Ocoee (Roll, Rick, Roll!)
| River: | Ocoee |
| Skill: | Intermediate |
| Trip Date: | 05/02/2015 |
Well, my first time back on the Ocoee since knee surgery…
So for those with not a lot of trip organization experience, here's how this often works. You post a trip, maybe months in advance. You hear from no one. A week before the trip, if the water levels are low everywhere else, a few people will reach out to you (in this case, 5 in total). It rains on Thursday, and water levels come up. Two people cancel. One person doesn't show up, and a morning email gets a response that they've had something come up. But that's why I love the Ocoee, because you really can't screw much with my plan. I'm there, I'm going kayaking. Those still abed shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here, or something like that.
So there were three of us putting on Sat. morning. Mark's not only an Ocoee veteran, but actually moved to Chattanooga because of the kayaking, and has taken every single opportunity he can find to make sure that move was not in vain. And Tom, and Ocoee veteran but not been on the water for 7 years due to injury, and me (also not my first Ocoee rodeo, but not on the water much since my own knee surgery back in November).
Tom, a wise man, put on at the rails, my oft recommended choice for first-timers and those a bit more unfamiliar with the river (you can always make it the last rapid of the day, or catch it the second time around). Not one to actually listen to myself, I put in above Entrance, and found myself, as many times before, setting off with Mark. Our choices were uneventful.
After that, we just moved on! Tom's long absence proved no hindrance. The most eventful thing was Mark realizing he's spent the winter running much harder rivers, but in a larger boat. That proved to be a great opportunity for Tom and I to observe roll practice.
It became clear as we set up for the second run that Mark lives in the area now, as everyone knows him! We waited a bit to start the second lap of the day, because there was a crew of raft guides inflating something vaguely Zorb-like above the dam, and we were hoping to get to see how poorly that went. But it became obvious they were going we be a while, so we figured we'd catch them on the next run.
Tom had a drive ahead of him, but was kind enough to help Mark and I juggle vehicles for the next run before setting off.
The next day Tom and Mark showed up, but Tom had just learned that his plan for the day was instead driving home and rescuing his wife with a failed car. But he again made sure Mark and I were set for shuttle (You want this guy along — Solid boater, and a great shuttle driver). And then there were two.
I would say that the two runs on Sunday were uneventful, but that would mean you have to count a swim through half of Second Helping and a boat through slice 'N Dice uneventful (successfully rescued however), and I think for most that kicks up the eventfulness of the day (at least, most anyone who's done that would agree). But no real harm done, and the two runs that day played out as usual otherwise.
Back to Thunder Rock and packing up. Never did see Roxie this trip, so there might be a new camp host. A brief stopover to visit my family along the way, and back home none the less for wear.