Spooky Halloween CCC Trip – Jill Dinsdale
| River: | Ocoee |
| Skill: | All |
| Trip Date: | 10/29/2005 |
October 29th — The Ocoee River –“Mayhem”
Participants: Jill Dinsdale (trip coordinator) , Dave Kessmann, Kurt McKissick, Tom Van Wittekind, Adam Eckhardt, Greg Joyner, Matt Daniels, Marc Harkness, Joan Hutton and friends; Bill and Tom, Dean Watson, Ben Gilbert, Tony Cowan and Ashley Cowan
I sent out an email earlier that week stating that the club trip was “FULL”. I had 23 folks signed up to run the Ocoee River, TN. Directions were as follows: be at the put-in for the middle Ocoee at NOON on Saturday. This would allow people enough time to shop at GAF, have breakfast, warm up or do what ever. I mentioned I’d be camping at Smokey Mountain Meadows if any one was interested in camping with me. I had several takers.
I had suggested to the group that we try to minimize as many shuttle vehicles as possible, since I thought it would be busy on the Ocoee that day. There was a down river race scheduled at 10:30 am and the Ocoee Head Hunt at 2:00 pm. I tried to arrange the start of the trip to fall between these two events. I think it worked out just fine.
So now that the logistics have been stated, let’s go back to 7:30 AM at the camp-ground. The group wakes up to a field that is totally white, covered in frost. I look around and all the boat straps on everyone’s cars are frozen. Hmmmm??? Needless to say, it took a lot longer to arrange shuttle. No one’s fingers could manage messing with boats and straps for longer than one minute at time.
One of the first people I saw that chilly morning was Adam Eckhardt, who had paddled the day before. He had some kind of board in his hand was walking over to say “morning”. Well come to find out that wasn’t a board, but his shorts, frozen solid!! We tried to get a picture of his stiff shorts but all the digital cameras were frozen. I think Marc Harkness saved the moment by using his non-frozen cell phone camera!
The day ended up to be warm and sunny! And now, it was NOON at the put-in and only 5 of us were there, out of the 23 signed up! Now if you have ever paddled with me you must know that “If you are on time, you are late!” And in fact, I swear people are late just to see my reaction to when they drive up! I hear I’m very entertaining. As folks started to drive up, they got read the riot act. In the end it was ok, the last group showed up only fifteen minutes late, not too bad considering all the great gear shopping at GAF and most folks were driving from the NOC.
Shuttle was run. All the cars were at the take out except mine, not to bad! I had a few drops out so the final total at departure time was 15 boaters. We are all ready and have waited awhile, but in the end that ending being a blessing. It was warm, gear was dry and people had time to shop.
We had only one person, Dean Watson who had never run the Ocoee. The excitement was running high, until the newbie mentioned that he had no skirt. It was at the take out in Dave K’s truck. So, Dave whisked Dean away to drive down and get his skirt. (he had three in the truck, just none on him??). So that made the put on time a little later. The group decided to wait for Dean and Dave since we all wanted to be there for Dean’s virgin run. So the group waited.
YA!!.It’s time. We all put on!! It’s hard to mange 15 people and in the shuffle Dave stole the group’s newbie and took off down the river. We never did see the virgin run. But later, stories were told around the campfire! It turned out to be a great run! All except that one swim he had in some no name ripple! Congrats Dean on a great first run!
The rest of the group cruised down without incident. We laughed and played our way down the river, giggling like a bunch of idiots at our good fortune and warm weather.
We found out that Joan Hutton has to be one of the most graceful boaters on the face of the planet. She didn’t know this, but I decided to make her the figure head trip leader. She had amazing lines and they were all flawless! Joan you can paddle with us any time!
For the rest of us it was business as usual, playing, rolling and laughing. The group managed to congregate at Double Trouble for lunch and more play.
