This winter started with a bang, as December rains kept the creeks and Brave Wave flowing deep into January and we had high hopes of at least ‘average’ from then on. Skunked again! While I’m thankful for the Caney Fork and Cane Creek – some of the quickest rising runs in the SE – and for the Dynamic Duo making even our backyard runs fresh again, it’s been a winter of low-flow Rock Island releases and only occasional creeking.

Thankfully, not only do I live 2 miles from a playspot that’s still fun and flowing in these near drought conditions, I also got a Specialized Enduro SL bike to play with while the ground is dry. I’m staying in shape physically for those epic WV play-sessions to come and getting mentally sharp for downhill-like reactions of Jocassee/Cherokee/ Cali creeking despite only getting out in a big boat every few weeks. Tsali, Fall Creek Falls, Lock 4, Harrison Creek and Raccoon Mountain are my new Nantahala, Cartacay, Tellico, Caney Fork, and North Chick. I roll off hills, boof logs, bounce down step around my house just like I did in my kayak as a child. My knees – injured years ago kayaking – are feeling stronger than ever and my ’stoke’ level is high even though this winter is dry.

Learning the basics of a sport so like kayaking is a wake-up call. It’s a real-world education on how incredibly difficult KAYAKING is when you didn’t grow up with it and how tough it must be to part with the $ on products you know nothing about. The 1st big challenge – picking a bicycle – took me 2 years of off and on intense internet, shop employee, and friend questioning and has left me in a much better position to understand why kayak shoppers ask so many questions!! Then there’s pedals to choose, tube repairs, gear to tune, ad infintum. It’s all on U-tube but I’m always asking strangers in the parking lot because that is when I remember what I need to know. Just as I was telling someone how simple KAYAKING is in comparison they asked me why my Happy Seat was all crinkly instead of inflated and why my hip pads were threaded through the backband holes … This realization refreshed my enthusiasm to be a helpful voice on Boatertalk no matter how basic, repetitive, and searchable the question.

It’s raining now – and I’m just as happy as always. Though my bike might stay parked for days I’m still a paddler at heart and have that thirst for rain that makes even the cold drizzle wet my appetite for more in a good way. If it rains – I’m set for boating. If it stops, I’ll get back to biking after my daily playboating sessions and put a huge smile on my face instead of letting a scowl set in on this full-time boater living through a long winter’s drought. Let the deluge begin! If not, there’s a down-hill powerline cut I saw the other day not too far …

Clay