 Tumbling Rock Cave. </b></span><span style="font-family: arial;"> Annual visit to TR Cave with friends, some of whom had never gone caving before. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><b style="font-family: arial;">December 27 Adventure day with my grand-nephews. </b><span style="font-family: arial;">I promised my grand nephews Tony and Davey and adventure day for their Christmas present. We went to H Cave and then visited Mardis Mill falls. Their mom Katie went too! Thank you to Gregory for help with access and Dave Forest and Katie for joining us. Yes this was a trip with two Katies and two Dave's!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: "Gill Sans"; font-weight: 700;">Pics </span><a href="https://dangerjudy.smugmug.com/Other/Other-1/Adventure-day-with-my-grand-nephews-/" style="font-family: "Gill Sans"; font-weight: 700;" target="_blank">HERE</a></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4aF8BtgjiFJtQAyJmZhoeeMN9OX7f0s3jVRX0Uva3h5um94q4SAy4Tj1dM6_1ldDAS113PWvhPq2TgIuxwrembFhbhZXE_8MpRJsvJ2fjNWtjETHc0zU2B4z-TvJBdPmptk-H2dCePfwN8W6mtWnYhc35BS6Yd8ZJk_6Jc6Wiwx6HMV-eWWBw/s1280/20231227_112432-X2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4aF8BtgjiFJtQAyJmZhoeeMN9OX7f0s3jVRX0Uva3h5um94q4SAy4Tj1dM6_1ldDAS113PWvhPq2TgIuxwrembFhbhZXE_8MpRJsvJ2fjNWtjETHc0zU2B4z-TvJBdPmptk-H2dCePfwN8W6mtWnYhc35BS6Yd8ZJk_6Jc6Wiwx6HMV-eWWBw/w484-h363/20231227_112432-X2.jpg" width="484" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The adventure day crew in H_ Cave.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div>Judy Ranellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18440771007400147932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9795000.post-45477570405593554352023-11-09T21:15:00.004-06:002023-11-09T21:15:47.119-06:00Navigating Wood, Whitewater And The Art Of Paddle Making<p> Excellent article about the art of wood whitewater kayak paddles! </p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://wvpublic.org/navigating-wood-whitewater-and-the-art-of-paddle-making/">https://wvpublic.org/navigating-wood-whitewater-and-the-art-of-paddle-making/</a></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/27e620d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4984x3376+0+0/resize/1760x1192!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F76%2F32%2F079296ac46dbb793d35701d75dca%2Fjonpaddle4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="542" data-original-width="800" height="542" src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/27e620d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4984x3376+0+0/resize/1760x1192!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F76%2F32%2F079296ac46dbb793d35701d75dca%2Fjonpaddle4.jpg" width="800" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Judy Ranellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18440771007400147932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9795000.post-87167329808061256982023-11-06T07:55:00.001-06:002023-11-06T07:55:33.199-06:00Surprise find during a mini-ridgewalk<iframe width="480" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/sgfEgUncbnU?si=fkqn1a6NRfdcs6v6" frameborder="0"></iframe>Judy Ranellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18440771007400147932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9795000.post-7920943790523168702023-10-31T08:27:00.004-05:002023-10-31T08:28:30.304-05:00Coosa Halloween 23<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""TikTok Font Regular", Arial, Tahoma, PingFangSC, sans-serif, "Segoe UI Emoji", "Noto Emoji"" style="font-size: 15px; text-align: left; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Fun Halloween weekend float on the Coosa at 8000cfs!
#8000club #coosawhitewater</span></div><br /><iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/OXCKuv5ApIY?si=XipoOVQ3FgE8RunO" width="480"></iframe>Judy Ranellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18440771007400147932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9795000.post-71406587727027818722023-10-04T19:59:00.000-05:002023-10-04T19:59:00.017-05:00Montgomery Whitewater Park "Detailed Review"<iframe width="480" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/vDuBI7mXeKc?si=8pP3ssKr1k3W2lr4" frameborder="0"></iframe>Judy Ranellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18440771007400147932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9795000.post-45286305645966597112023-10-03T17:08:00.000-05:002023-10-04T08:06:47.816-05:00Select Wild fiberglass whitewater kayak paddle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJWt8tY1bVQ-3mAdJMKpZgetWMwo2m38-WCJldKBD3CmhbFW9RlyyiTWStWxHwD5Zsf2127jo7P5u12ZsxNbVe8C5C0pzHrjlx7yJHbdQLrlskTFmzXzdr3Vgo_7gxtC1XRy2ItsqgumMHeXUvlPQQhkFRPfe42h1m5d8PuTWTuh5edtr-NfI9/s481/Screenshot%202023-10-01%20082333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="291" data-original-width="481" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJWt8tY1bVQ-3mAdJMKpZgetWMwo2m38-WCJldKBD3CmhbFW9RlyyiTWStWxHwD5Zsf2127jo7P5u12ZsxNbVe8C5C0pzHrjlx7yJHbdQLrlskTFmzXzdr3Vgo_7gxtC1XRy2ItsqgumMHeXUvlPQQhkFRPfe42h1m5d8PuTWTuh5edtr-NfI9/w454-h275/Screenshot%202023-10-01%20082333.jpg" width="454" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Rambling review of my Select Wild straight shaft paddle 197cm 30 degree by a class III beater. Carbon shaft, fiberglass blades.