Ocoee Drawdown 2017
| River: | Ocoee |
| Skill: | Intermediate |
| Trip Date: | 09/23/2017 |
Ocoee Drawdown is a special time. It's not cold, but you can tell winter is coming. Except for this year, where the weather was in the 80s. It's a time of peace and quiet on the Ocoee, where you can find your way. Except this year, with the sadness of its impending end. 2018 is the last year of the last licensing agreement. While there was a lot of confusion about whether Drawdown would continue, it's on the release schedule for 2018. That said, it's not expected for 2019.
There aren't many people quite as fond of the Ocoee as I, so I never quite know who to expect. Typically on the weekends I see folks, but during the week is a quieter time. This year I knew of only Amy Rae Fox spending the entire week, with John McDonald making early and late guest appearances. This year a number of the CCC folks were paddling the Ocoee with the Texas crew, based out of Kevin Grimmett's place. I knew I'd see them on and off throughout the week, but beyond that not much as far as expectations.
Day 3 of Week of Ocoee: 48 miles of Ocoee so far. Weather fan-freakin-tastic. Five more days to go! Today was heavy raft traffic comparatively. I think I saw 10 (7 all at once). Paddled with John McDonald, Lou Cu and Kevin Grimmett today (and many others from the Texas crew, even those from Canadia). Amy Rae Fox has been under the (as previously mentioned fantastic) weather, but we should see her on the water tomorrow.
Day 5 of Week of Ocoee: 78 miles of Ocoee. Weather still fantastic-warm days and cool nights. Amy Rae Fox back on the water again. Raft traffic today was heavy; I think I saw 6.
I ended up running the Ocoee 22 times, often making the second run of the day with the Texas group. Amy's cold restricted her paddling to only a few times near the end of the week. I caight up with John McDonald, Jef Hatcher, and Joe Mount as they padded with the Texas crowd.
Over the course of the week I hitched rides (and provided rides) with raft guides, former TVA flume repair people, Canadians, Texans, attorneys, and others. To my pleasure and surprise, I caught rides with both Sarah Ruhlen and Joan Monnig, who I hadn't seen in a while.
In the end the week was bittersweet. Many of the folks I usually paddle with at Drawdown couldn't make it this year. Amy Rae is back in California.
Last year will be the end of my annual tradition. But I'll be there.