Chapter 1 - Welcome to the Sport
Chapter 2 - The
Addiction Begins
Chapter 3 - Can You Say Kaituna
Chapter 4 - So You
Want to Roll
Chapter 5 - The
Accelerated Course
Chapter 7 - Fear
and Other Thoughts
Chapter 8 - Spring 2007 - What a Disappointment
Chapter 9 -
Just Like Starting Over
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CHAPTER SIX:
"RIVER RAT" -
THE LEGEND BEGINS
For a description of the first day's run go to my North Branch 2006 page.
Click Picture to Enlarge
After a night of camping at the Army Corp Campground, we woke to a cool, cloudy morning. We broke camp and met Zeth at the take-out. Dave and Melissa would not be joining us today so it would just be the three of us. I had such a great time the day before and I was very excited about having the opportunity to paddle it again and, to my delight, I was feeling pretty relaxed and confident. This turned out to be my downfall.
Once again Bruce wanted me to ferry at the put-in as a warm-up. I reluctantly agreed. I successfully ferried from right to left but once across I lost my nerve and didn't want to ferry back. After some strong urging from Bruce I did manage to do so. After eddying out behind the bridge pier I had a chance to regain my composure and confidence and we headed downstream through the first rapid. I was elated to find that it didn't feel so pushy today which helped to feed my false sense of security. I remembered the rapid I got hung up in the day before and made sure I followed Zeth and Bruce's line. Then came the rapid before the hydraulics. Here I got ahead of the others but still felt confident. I knew to start left and work right. As I did so, I noticed I was heading for a rock with a small hole behind it that looked fairly harmless. I angled more and thought I was going to be able to avoid it. I don't really know what happened but next thing I knew, I was upside down! I got out of the boat quickly holding onto my paddle and made my way to shore as Bruce & Zeth grabbed my boat and met me there.
After getting myself together we continued on through the hydraulics and then headed for "Blue Hole." I once again ended up going over the ledges on the left of the rock. We rested here with Bruce inquiring as to whether I could continue or not. He was concerned because it was cold, the water was freezing and there was no sun to warm me up. I, of course, didn't want to wimp out so told him I was ready to go. I found out quickly that this was the wrong thing to do. We started out, first Zeth then me then Bruce. As I began to follow Zeth, I faintly heard Bruce telling me that Play Hole was coming up. I knew I had to start right and then get left to get to shore. Knowing and doing are two different things. I started right did not get left and headed straight for the hole. All I could think was GET RIGHT! So that is what I tried to do. I angled the boat right, went into the hole sideways and immediately got flipped. I was out of the boat immediately. My boat took off downstream with Bruce and Zeth in hot pursuit while I was helped to shore by some fellow kayakers after a somewhat bumpy float. I made my way through the woods to where Bruce and Zeth were waiting for me. I was freezing by then so Bruce gave me his extra shirt to help warm me up. I must have looked pretty bad because he kept asking me if I thought I could continue on. Through chattering teeth I told him I could. He left me for a minute to talk to Zeth. When he came back, he gave me two options: 1 - continue on to the take-out or 2 - ferry across and take out. By now, I could hardly feel my feet or hands and was shivering uncontrollably. Although I was terrified to have to ferry across, I decided to take out rather than attempt the rest of the run. Bruce was pleased. He felt it was the right move but wanted me to be the one to make the decision. He knew that I would not be able to ferry across from where we were at so he carried my boat upstream to right below "Play Hole." He watched my very ugly ferry and waited as I dragged my boat up the steep hill. This is the moment that I became "The River Rat," a nickname I will have forever and ever! He and Zeth then continued downstream while I carried my boat to the gate at "Blue Hole." I left the boat and walked back to the put-in. I quickly changed and drove to the gate to pick up the boat.
I was pretty humiliated. I had started off the day rearing to go and this is how I ended up. I was miserable. There would definitely no impressing Bruce and his friends today. Just embarrassment. By the time I got to the take-out, Bruce and Zeth were already there. Luckily they hadn't been waiting long. They both could see how dejected I was. Trying to cheer me up, they told me that there was no shame in taking off and that it happens to everyone at some point in their paddling career. Bruce continued by telling me that even if I had told him I wanted to continue, he would not have let me because I was in no condition to go on and would have just been a liability to everyone else. He then said that I did the smart thing and that he was very happy that I knew my limitations and that I shouldn't be ashamed for doing so. He was right and I knew it but it didn't make it any easier. I would just have to do much better next time.
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