</p><p>I took my Select paddle down the Montgomery Whitewater creeky channel and also did some practice rolls with it in the pool at the bottom. </p><p>TLDR: It's a great paddle! </p><p>Warning - I am a paddle nerd and will now say a lot of things that will make no sense to non-whitewater kayaking friends. </p><p>I have been using my 'old faithful' straight shaft fiberglass Werner Sherpa 197 30 degree for quite awhile. I bought the Sherpa to be a creeking paddle so I wouldn't beat up my 194 AT2 Flexi. I also use a Rivrstyx Flo 194 40 degree, work of art, and I didn't want to beat up or lose it either. So the Sherpa was going to be my rocky creeky battle-ax, only I started using it for everything. </p><p>This summer I demoed the Select Wild while with Mary M. on the Tuck during Week of Rivers and decided to buy one. Endless River Adventures in the Nantahala gorge sells Select paddles. They ordered the Wild for me and once I got it I thought, hmmm, is it really going to be that different than my Sherpa? Did I just impuse buy yet another piece of gear? </p><p>Did some Ocoee runs and took Old Faithful Sherpa. I am not as comfortable on the Ocoee as I once was, and I didn't want to change up the variables OR lose my brand new paddle. </p><p>Took the Wild down the Nanty in my Spud. Did fine, but the carbon shaft was slippery. I used some river sand to try to rough it up. I still need to tape the shaft to give me hand placement reminders. Fun run but really not a test of what the paddle can do for me in a hard boat and challenging conditions.</p><p>So Montgomery yesterday, had the Wave Sport EZG-50 loaded in the truck, and looked at my quiver of paddles. Montgomery is still new to me and makes me nervous... old faithful or... the Select Wild is what I chose. </p><p>Running the creeky channel I got flipped and did what felt like a graceful roll. Practice rolls at the pool also felt great. For some unfathomable reason, it feels easy to me to roll with the Select Wild. </p><p>One reason might be the smaller shaft. I have small hands, and my Sherpa has the regular Werner shaft which is much bigger. Maybe the way I wrap my hands around the Select Wild shaft is better for me? I really have no idea. </p><p>The Wild also feels like it has a flex to it. ( Jim M. tested the flex on my Wild and I wish I could remember his conclusions but I am certain he does and might wish to post in comments.) The feeling of flex along with the narrower shaft makes the swing of the paddle feel different to me than my other paddles. Like there's some spring to it or something. It feels elegant. The closest thing I have used that is similar is - the wooden Rivrstyx! </p><p>Strokes on the Montgomery course are hard for me to say much about, because the course is so busy and fast I'm just trying to line up for the next thing. The Wild certainly did everything I asked it to do without me noticing or feeling any frustration. I feel better about Montgomery after yesterday, things are starting to slow down. I still haven't tried the competition course. I'm going to take the Wild down the Ocoee and see if I can get some thoughts on strokes. </p><p>Uses of the Select Wild - playboating and river running. Special nod to river running. I still think my AT2 Flexi is the best playboating paddle I have, too bad they stopped making AT paddles years ago. I will still take the Werner Sherpa on creeks because that is what I bought it for - a work horse that will grind down the fiberglass blades vs breaking. </p><p>Durability of the Select Wild - remains to be seen. It is impeccably made. It's such a pretty paddle I kind of don't want to tear it up. I know, that's silly but whatever.</p><p>Women - I think women who have small hands like I do should DEFINITELY consider the Select line of paddles. I haven't tried the bent shaft Selects, maybe someone who has can chime in. </p><p>Older shoulders - Shoulders like mine that have been through the ringer and include some hardware will appreciate the flex and graceful feel of the Select Wild. </p><p>Price - the price point of this paddle is only $275. I can't think of a better, more affordable, paddle for beginners to experts.</p><p>Contact Endless River Adventures in the Nantahala gorge to get Select paddles and lots of other quality gear. <a href="https://www.endlessriveradventures.com/">https://www.endlessriveradventures.com/</a></p>Judy Ranellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18440771007400147932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9795000.post-90777969180127588972023-10-01T17:09:00.007-05:002023-10-01T17:33:35.311-05:00Montgomery Whitewater center in Alabama<p> Here are a few rambling thoughts on the Montgomery Whitewater park. My gear: Wave Sport EZG-50 and Select Wild fiberglass paddle. Astral Green Vest and Sweet Rocker helmet. IR Klingon Empire skirt.