Kayak Dreams

Last night I dreamed I ran the Cheoah. The other night I dreamed I was doing stern stalls and bow stalls in flatwater. They are like flying dreams, wonderful dreams.

I don't think I could ever explain how hard it has been to keep going paddling during my sister's illness and after her death. Sometimes I had to force myself to go and then I would be looking for the joy, it would just be slipping ahead of me and I was paddling trying to catch up.

I had put off a major house renovation after Kathy got sick, because I didn't want to have it going on and then her need me. It's being done now, my house is getting new siding finally. Every time more of it is finished I can feel my stress level getting better. I've carried that stress for years now. Anyway I can tell that I am paddling better and it has nothing to do with practice or technique; it has everything to do with my mental state. Maybe it's not true for everyone but for me kayaking is very mental.

I have very good paddle friends that have kept me going through everything. The past 3 years have been so bad and my friends have been so good.

We made a group who met after the pandemic started, to roll in the Cahaba. We would arrive in separate cars and social distance, and get in the river and paddle around at Old Overton and at Cahaba River Walk Park.  I also have friends who paddle the Mulberry pretty much every chance we can, that's the class two beginner river here and has many surf waves. My friends who live in Tennessee and North Carolina and Georgia are always inviting me to go even when they know I can't make it. Thank you all.

I suppose I should be a conclusion to this post but there really isn't one. I just felt like I should tell you, I have kayak dreams that are like flying dreams and they're wonderful.

Here is a video of the Cheoah by my friend Wade: 

Eskimo Roll Kayak (English subtitles)

What Makes This Song Great? Ep.99 THE CARS

This song gives me chillbumps it's so perfect.  

Clear Creek levels/beta

From Kirk E.:

Here's my thoughts on Clear Creek, having run it from 150-11,000 cfs:

150-250 - Yeah you can get down it, but it's marginally running.

250-350 - Still clearly damn low!

350-450 - Decent Low

450-700 - A good low, medium low at the upper end

700-1000 - medium

1200-2000 - medium high

2000-4000 - big water, totally different, still really good, it's high

4000-7000 - starting to really change, don't swim

7000-11000 - pretty damn scary, don't swim!!!!

I wouldn't base Clear Creek's flow on anything (Oakdale,Lancing) other than the gauge on Clear Creek. That's all the info you need. While some folks have been around a while and are tempted to use Oakdale, we've had a Clear Creek online gauge for 15 years now.
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I posted this: Using the Oakdale gauge 1000 is low but doable, 3000 is plenty, a lot of the Clear Creek rapids start washing out. Using the Lilly gauge, 200 is pretty low. If it gets over 1200 you will be running something else. 430 on the Lilly gauge is nice class III.
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From Steve I.: 

You really should look at both Lilly and Oakdale gauges. Sometimes the Obed can get more or less rain than Clear Creek, and relying solely on the Lilly gauge can lead to some surprises when you get to the confluence.

Lower runnable clear creek should be 200-325 at Lilly.

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From Terrell A.: 

In my opinion:

Lowest I care to run it - 390-400cfs

Fun and good for most anybody, even newish folks - 400-700cfs

Fun for anybody - 800-2,500cfs

Fun, but getting more challenging: 2,500-4,000.

Going below Lilly @ 4,000 or above, you need to be on your game.

My response: I think taking someone new down Lilly to Nemo could be a bad day.

Clear Creek on AmericanWhitewater:  https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/view/river-detail/1732/main

Jack's Rock on Clear Creek Lilly to Nemo

Video of The Lost Tribe on Clear Creek Lilly to Nemo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vb8NnniAR4

I love this picture

Finrod, the rock opera (2014)

Youtube recommends strange things to me sometimes.  It recommended a song from this and I watched it amused.  Then I grew fond of it.  It's an ambitious rock opera based on a story from The Silmarillion.  In Russian.  With English Subtitles.  If you're a Tolkien geek, check this out.  If you're a rock opera geek, check it out. 

denson camp - Hello, Time! (Official Video)

Great song by the nephew of Tick's bass player Cindy Camp... super pop!