Chuck’s Paddling Blog

Big Water Fun

For the first part of the day I paddled with the Lassiters, Britt, Caralyn and Daniel. Our play was limited, but we did catch eddies as we lapped the Big Water Channel several times. On my first circuit, my highlights were catching (on purpose ) one of the M-wave eddies and riding the bottom hole at Biscuits and Gravy sideways (not on purpose ). At the top we gathered together at the boat ramp below the conveyor, and headed out again. On this circuit I caught eddies above Trashcan, starting with a ferry from river left to right at the top of the channel. We all had clean runs of Trashcan, the M-wave, and Shutdown. Soon we were at the bottom pond heading up for another circuit.

I took a short break as the Lassiters completed another round. On our third combined circuit, I spent a prolonged period of time in one of the river left eddies above Trashcan, waiting for a stream of rafts to go downstream. The only dilemma with this eddy is that on occasion a raft will come hurdling into it! I had many opportunities for braces and leans into rafts. As the traffic cleared I ran Trashcan and the M-wave below. I was looking for the Lassiters but they were all in the lower pond. They were helping out with a rescue. By the time I met up with them, boater and gear were reunited. It was good fun paddling with the Lassiter family!

Last runs of the day

For my last two runs of the day, I was joined by Janet and Tim. I paddled the first circuit in my Everest. I gave a good try a surfing at Entrance, but only succeeded in gaining a chance at a roll attempt or two. Tim had a long and sweet surf at the 830 wave. We didn’t stay long as we paddled down to the confluence. From there we worked the channel above Trashcan catching eddies, as Janet surfed the upper and lower wave. We all had clean runs of Trashcan and then worked our way to the left for the M-wave staging eddy. From there we ran the M-wave and Shutdown. I went for my “Shutdown slowdown” move in the Everest, but again I slid through the hole. We caught eddies in Biscuits and Gravy; Janet and Tim were ferrying back and forth before the first drop. I went for the river left to right ferry, but started out too low. I made to the river just above the drop, as I slammed into the rock backwards. I said to myself, this is going to get interesting I ran the drop backwards, then the tongue, and then the bottom hole backwards!

Locked and loaded with the Ammo

On my last run I opted for the Ammo, and had a blast on my last circuit. I caught a couple of good surfs at Entrance and then moved down to the 830 wave where I had a couple of good surfs. Down below Janet was going vertical at the last drop of the Instructional Channel. Janet surfed on the way down to Trashcan, and Tim and I caught eddies on the way down. Below Trashcan one of the Charlotte regulars flipped and pulled a groin muscle attempting to roll. He was out of the boat and swam to the river right eddy where he was able to get out with his paddle. Janet bulldozed his boat from the eddy to the staging eddy above the M-wave. She had to stop at the wave, as both she and the both crossed the surfing wave. She then resume pushing the boat to river left. Way to go, Janet!

Chuck’s “Slowdown at Shutdown” Move

We all set up at the staging eddy for our runs of M-wave. We all had clean runs. At Shutdown I lined up for the middle of the hole and then went rode up on the wave and stopped paddling. I then drifted into the hole and then stopped! First I was in a dynamic back surf, then the side surf of my life, and then another back surf. It was rinse and repeat. I was laughing, but I also thought when do I eat it. This was clearly my thought when I heard cheers from the eddy After a long side surf, the hole let me go. It was nothing less than big boomin’ fun.

I had to head back to Atlanta, as Tim and Janet shut the place down. It was fun indeed.