</p><p>TLDR: It's a perfect venue to hone skills and become a great boater. What is it not is a nature or river experience. </p><p>I was nervous about it, but I built up some courage and returned to Montgomery Whitewater yesterday. I got two runs in on the creeky course, got one combat roll and did some roll practice in the pool at the bottom of the courses. Doesn't sound like much, but one run of the course makes me very tired, and I have to rest. This is because the course is like compacting an entire river run into a short, busy, stay-concentrated experience. Posture, torso rotation, and taking good strokes all come to mind. In the fast swirly environment, it is a real workout.</p><p>What struck me yesterday was the fact that it is indeed swimming pool water, so being upside down and rolling has that familiar swimming pool vibe. Lack of any strainers, undercuts, or other dangers (aside from the rafts full of customers which are easy to time your runs around) makes it simply calmer to work on rolls. Though the water is very swirly. The swirls remind me of being on a flooded creek run. (Not that I have ever done such a foolish thing.)</p><p>Seriously, the swirls were becoming more managable to me and I was able to eddy out when I wanted. Eddy outs, peel outs, ferries, all require good technique. It's like a climbing gym for boaters where you practice the important details of our sport. </p><p>There were people including folks from other countries at the playhole/wave spot practicing for the Worlds in Columbus the week after next. In addition were several friends of mine just tearing it up in that feature. I wish I could join them. But - I got hurt playboating back in my early 30's and had surgery on my right shoulder. I realized looking at them in the feature that I am scared of being hurt again. And this is just my reality and where I am in my paddling. </p><p>Which brings me to saying this - I wish it was there back in the late 90's, wish I was 30 years younger, but still feel like I am working on things I need to improve. I am grateful for it and wish I could go more often. </p><p>It is not a nature experience at all. It WILL challenge you if you have become a lazy slack paddler esp. with regards to posture. There are some great boaters that are going to come from learning in this place. Esp. playboaters.</p><div><a href="https://montgomerywhitewater.com/">https://montgomerywhitewater.com/</a></div>Judy Ranellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18440771007400147932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9795000.post-59032853275431531032023-09-24T21:01:00.001-05:002023-09-24T21:01:11.940-05:00Great Smoky Mtns Park 09-23-23<iframe width="480" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/bvOQ6uTg3qs?si=hekALm3EXGlXa6nU" frameborder="0"></iframe>Judy Ranellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18440771007400147932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9795000.post-6717227694389882482023-09-04T18:13:00.001-05:002023-09-04T18:13:36.952-05:00Jackson Flow<iframe width="480" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/hYFuPBnsCWY?si=JKxtA7qbqjWJy3ZY" frameborder="0"></iframe>Judy Ranellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18440771007400147932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9795000.post-19799267977465768462023-08-22T19:28:00.002-05:002023-09-06T10:26:05.355-05:00Medium Pyranha Scorch<p><span style="font-family: arial;"> Hey y'all I want to say something briefly about the medium Pyranha Scorch: I love it and it loves me. It goes where I ask it to go, it holds a line, and since I moved the seat back one from forward it doesn't lock into lines. I have not been doing the stopping/back paddle correction strokes my instructors have all tried to get me to stop doing. I feel like it is the right size boat for my height and weight, it has plenty of stern so no backender tendencies, and it wants to roll up so much... even when I carp it tries its best to take care of me. It's great to boof, it loves big waves, it's stable but I can get into the secondaries, and it is quick to manuever into eddies. Right now I am 5'6" 158 lbs.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Thank you Helen Hays for the pics of me in my Scorch!<br><br><br></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRRG8G5-3f-XUo6nFML3TgG6f3B1xwQoGeBXMWiuy34semlM-2EJDTeSQ1nD68kBOc7klkwIk8lgfomDysKruSVqf8Dy2s-OsCPat74FpySKQ5BYorr0gIXa9coysFPpkdurlFNAEnOZIORNBbDwWg_UrIYuML4rQvJ5bBcr0g1JHURfNTT6RR/s2048/369075766_10229701291665463_716096871100349993_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRRG8G5-3f-XUo6nFML3TgG6f3B1xwQoGeBXMWiuy34semlM-2EJDTeSQ1nD68kBOc7klkwIk8lgfomDysKruSVqf8Dy2s-OsCPat74FpySKQ5BYorr0gIXa9coysFPpkdurlFNAEnOZIORNBbDwWg_UrIYuML4rQvJ5bBcr0g1JHURfNTT6RR/w632-h474/369075766_10229701291665463_716096871100349993_n.jpg" width="632"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Haaaaaaay!