Today I paddled with Kevin Sisson, Kelly Harbec, Janet and Tim. Scott, whose group was a no-show, joined us too. The release today was from 7AM to Noon. We had a bit of a late start, so we put on around 10:30AM. The water was warm, no dry top, no shorty, and it was a beautiful Saturday in the mountains. For the first half mile we warmed up on the rapids before Bayless. As we rounded the bend you could then make out the river wide horizon line – we were at Bayless Boof
Boofin’ at Bayless
We all eddied out on the left to scout the rapid. This was the first time down Bayless for Janet, Tim and Kelly. Kevin, Scott and I pointed out the various lines, good and not so good! Kevin and Scott styled the river left line. They nicely made it far to the left, slid down the rock, and glided off the ramp. Way to go! Janet, Tim, and Kelly were next. They both opted for the river right line. All three ran it well! Janet was a little too far left on her line and ended in the hole where she then went a seemingly endless ender. It was impressive!
Then it was the Chuckstr’s turn. I wasn’t as far left as the guys, but I did not paddle into the hole. I too went sailing into the air. Scott, Kevin, Janet and Tim all decided to go for a second run. They walked up the rock to the far left eddy to run the left line. They all had great runs! Tim did land sideways on his run, but had a super roll! We then worked down to Wanda’s Hole, where Kevin “forgot the line.” 
Everyone stayed out of the hole banging down the rocks on the far left.
It was after Noon and you could already see a drop in the level. Kevin and Scott, at the front of the group, paddled at a deliberate pace. Being sweep, at this point, the trip took on some aspects of a race. The group did gather up at some of the rapids, where we took turns leading the group down.
Pinball
Soon we were at the bridge with little more than a mile to go. Kevin was ready to lead us down Pinball, but we were only at “Little Pinball.” In just a few hundred yards we were at the calm water above Pinball. Kevin described the class line. Starting center and work to the left. Both Kevin and Scott headed out first. I then followed. I had a good line, but was a little more right than I wanted to be, but still missed the rock shelf on the right. Janet was even further right, and banged up her elbow on the shelf (she is okay). Tim had a really sweet line; he was even further right and glided over the rock shelf. Way to go! Kelly had the best line of all us; she went to the left and rode the huge wave and busted the hole! At the ledge drop rapid below, we all took the far right line. From there it was indeed a race to the surfing wave.
Shred City
Kevin and Scott were the first at the wave. They were already tearing the place up. Tim and Janet headed down to catch the wave, with Kelly and I in the river left eddy above. We both made the hairy ferry to river right and caught the river right eddy without moving a surfer off the wave. Kelly headed down with Tim to the wave below, where they surfed. Scott headed down to take out, leaving Kevin, Janet and me. Kevin had some tips on catching the wave, and they paid off. Thanks, Kevin. I had several sweet surfs on the wave; it was certainly the biggest wave I had shredded in the big green boat! Photos of our shredding: http://chucks.smugmug.com/gallery/5407251_5cgBK
It was a fun trip indeed!
Shredding epilogue – back to the Green wave
Kevin had to head back; on the way back to my car at the put-in Janet, Kelly, Tim and I stopped at the Starbucks on Upward Church Road. Janet and Tim headed to Charlotte, and Kelly and I drove down to the Lower Green for some park and play at the “Green Wave.” We surfed for about an hour on the wave, dodging tubes Kelly had some wicked side surfs at the holes on river right. They look tiny, but pack a punch. We both had to really work to get out. A fun way to end the day.
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