Yet Another Ocoee Trip
| River: | Ocoee |
| Skill: | Intermediate |
| Trip Date: | 08/27/2011 |
Sometimes I understand why people are reluctant to post trips — scheduling. I think at one point I had a high of eight coming, with a low of two. A bit nervewracking at times. But, things finally stabilized out Thurs. with Kevin and Stephan coming along for Sat. and Sunday.
We all rolled into Thunder Rock campground late Friday night. Stephan was already abed when I arrived, but Kevin kept me company as I set up. Morning came early, and we got an early start for the long (2 minute) drive to put-in about 9am.
Saturday
Kevin and Stephan both had run the Ocoee before, and the first run of the day was uneventful. We ambled our way downstream without incident. Well, okay, Stephan did roll coming out of Hell's Hole, but the swim afterwards was clearly due to the raft running over him! But still, the clear decision was that we were going again!
Then there was the second trip – that sinking feeling when you look behind you half way though Entrance to find all of your companions having an OBE (Out of Boat Experience). After a quick assist to Kevin, I even managed to spin back around, and get his boat back to him. Stephan's boat and paddle passed me by with nearby boaters in hot pursuit. I learned later that Stephan had decided to "scout" Grumpies from the river right ledge.
We reassembled all of the boaters and gear by Staging Eddy, and set forth, Kevin and Stephan being slightly the worse for wear. We then had another swim below Gonzo Shoals. Overconfident from my last rescue, I set out after the boat only to get trapped between two rafts and let the boat escape while trying to keep myself upright. That lead to a long battle to try to rescue the boat, which (thanks to some nearby boaters clearly more skilled than I) was rescued just below Broken Nose. After a moderately long delay of getting everyone back together, the rest of the trip passed wthout incident.
At that point the others called it a day. Kevin kindly helped me reset shuttle, and I had an uneventful last run for the day. We got back together for dinner at my perennial favorite – Herb's Pit Barbecue. Everyone called it an early night.
Sunday
We discussed where things had probably gone awry at Entrance the day before, and took slightly revised lines. Stephan and I were discussing the whys of below vs. above "the Rock", and about the point I said that one problem with above the rock was that you had to be careful not to get stuck/pinned on that rock, right, oh yes, that one that Kevin is stuck on. 🙂 Kevin managed to extricate himself, and Stephan and I set off. Stephan found that you really DO want to go FAR left, but managed to recover nonetheless.
Both Stephan and I rolled out of Double Trouble, but managed to keep it, if not a dry hair, at least a dry feet run. Kevin and Stephan decided that it was a long drive home, and time to head out. Kevin offered to help me set shuttle again, but there was enough through traffic that I wasn't worred about it, and sent them forth.
I put back on at about 12:15, and while the parking lot was full, I launched from the ramp with not a raft in sight. I don't think I saw one until I passed The Doldrums. Caught the window just right. I had to roll myself back out of "an incident" with a raft just below Witches Hole which added a bit of excitement.
Put back on again around 2:30 at the Ocoee was back to its rolicking raft-filled goodness. Well, it was nice while it lasted. Decided it was time for a break, and caught lunch at the Subway downstream.
Rested and recuperated, managed one more lap before I decided to call it a day.
Monday
I had forgotten that the Monday release wasn't until 10. While setting shuttle, I decided to stop and take a good (and quick!) look at Prudential Rock at the bottom of Tablesaw, as I've been told several times there's a pothole in it, and I wanted a closer look. Turns out that it's undercut on the right left side, and there's two sideways cuts bored in it, but no pothole through the rock. I wouldn't want to be stuck there tho!
On the bright side of my early start, I had the river entirely to myself, and had a calm, Zen-like trip. One more run, and it was time to head home. I did manage to stop for dinner on the way home with an old friend, which was enjoyable, but delayed my return home until after midnight. Tuesday morning came VERY early.