</td></tr></tbody></table><br><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgusyJWGq9-3IMTA_hg6xD4RE7cJN6nlaoc2a9sAiZ_j1gqa3X9PrBE1TK9KSQMKT8YBkfmmY5k88moQi7pN_oFS2PWAwQdK4hWYOpBeVjngaKjNkT-Y7UNJaspKT6OJXiOOqqnKkTiUwROI-NPlOtxgBbxLzCGZTaIlH_vJtqmLKTJmiwwwwz2/s2048/368885276_10229701291305454_1270962349176411471_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="763" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgusyJWGq9-3IMTA_hg6xD4RE7cJN6nlaoc2a9sAiZ_j1gqa3X9PrBE1TK9KSQMKT8YBkfmmY5k88moQi7pN_oFS2PWAwQdK4hWYOpBeVjngaKjNkT-Y7UNJaspKT6OJXiOOqqnKkTiUwROI-NPlOtxgBbxLzCGZTaIlH_vJtqmLKTJmiwwwwz2/w572-h763/368885276_10229701291305454_1270962349176411471_n.jpg" width="572"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Double Suck Boof in the Scorch. My friend Stacy is upside down in her Firecracker.<br><br>09-04-23 Another brief update on the medium Pyranha Scorch, I took it on the Ocoee from the ramp to Go Forth yesterday. People have said that the Scorch must be driven, and I expect on harder stuff this would be more evident, but for me on the Ocoee I can still do drift, ferry, turn and scoot aka me lazy paddling and feel fine. A big part of that is familiarity with the run I am sure. But when I decide to paddle aggressively and tell the boat where to go it is like it says, "Hell YES let's do this" and then off we go crushing everything in our path. Kind of like a labrador retriever going to get the duck. So I got ahead of my group a few times, 99 eddies aka left-right-left in particular. But it was just so good, like handfuls of popcorn you just can't stop getting more. <br>I also had some surfing mid ferry moments that were kind of unexpected but not unwanted. Shift my hips to change the angle a little and move on. <br>The only time I gripe about this boat is when I have to carry it because it's so long and I'm short.<br><br></td></tr></tbody></table><br><p><br></p>Judy Ranellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18440771007400147932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9795000.post-91617522731352372982023-08-03T08:10:00.001-05:002023-08-03T08:10:43.941-05:00Kayaking Nantahala River - David and Matthew's First Time! PFD Day<iframe width="480" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/9XndRrMRZHA" frameborder="0"></iframe>Judy Ranellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18440771007400147932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9795000.post-56727263846823397992023-07-11T08:36:00.001-05:002023-07-11T08:36:10.181-05:00Week of Rivers 2023<span style="font-family: arial;">We had a great time at the 2023 Carolina Canoe Club Week of Rivers. Here is a link to my photos:</span><div><a href="https://dangerjudy.smugmug.com/Other/PADDLING/Week-of-Rivers-2023-WOR">https://dangerjudy.smugmug.com/Other/PADDLING/Week-of-Rivers-2023-WOR</a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Thursday July 6th Tuck Town in the M Jackson Antix 2.0. Charlotte, Heather, Joan, Patty and I went to Tuck Town/Island Park and paddled a very short distance to the takeout by the bridge/brewery. Avery Kitty had his own paddleboard!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ZPHc44rHOCD7v7NyZkHQiKNfjKOkmxIps5WifFQsBJAzSyezHb8OauOOAnb2xM0MMPtka_OIVLi6J-BEFYsooqJ4NHKTnekzP256yOttWswLhGasMnsgYLsMYLu1xLVz8R8ab88UBidU9mSvQOegFKYY2isNXmrsDlio_YhVa5K7yBW8LHSu/s1280/20230706_124922-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ZPHc44rHOCD7v7NyZkHQiKNfjKOkmxIps5WifFQsBJAzSyezHb8OauOOAnb2xM0MMPtka_OIVLi6J-BEFYsooqJ4NHKTnekzP256yOttWswLhGasMnsgYLsMYLu1xLVz8R8ab88UBidU9mSvQOegFKYY2isNXmrsDlio_YhVa5K7yBW8LHSu/w544-h408/20230706_124922-X2.jpg" width="544" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Friday July 7th I did the Nantahala with Halie, Jes, Peggy, and the Brayley family, in the Aire SPUD.<br /><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2dBPrEniDg62Co1crh7g_8gSIxsqa1l5LeTGBzK-QcGRrcy0L9UiJKgghvlXCaU-shfhh5rAM5BXMxBzjaC7Ns8_5VUKmIRIGUzkAMEpMGUAOGdnq1KAHa5WMzbyWWmBLuGV5UJN2lLsICZdMWTJ37-XLf9k4sDSNT86h7XlUvGcvFzJnS2-b/s2048/347554651_10227269192508070_6315990067388436932_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="349" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2dBPrEniDg62Co1crh7g_8gSIxsqa1l5LeTGBzK-QcGRrcy0L9UiJKgghvlXCaU-shfhh5rAM5BXMxBzjaC7Ns8_5VUKmIRIGUzkAMEpMGUAOGdnq1KAHa5WMzbyWWmBLuGV5UJN2lLsICZdMWTJ37-XLf9k4sDSNT86h7XlUvGcvFzJnS2-b/w524-h349/347554651_10227269192508070_6315990067388436932_n.jpg" width="524" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;">Saturday July 8th I did the Tuckaseegee Gorge in the Jackson Antix M with Mary, Fish, and Carrie.<br /><br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKfFp3UxiIn56spKfYLggeplBO1Lgm9x_bL0X398S0ZUt4ROaw7ATHehVZaA-o0nIkV67jcXiaBU9J9bKq5cTS7l0DtMlMRX9QL1H0CiYoB0QFrtlNqvQAC8HE9WK8lJDXLbFJ-FIAqYj5SWOKgoFbeTb76SFo8FxGf-Jy_oYWWF_cE7bw_kSW/s1280/20230708_130114-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="391" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKfFp3UxiIn56spKfYLggeplBO1Lgm9x_bL0X398S0ZUt4ROaw7ATHehVZaA-o0nIkV67jcXiaBU9J9bKq5cTS7l0DtMlMRX9QL1H0CiYoB0QFrtlNqvQAC8HE9WK8lJDXLbFJ-FIAqYj5SWOKgoFbeTb76SFo8FxGf-Jy_oYWWF_cE7bw_kSW/w521-h391/20230708_130114-X2.jpg" width="521" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;">Sunday July 9th a bunch of us paddling ladies went on the Andrews Valley Rail Car tour, which was really unique and fun! