Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Beauty Spring Day!

Today was so nice you didn't need any splash jacket or dry top, unless maybe if you were going to swim!  Jarret and I took Doug down to try out his new kayak!  The gage was running at 2.35, a very nice level and with the temps near 80 we had a great day for Doug to debut his new Jackson Karma kayak.  After a few quick tips we launched around 5pm.  Doug was a little shaky around the first corner but quickly got the feel for his new creek boat.  By the time we were just past the bike path bridge Doug was already trying simple eddy turns. 

There was some lovely wildlife sitting on the bank at the psychedelic tree (sorry no pictures) and people were all over the path walking and biking.  It was a great day to be on the river and we quickly made it to Rochester Rapid where I only was able to get one good surf.  I did get a nice surf at Voodoo rapid and a pretty good boof on Voodoo Rock.  We made a quick stop at Rock Island to stretch our legs and then took off for Yates. 

Doug decided a 'baptismal' was in order at the By Pass as he suddenly initiated a roll, he changed his mind mid-way and opted for a wet exit instead!  Yeah, he swam!  There is a squirrely whirlpool eddy line of water coming off a tree in the water and it heads right into the logs jamming the old passage through the By Pass, Doug must not have heard my warning!  Oh well, now he knows how to wet exit and self rescue.

We portaged the dam at Yates and caught some quick surfing at the old RR bridge then took out and ended our trip.  When we got back to Yates from our shuttle a couple pulled up with 2 kayaks and were launching.  I asked where they were going and they vaguley indicated Ryan.  I asked if they had PFD's (life jackets) which they did and how they were going to get back.  The answer was "run back"!  We introduced ourselves to Emily and Josh, then offered to shuttle their vehicle to Ryan/Coyote Joe's.  Josh liked this idea since he was wearing Croc's and not running shoes.  We took their picture (for insurance claim purposes!) and bid them farewell with a few tips on the route.  I'm sure they had a good trip, hope to see them again some time.

Here are a few pictures from today-

Doug in his new Jackson Karma, Jarret in the background in his Jackson Rock Star.

Jarret and Doug with the whirlpool in the foreground


Another shot from within the turbulent water at the By Pass, looking at river left

Doug before the Yates Falls

Emily and Josh putting in at Yates


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