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They started construction on the Sparks Whitewater Park on monday.   HURRAY. . . another park around the Reno area.  Should be super fun.

One problem. . .

What is it doing to the reno whitewater park?  Stephen and I went to the park last night only to find things have changed.  Hole 3 isn’t so retentive on the left any more and Hole 5 is a flushy wave.  (Do a trick and flush)

Our theory is that while they have downstream diverted for construction on the Sparks park, the water has backed up some and has changed that the features are like downtown.

Any other theories??

As mentioned before, the Reno Whitewater Park becomes a zoo full of kids this time of year.  School is out and they flock to the water like sheep or flies to poo.  Not sure which analogy is more appropriate.  Ants to a picnic??  Anyway, for the past couple years the Truckee River Foundation hosts a Kids Safety Day.  TRF gets donations from around the community and they buy PFD’s, helmets, and river shoes for any kids who signs up.  

This year started at nine in the morning.  We were lucky to have plenty of volunteers because we had a record of about 130 kids.  (Jim Litchfield knows the final numbers)   During the safety classes kids learn about river features, safety on the river, and how to appropriately dress when they are at the river.   Toby doesn’t exactly let me teach a class.  I get to help corrall kids where they are supposed to be and entertain with jokes and stuff.  I am particularly good at kicking small children.  :-)  

Also added to this years Safety Day were a little kids class, which Lynn Zong ran wonderfully, and a boogie boarding class, which Ruth Gordon and Jim Litchfield were awesome at.  It was great to see by the end of the day a bunch of kids running around with white helmets and red PFD’s on.   Easier to see and they float better.  

The question for the weekend. . . How many kids can I run over, under, and around at the park this weekend??  

School is out, and the whitewater park has been overrun by rug rats.  But, that doesn’t mean the park can’t be fun.  I had the opportunity to spend all weekend at the Reno Whitewater Park and had a GREAT time. Saturday was by myself, however Matt, Steph, Sage, Tim, and my Aunt Joy and Uncle Nick were able to join me on Sunday and made it 10 times more fun.  

Here are the keys to the Reno whitewater park in July.   First of all if you want a parking spot. . . show up early.  I usually arrive about 9am.  That gives me some time to grab the dogs and head over for a cup of coffee at Java Jungle before getting on the river.  Also, keep an eye open for the parking police.  With it being summer they are all over the place, and there is only 2 hour parking right on the river.  Second, the Truckee river is only at about 450cfs.  That doesn’t mean the park isn’t fun.  You just have to choose your play spots.  Hole #1 makes a great warm up.  No good surfing, but you can ferry your little butt off.  (Or big butt off if you live in my pants) Hole #2 is diagonal and I usually scrape my knuckles, so I don’t spend much time here.  But don’t let that dissuade you from spending time here.  Hole #3 is great for spinning.  You can get on the river left shoulder and spin right about a hundred times.  Or until you get so dizzy you no longer know which way is up and possibly vomit.  (It may be a little boring at this level if your name is Stephen.)   Hole #4. . . um.  Then there is Hole #5.  It is a fun little hole on river right.  You can cartwheel and flush (if you are me).  If you are anyone else you can loop and mcnasty and . . . ask stephen he knows more of that stuff.  

One last thing that is fun at the park (but don’t tell anyone). . . BOOGIE BOARDS.   Matt let us use his river board on sunday.  You can hop into Hole #3 and never leave.  It is awesome!!!  Sunday was my first time, and I am hooked.   

You probably want to be out of the water by about noonish when the entire planet of reno shows up.  But stick around and people watch.  You won’t regret it.  It is like Where’s Waldo on steroids.  Plus noon is a perfect time for a drink and lunch at Silver Peak.  And, if you sit outside, you can sneak the dogs next to the railing.  

Last best thing about the park. . . it is five minutes from my house, so saves gas money.   Come down and play!!!!

Ok. . .Ok. . . another back log.  Here is an excuse. . . I didn’t start blogging until May, so I need to play some catch up.  (Does that work)

Stephen and I show up in Downieville with the rumor that Pauley creek has enough water.  We don’t know where we are going, so we just start driving up some random road and come across the beacon of light called Kent.  (Or the beacon of, “we have a shuttle”)  We end up meeting up with a large crew from Reno for my first run down Pauley creek.

The river starts out with some fun class II ripples.  Then all of a sudden you see a large log crossing over the top of the river, and you know you have reached the first drop. . . Federal Falls.     Being one of my first “waterfalls”, I gave a baby boof, tucked, yelled “watch out below”, and somehow landed perfect at the bottom.  The rest of the run involves 4 or 5 good sized drops and slides with good company and conversation in between.   This run also involved some carnage with Kent landing on top and somehow under Kent after a 18-20 foot slide.  

I was lucky enough to have Stephen point and shoot us down most of the run.  He would scout, then point to where we needed to be.   Made the day almost perfect.  I was also lucky this year that the water was high enough for a good couple weeks, so I was able to get some good weekends and multiple runs down Pauley Creek.  Until next year. . . .  Enjoy the pics.