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghr73B6vSvcma6uC1h6xnqhatW-WsF6p5uqJnbDjXSGsmTefJWevm0L1iPvklvzS_NalfHXr8_jvBwZFDB91dKlDqcr1qfUpnCgObaQCMJs6PEffb0cwRJNI7KEMPX9X4EE9iYH0KZ-DllD-Mu78PTSZinmg4-7hD-bX-tTJn8M5kfyG-a7To6/s1280/20230709_133834-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghr73B6vSvcma6uC1h6xnqhatW-WsF6p5uqJnbDjXSGsmTefJWevm0L1iPvklvzS_NalfHXr8_jvBwZFDB91dKlDqcr1qfUpnCgObaQCMJs6PEffb0cwRJNI7KEMPX9X4EE9iYH0KZ-DllD-Mu78PTSZinmg4-7hD-bX-tTJn8M5kfyG-a7To6/w494-h371/20230709_133834-X2.jpg" width="494" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8VA-GwS2d4hxBbmqmon0pZr01J_gkuqVb5Vf9CyNpY0u7nJbr3CGU1fLsXWXStkzEcxFpI9Ea9mcDgZavZ0YVBiovsz25khcmlbO4A7LHOryKexTmlxWKywdHsOl53H_4Un0U4xdcoMAme_Z5BS9ykjyUuB9x8tNPwWSevANZ7c1L9A-cPE9s/s1280/20230709_133841-X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8VA-GwS2d4hxBbmqmon0pZr01J_gkuqVb5Vf9CyNpY0u7nJbr3CGU1fLsXWXStkzEcxFpI9Ea9mcDgZavZ0YVBiovsz25khcmlbO4A7LHOryKexTmlxWKywdHsOl53H_4Un0U4xdcoMAme_Z5BS9ykjyUuB9x8tNPwWSevANZ7c1L9A-cPE9s/w472-h355/20230709_133841-X2.jpg" width="472" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>Judy Ranellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18440771007400147932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9795000.post-23641360559288182032023-07-11T07:28:00.001-05:002023-07-11T07:28:21.872-05:00Andrews Valley Rail Tour<iframe width="480" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/V1gDrtHnD50" frameborder="0"></iframe>Judy Ranellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18440771007400147932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9795000.post-7166836982482422942023-07-04T19:19:00.000-05:002023-07-04T19:19:14.035-05:00Montgomery Whitewater Center Walkthrough - Kayaks and Canoes welcome<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5xd7VW26Fkw" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>Judy Ranellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18440771007400147932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9795000.post-50420830467007708812023-06-19T08:32:00.001-05:002023-06-19T08:32:59.063-05:00Pyranha Firecracker 242 (medium) comparison photos with a Jackson Antix 1 medium<p><span style="font-family: arial;">Here are some comparison photos of a Pyranha Firecracker 242 (medium) with a Jackson Antix 1 medium. I thought these boats would be much more similar than they actually are. <br /><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCK-6bc3GabEbcT-13xlE5SIi901hF29EDPFk-l8Cn4Y75UMhVBsjUHeQe6sFSVfSE7chlemP0QtyEJzmSFgRYaVghoSkG63IWLWeK22doICNH4c934Uvhm-KmCBsSBO5D3hL6W59-yamSm05l5-BFDlkBgyDJHonkRhl6CMMOaOXYxZ0AfaT5/s2048/354937153_10159598155677361_7426759938789003360_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCK-6bc3GabEbcT-13xlE5SIi901hF29EDPFk-l8Cn4Y75UMhVBsjUHeQe6sFSVfSE7chlemP0QtyEJzmSFgRYaVghoSkG63IWLWeK22doICNH4c934Uvhm-KmCBsSBO5D3hL6W59-yamSm05l5-BFDlkBgyDJHonkRhl6CMMOaOXYxZ0AfaT5/s320/354937153_10159598155677361_7426759938789003360_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia7iswGgcNaQgnS5ZuuNV0W4GRmm_AmdWOG19aUqvWDWEb-7-O_t8Am2dVun9ewWUEff7Bll5CGw18EwbNECzqSRAyeOtXfsoArfKo_be2pmhNRslKW1EQMGmuP4s03cuC34vCd8NuuZv9z0jJURtDMmxt9m3u8t5Dfo9SBUn2UzYaET7A_HIP/s2048/354953046_10159598155867361_1740606926806429815_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia7iswGgcNaQgnS5ZuuNV0W4GRmm_AmdWOG19aUqvWDWEb-7-O_t8Am2dVun9ewWUEff7Bll5CGw18EwbNECzqSRAyeOtXfsoArfKo_be2pmhNRslKW1EQMGmuP4s03cuC34vCd8NuuZv9z0jJURtDMmxt9m3u8t5Dfo9SBUn2UzYaET7A_HIP/s320/354953046_10159598155867361_1740606926806429815_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWBbnuZkp-usWm5OKbJd8O4BrnvXnx6N8v6iCf6MdgdXt94OU-hUyaw68XfU_huJJa6evF94lpTeNwiDKQuaLcwBgLVx6n6EPECo73Fa8yyzywC1KhNE6XU8VNzPKGmCaOs9wbS1VMATQpqZnob17JcNCiQgijzkZd3HZbdFQwYrI-Je6imVLE/s2048/354969503_10159598155397361_8337600327267384545_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWBbnuZkp-usWm5OKbJd8O4BrnvXnx6N8v6iCf6MdgdXt94OU-hUyaw68XfU_huJJa6evF94lpTeNwiDKQuaLcwBgLVx6n6EPECo73Fa8yyzywC1KhNE6XU8VNzPKGmCaOs9wbS1VMATQpqZnob17JcNCiQgijzkZd3HZbdFQwYrI-Je6imVLE/s320/354969503_10159598155397361_8337600327267384545_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSOR_ozPF3bT2ad4d_7m58ZpiSUvUh29w47SulOIObAnGBIPbX7MXvP7hLGEDVKb3PNWAoxCwIyVOK98AKqvOIrPtdzrlWEqWouTJhwcA6WG2yGo1XWTZRQVMn-HG4FHbe7w4C8llP-JRqSpNStq6QhUKSiq1v9jPcDKHpZUVpP8M3UqP5o62T/s2048/354973761_10159598154857361_9219611873081468997_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1143" data-original-width="2048" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSOR_ozPF3bT2ad4d_7m58ZpiSUvUh29w47SulOIObAnGBIPbX7MXvP7hLGEDVKb3PNWAoxCwIyVOK98AKqvOIrPtdzrlWEqWouTJhwcA6WG2yGo1XWTZRQVMn-HG4FHbe7w4C8llP-JRqSpNStq6QhUKSiq1v9jPcDKHpZUVpP8M3UqP5o62T/s320/354973761_10159598154857361_9219611873081468997_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG6SEranA7Q_JDbgcL9sWrIgQXQVlZ8IU59EyHDtn-Eru1FDntfy2-bqOD4aarzwDr1V4WaLwuPillJneoZaiObns1iB9dRO_KTaJm28i4wuTiezS-KcmcDu5e8fLsRsWti6Hn0cZ87-KNPsQJoh95QMkGLMbaOqxEKpcnA1MqUqMttbBVuaBQ/s2048/355004447_10159598155057361_3475861668495061785_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG6SEranA7Q_JDbgcL9sWrIgQXQVlZ8IU59EyHDtn-Eru1FDntfy2-bqOD4aarzwDr1V4WaLwuPillJneoZaiObns1iB9dRO_KTaJm28i4wuTiezS-KcmcDu5e8fLsRsWti6Hn0cZ87-KNPsQJoh95QMkGLMbaOqxEKpcnA1MqUqMttbBVuaBQ/s320/355004447_10159598155057361_3475861668495061785_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p>Judy Ranellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18440771007400147932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9795000.post-21702410003068808532023-06-03T06:24:00.002-05:002023-06-03T06:24:24.956-05:00Kayaking the Hiwassee River - BCC - Hello to the Hiwassee Weekend - Part 1<div><span style="font-family: arial;">Check out this video of our Hiwassee trip last weekend, made by my dear friends at Elevated Life Adventures!</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/jMnZn9x8r4g" width="480"></iframe>Judy Ranellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18440771007400147932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9795000.post-51602172329736838622023-05-23T20:16:00.000-05:002023-05-23T20:16:02.812-05:00Cheap Trick 1977.11.10 Don Kirshners Rock Concert HD Remaster Los Angele...<iframe width="480" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/FQDc9loiFuk" frameborder="0"></iframe>Judy Ranellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18440771007400147932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9795000.post-58075878197161692022023-05-14T18:14:00.000-05:002023-05-14T18:14:04.499-05:00EnderHole051323<iframe width="480" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/D17_9L51AMU" frameborder="0"></iframe>Judy Ranellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18440771007400147932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9795000.post-16569550989617826962023-04-19T08:38:00.001-05:002023-04-19T08:38:22.219-05:00Guatemala 2023<iframe width="480" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/43HpIK_Mvg0" frameborder="0"></iframe>Judy Ranellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18440771007400147932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9795000.post-52762493746726189692023-03-28T09:00:00.001-05:002023-03-28T09:04:19.232-05:00Pyranha Scorch Medium update<p><span style="font-family: arial;">Yesterday, <i>which would be Sunday March 26 for future me to read,</i> I paddled the Scorch M with the seat moved to the middle position. We went down the Upper and Lower Mulberry at 2.7 feet. It is class II with big waves at that level. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The previous weekend I had paddled the Scorch with the seat forward, and had posted about it feeling locked in a line. We were on the Locust at medium-low water, 3.5ish IIRC. Several times I had to stop myself from doing breaking strokes, something my instructors over the years have tried to help me correct. I ended up tweaking my left shoulder trying to muscle the boat around, and it was still tweaky yesterday. As a result I didn't do much surfing yesterday. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">But still, yesterday I was able to get a sense of the boat with the seat in the middle, and I think it is much better for me. I didn't feel like the boat locked in lines, and I also started to feel like it was the right size for me if that makes any sense. I never had that feeling exactly about the Machno, definitely didn't about the Nirvana, but I did feel that way about my beloved Stomper 80. I am hoping that the Scorch M will continue to feel like it's made for someone my height and weight, while offering better tracking and more stern volume, two things I think the Stomper was lacking in. I'm also hoping the boofability feels better, there weren't really any boofs yesterday and I was being careful about my shoulder anyway. The Stomper's boofability was excellent. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I also felt that I now had room to shift my weight forward if I wanted, where as before I felt like I didn't have that. Again, if that makes sense. It's hard to describe these things.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"> <br />I gave it a decent chance to backender me, by going through the main waves of Lunchstop, which had backendered my Antix 2 a few weeks ago at a similar level. The Scorch never felt like the stern grabbed. So far so good.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I still need to add seat shims to the back of the seat. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I asked Peggy to take a picture of me to assess the trim. I feel it's good.