Ocoee Drawdown 2018
| River: | Ocoee |
| Skill: | Intermediate |
| Trip Date: | 09/23/2018 |
Drawdown Day 0
Showed up at Thunder Rock at 9 pm, later than desired but with my oil changed. Campground about 25% full, but Dead Quiet.
Set up camp at the group site, alone and feeling like I'd rented a full suite at a hotel, my tent alone.
Drawdown Day 1
Jim arrived around 8 this morning. He set up camp before we headed out. A dreary drizzly day, yet with warm weather. Ran into the Texas crew at the crack of noon as we put on for a second run.
Herb's is now closed Mondays and Tuesdays! We despondently ate dinner in camp amidst scattered showers.
We add one to two more to our despondent merry band tomorrow, with more arriving each day.
Drawdown Day 2
Heavy rains last night brought the Ocoee up to normal levels (plus perhaps a bit more). The Upper has water in it, and Goforth dumped more water. Waterfalls cascade down the drive for shuttle.
The day started drizzly before a turn to warm sunshine. More rain in the forecast for tonight and tomorrow.
Jim and I were joined by Richard for the first run, which had a bit more Surprise than expected.
Jim hung with me for three runs today. We discussed an ELF run tomorrow, but think we'll give it another day.
Richard will return for another guest appearance on Thurs. when most of the rest also arrive.
Drawdown Day 3
Rain began in the early morning, and hasn't stopped. Gloriously warm rain.
Jim managed a triple-dry hair day today, accomplishing more than I (that move at the top of Hell's Half Mile that I spontaneously made up is more difficult than expected).
Multiple arrivals over the next couple of days, attempting to fill in for Jim as he has business to take care of tomorrow.
Dinner at Herb's tonight!
Drawdown Day 4
Jim had an appointment in Chattanooga. Jamila, Richard and I set off amidst more rain.
Looping back around, we caught up with Martha and Joe, and the Texas crew. They award the Gulping Guppy every year to the person with the "best" roll/swim record for Drawdown, and they clearly take it very seriously. Multiple people did their best to make certain they at least had an entry.
We retired to Chester's in Blue Ridge for dinner.
Drawdown Day 5
Today we added Rick, Kevin, and his12-year-old son Seth (for Seth's PFD) to Jim and Jamila and myself. Rick had to pull off early (a bad taco experience). Seth had a banner day. You know those Fun-size bags of Doritos? Tablesaw is the family-sized version!Joe and Martha joined us for a second run before heading back to Asheville.
Jim and I finished out the day with a final run before we added Jamila to our dinner run to Herb's.
Drawdown Day 6
We all started slow due to a late night of campfire and smores. Cody messaged they were running late, then showed up on time anyway for Cody's successful PFD.
A successful run lead to a second. Jamila wanted to be more comfortable on the Ocoee, and today she showed that by running Broken nose backwards. Afterwards she headed back to camp, Patrick and Cody headed to GAF, and Jim and I made another run.
For the final run of the day I found a solitary raft in the eddy river left just below Powerhouse. Just bobbing there. I pondered whether someone had hiked up to the old village. Nope, not tied there. Hmm.
As I pushed it out into the current, I saw two distant figures struggling their way up the bank. Owners found and reunited. They'd has a somewhat extended swim from Hell's Hole!
We finished the glorious warm sunny day with a run of Herb's. And I think there's more s'mores.
Drawdown: Day 7 Final
Jim headed home. Despite our best efforts, Jamila and I were on the water before 10 am, with Jamila picking the lines, the slight boost in water levels from the rain finally fading away.