Until it happened! The river opened up, much like the parting of the Red Sea, one can only image, a deluge of boaters. A solid wall of rubber, plastic and all the fuzzy rubber one could want. Yes, IT was happening. The Ocoee Head Hunt. In the middle of an estimated 200 boaters, were the Grim Reaper and his helper, Mini Grim Reaper. The Reaper was striding on an inflatable boat. He was dressed to the Ts; black hooded robes and scary face. The mini reaper was just that, a mini version, seated in front of the standing larger version. Now, if you have never seen this or participated, the idea is to follow the grim reaper down the river and collect “skulls”. These are plastic skulls a little larger than a baseball with numbers inscribed on them. At the end of the run, one takes his or her skull and redeems it for prizes at the end of the day at the Ocoee Head Hunt party. Rumors have it that one of the biggest prizes is a boat! Not too shabby for the Grim Reaper!
Our group sat safely on the side on the river watching boaters, river boarders, rafters and the like, come through a the rapid all the same time. There had to be at least 10 people in the wave hole at the bottom of Double Trouble. WOW! We were in awe. In awe of the shear amount of boaters in the large group, in awe of the number of people running the rapid at the same time, in awe of the lack of carnage, just in awe!!! AND there were no swims that we could see. I have never laughed so hard at my beloved sport! I can’t decide if boaters are fun loving people or are just crazy masochist! And with that thought, the group discussed later on down the river, that the best rapid to view the mayhem would be Double Suck! Next Year!!!
After the swarm left, it took all of 6 minutes for all the boaters to be out of sight again, we got back in our boats and laughed and played our way down the rest of the river! And in a festive mood, someone found river bootie, a couple of wayward flip flops, that were now our own private skulls. We decided to have our own head hunt, as we threw the flip flops at one another while yelling “SKULL”. This kept us entertained for quite a while. Now, at this time I think some of boaters that didn’t boat with my group on regular bases, must have thought we were a bit over zealous! I can’t say I don’t blame them!
What a great day! All made it safely to the take-out. My superior shuttle plans were foiled when the speedy Dave and Dean decided to take one of the vehicles to the top to retrieve my car. It would have been a great idea, had they left 15 minutes earlier. To my dismay I saw my nice warm dry civilian clothes leaving the take out as I paddled in! UGH! Dave blamed Dean! I guess that’s what newbies are for!
Celebrator dinner and drinks were consumed at the local Mexican haunt! (Well it was Halloween). Back to the campground for some bonding around the campfire and then finally sleep!
October 30th, The Nantahala River– “Self- Fulfilling Prophecy”
Participants: Jill Dinsdale (trip coordinator) , Dave Kessmann, Kurt McKissick, , Adam and Holly Eckhardt, Greg Joyner and Emily Matt Daniels, Marc Harkness, Dean Watson, Sonia Johnson, Ron Miller
Now, to start the day, I will make it known, that Tom told me on Saturday to put in air bags in my boat! I always do, but on that day I decided to put more safety gear in my boat. You know, in case there was a swim or boat retrieval. The same conversation was had on Sunday at the Nantahala. I scoffed, no one would be swimming!!
So we put on at Ferrebees. All lined up like ducks ready to get in. In very Jill style, I yelled “And there will be no swimming today!” in a very funny and sarcastic tone! The group shoves off.
We make our way down the river, laughing and playing! Until Whirlpool. I come cruising into the eddy. I was a bit lazy and tripped! Needless to say, the first person to swim was ME. The only reason, bad roll technique! Of course that was not the first thing that came out of my mouth! “Really it was the new PFD! I didn’t have nose plugs on!” There I am, the trip leader, with out airbags, had shorts on and no nose plugs. It was a self fulfilling prophecy! Thank goodness pool sessions start the next week!
Lots of laughs were had! I got my boat to shore and drained it, which took forever due the large amount of water! And the rest of the group had a great time heckling me about our time table and how I was making us late!
After that it was smooth sailing. Like the day before lots of laughs and playing. Holly Eckhardt was styling while doing stern quirts! Awesome job Holly! The weather was beautiful and we only had one more swim after that.
Everyone had bomb proof rolls at the Falls. Everyone that I watched decided to go right through the center of the bottom hole! Greg Joyner did some interesting moves at the bottom, but it was his lightning quick roll that was really amazing!
All were safe at the end of the day and I think it is safe to say that we all had a great weekend!