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPH9OGK-yX7-GnqHmFlRZ-n64snlyc0mGMNFzizTJ7nD9G6uCBCEkmET7MiiKFq1lqljKD2sjID4cCJ0JS3Bdkcm19wU6RQd3WZXWeuptmOMpDEf1fcyDQ2ydrpTXjoR0LqqJGpiG1P1VxsuAqwIeAt6H4obaed0PkJTBA5GT9s0ZmgCDkuw/s2016/337705205_119163024398336_2594777384146189366_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1134" data-original-width="2016" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPH9OGK-yX7-GnqHmFlRZ-n64snlyc0mGMNFzizTJ7nD9G6uCBCEkmET7MiiKFq1lqljKD2sjID4cCJ0JS3Bdkcm19wU6RQd3WZXWeuptmOMpDEf1fcyDQ2ydrpTXjoR0LqqJGpiG1P1VxsuAqwIeAt6H4obaed0PkJTBA5GT9s0ZmgCDkuw/w612-h344/337705205_119163024398336_2594777384146189366_n.jpg" width="612" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Peggy Robertson</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><br /><br /><br />I originally posted this review/update on FB and had some comments from my friend Tim R.<br /><br />Tim R: The trim looks good. Some people might feel your bow light but the Scorch has SO much bow rocker I think it's about true trim. I never figured out the Scorch. My take, it had good speed but average quickness. In other words, average speed with 1 to 3 strokes but up to speed and fast at 5 strokes. It was quick to turn and sometimes the box got knocked off line if I was floating because the bow is so big. It was a boat that liked to be "driven". I am more of the semi floater till I need to make a move and then drive the boat. The Scorch seems to want to be driven all the time. It's extra length was no asset to me. I think it's best use would be cruising big rivers, not super technical eddy hopping. Your thoughts?</span><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Me: I think you had an opposite experince to mine, you felt the bow was easy to get knocked off line while I felt the bow would get locked into line. You might have tried seat adjustment as well. I also think the extra length is a help for me as the Stomper 80 stern was small and would tend to backender.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Every creekboat I have had, has had the comment made that it likes to be driven. I found reviews about the Stomper that mentioned this as well. Which amused me as I tend to float then turn-and-burn. I think that's a bad habit honestly but whatever.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>I haven't creeked with the Scorch except the Middle Tellico a couple weeks ago and it really was great. The bow goes up and over things instead of through them. And the seat was forward so I am hoping to give it a try with the seat in the middle soon.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Tim R: You're probably right, I never moved the seat forward to help lock in the bow. Your analogy of float and turn and burn is pretty much my style unless the water is big and you can see the line early. Example I float into double trouble on the Locust even at high water like 4 to 6 feet and then hit 4 or 5 good strokes to make the right to left move to hit the eddy between the drops and stay far away from the river right side rocks.<br /><br /><i>Me: That "float and turn and burn" is pretty much opposite what I have been taught by Jeff West and other instructors, Maybe it's us being old school? I don't know. I do know it has caused me some real carnage, a certain hole below Broken Nose on river left comes to mind in particular.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>My 'philosophy' or 'game' I play these days is pretending I am in a canoe and looking for the Dry Line. It can make even a riffle into something of a puzzle.</i><br /><br />Tim R: My float and turn/burn is just an evolution of aging, I charge when needed but if unsure I wait to see the move. It's better to drive the boat when you know the line. I find myself below some drops with too much speed and have to hit the brakes pretty hard in search of an eddy unless I knew where the eddy was from the top of the drop and I set up for it. I agree floating to long is a bad idea, causes you to focus on the place you don't want to go instead of working to the best line. I find most rapids need 5 to 10 strokes with purpose to get the "good line". You make me want to try the Scorch again and tweak the seat position. You're a bad influence. LOL<br /><br />A new boater asked me to explain the word "Boofability". Here is my attempt:<br /><i>Boofability - Meaning, seeing a pourover rock, heading up to it with speed and launching off the top of it. With the seat forward I would have trouble lining up for boofs. Also the ease of the launch. I could never get that boof stroke 'golden stroke' feeling because I wasn't lined up right. This was easy to do in the Stomper.<br /><br /></i>David S made a comment that I found to be exactly what I was feeling with the seat all the way forwards in the Scorch: <b style="font-style: italic;">Being bow heavy is the worst, it forces you to lean back into a less aggressive posture.</b><br /><br />That comment is so spot-on I felt it deserved italics AND bolding. