Post by tickles on Oct 18, 2010 15:08:46 GMT -5
Put in at little moon in a rain and wind storm Friday around 4PM. Loaded up our boat and Luke let mine slide down the boat ramp. And did it ever slid right out into the middle of the river.
So I was soaked before the trip even started as I ran into the water to chase it down. After retrieving my boat it was found the front hatch popped right off. So after freaking out about loosing that and giving up we found it right in front of the boat against the shore. That was a close one. We paddled into the driving rain and wind happy as could be to be on the water.
After paddling maybe 2 hours we hit a small set of rapids and our first time kayaker went for a swim down them. Being I was soaked allready for 2plus hours and our new kayaking friend we made a hasty camp and did our best to get dry and warm. Next day feeling ready to take on the world our new kayaking buddy went for another swim just before the camp above Moose call camp. After this he had no interest in getting in the boat any more so most of Saturday and till 2PM Sunday we spent lining boats to the Ranger Brook camp maybe 5k total were he would stay the night while we kayaked out. We left him with food and gear to survive a few day and set on our way. Let me tell you it is really weird to leave a man behind.
The water and rapids were awesome and Luke and I would have really enjoyed it in other circumstances. We paddled to Hayesville as we needed to get word to our wives that we were all alive. and to get somebody to rescue our friend. We got to Hayesville in the dark around 7:30PM so I think we covered 40-45K in five and a half hours. I have never paddled so hard in my life.
Today I got in Touch with John Flinn at the DNR and got directions to drive to The Ranger Brook Camp. He was there recently measuring the wood stove flue as it has some holes in it and he is going to replace it soon. So we drive in rescue our cold friend as he could not get a fire started this morning and got him home.
All I can say is I have been waiting to have a nightmare trip and this might have been it. Our friend say he will still try kayaking. But I'm not to sure where I would take him. At least we are still all friends:)
So I was soaked before the trip even started as I ran into the water to chase it down. After retrieving my boat it was found the front hatch popped right off. So after freaking out about loosing that and giving up we found it right in front of the boat against the shore. That was a close one. We paddled into the driving rain and wind happy as could be to be on the water.
After paddling maybe 2 hours we hit a small set of rapids and our first time kayaker went for a swim down them. Being I was soaked allready for 2plus hours and our new kayaking friend we made a hasty camp and did our best to get dry and warm. Next day feeling ready to take on the world our new kayaking buddy went for another swim just before the camp above Moose call camp. After this he had no interest in getting in the boat any more so most of Saturday and till 2PM Sunday we spent lining boats to the Ranger Brook camp maybe 5k total were he would stay the night while we kayaked out. We left him with food and gear to survive a few day and set on our way. Let me tell you it is really weird to leave a man behind.
The water and rapids were awesome and Luke and I would have really enjoyed it in other circumstances. We paddled to Hayesville as we needed to get word to our wives that we were all alive. and to get somebody to rescue our friend. We got to Hayesville in the dark around 7:30PM so I think we covered 40-45K in five and a half hours. I have never paddled so hard in my life.
Today I got in Touch with John Flinn at the DNR and got directions to drive to The Ranger Brook Camp. He was there recently measuring the wood stove flue as it has some holes in it and he is going to replace it soon. So we drive in rescue our cold friend as he could not get a fire started this morning and got him home.
All I can say is I have been waiting to have a nightmare trip and this might have been it. Our friend say he will still try kayaking. But I'm not to sure where I would take him. At least we are still all friends:)