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>Judy Ranellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18440771007400147932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9795000.post-63954756636428881832023-03-21T07:47:00.000-05:002023-03-21T07:47:04.269-05:00The Joy of Ridgewalking Episode 9<iframe style="background-image:url(https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hUwX7wWMT0A/hqdefault.jpg)" width="480" height="270" src="https://youtube.com/embed/hUwX7wWMT0A" frameborder="0"></iframe>Judy Ranellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18440771007400147932noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9795000.post-75318922415711508942023-03-13T09:23:00.003-05:002023-03-13T09:23:37.866-05:00Dogfish by Mary Oliver<p> </p><header style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-family: Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px;"><h1 class="page-title" style="border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: "Kozuka Gothic Pro", "Open Sans", Verdana, serif; font-size: 1.65em; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 200; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 25px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dogfish</h1></header><div class="entry-content" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #555555; font-family: Palatino, serif; font-size: 16px; margin: 25px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Some kind of relaxed and beautiful thing<br />kept flickering in with the tide<br />and looking around.<br />Black as a fisherman’s boot,<br />with a white belly.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">If you asked for a picture I would have to draw a smile<br />under the perfectly round eyes and above the chin,<br />which was rough<br />as a thousand sharpened nails.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">And you know<br />what a smile means,<br />don’t you?</p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">*</p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I wanted the past to go away, I wanted<br />to leave it, like another country; I wanted<br />my life to close, and open<br />like a hinge, like a wing, like the part of the song<br />where it falls<br />down over the rocks: an explosion, a discovery;<br />I wanted<br />to hurry into the work of my life; I wanted to know,</p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">whoever I was, I was</p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">alive<br />for a little while.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">*</p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It was evening, and no longer summer.<br />Three small fish, I don’t know what they were,<br />huddled in the highest ripples<br />as it came swimming in again, effortless, the whole body<br />one gesture, one black sleeve<br />that could fit easily around<br />the bodies of three small fish.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">*</p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Also I wanted<br />to be able to love. And we all know<br />how that one goes,<br />don’t we?</p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Slowly</p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">*</p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">the dogfish tore open the soft basins of water.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">*</p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">You don’t want to hear the story<br />of my life, and anyway<br />I don’t want to tell it, I want to listen</p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">to the enormous waterfalls of the sun.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">And anyway it’s the same old story – – –<br />a few people just trying,<br />one way or another,<br />to survive.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Mostly, I want to be kind.<br />And nobody, of course, is kind,<br />or mean,<br />for a simple reason.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">And nobody gets out of it, having to<br />swim through the fires to stay in<br />this world.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">*</p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">And look! look! look! I think those little fish<br />better wake up and dash themselves away<br />from the hopeless future that is<br />bulging toward them.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">*</p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">And probably,<br />if they don’t waste time<br />looking for an easier world,</p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">they can do it.</p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></p><p style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.2em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">– <a href="https://www.poetseers.org/contemporary_poets/mary_oliver/" style="border: 0px; color: #3077ee; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Mary Oliver</a></p></div>Judy Ranellihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18440771007400147932noreply@blogger.com0