Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Not Really Wordless Wednesday


Rafting down the Nantahala River.
We chose a little rafting company called Brookside Campground in Topton, NC, based on a relatives recommendation.
For 20 bucks each, we got a raft with guide. That's about half price for most of the outfitters up here. The guide was capable and funny, a college kid working his summer away and he added some nice local color to the float.
I liked the way he called out advice to rafters and kayakers stuck on rocks or flipped over. It was general concern, not showing off.
We always use a guide on new water, but after rafting on this day, I could see rafting or kayaking this stretch without a guide under similar flow conditions.
The water was cold, about 47 degrees according to the guide. This was because it was dam controlled and the flow came from the bottom of the reservoir above the dam.
It felt great. When you come from the land of 85 degree Gulf of Florida water, it's nice to feel something a little different.
I'm sure the rafting companies would frown on it, butI could not help thinking, "Bear would love this."

20 comments:

Pablo said...

Are you in the middle without a paddle?

R.Powers said...

Pablo, Are you kidding me? You think I would raft a river with THESE people and not have some measure of control? :)
I'm the rear guy on the port side, not in the middle. My paddle is on a downstroke.
The picture has been cropped.

Thunder said...

I'm more of a lazy river canoer these days, I got all of the fun rapids stuff out of my system years ago!

Hey on yesterday's post you're smart to stick with the juice. I think your neighbor at Dakota does a pretty good job with the wine! ;-)

Dani said...

Awesome pic! My two would love doing something like that.

Cathy S. said...

Looks like tons of fun. We are going up there at the end of September, but I bet it will be too cold to raft then.

Caroline said...

This looks like "down a creek, with a paddle" Fun!

h said...

I agree that Bear would like it. Has he been rafting on more gentle waters yest?

R.Powers said...

ThunderDave,
Why would you get all the fun stuff out of your system? Sounds like you need to go rafting again!

Dani,
It was fun and the rapids are pretty family safe on this stretch.

Cathy S,
Might not be as fun if the air temp is closer to the water temp!!

Caroline,
I always prefer to have a paddle when I'm up or down a creek.

Troll,
He has been canoeing and was surprisingly good for a newbie.

kathy a. said...

bear's a heck of a dog, but i'm afraid he's not up to the paddling part. unless we're talking dog paddling.

kevin said...

We did some class IV and V rapids in Idaho. We even got dumped in the "Trash Can". It was a lot of fun. We had a guide also. It would have been dangerous without one given our Florida rapids experience.

I wish I had known about summer jobs like that.

R.Powers said...

Kathy A,
Dog paddling ... wacka wacka!
heehee

Kevin,
Beats tying steel rebar in a footer ditch huh?

lisa said...

47 degrees!!! Burrrrrrrr. I like my bath water!

Miz S said...

Okay, I will admit to being a worrywart. I SEE ROCKS. Where the hell are THE HELMETS?

Doug Taron said...

It looks like everyone is having lots of fun. I did this once years ago in Wyoming. I loved it- seems like your crew did too.

Kimberlee said...

That looks like a blast! Great that you have a photo to remember the excitement of the moment. :)

kevin said...

Most things beat tying rebar in a footer and white water raft guide would beat most of those things. I wonder if they'll take a 50 year old with almost no experience.

Heff said...

How dam controlled was it ?

Anonymous said...

I'll be coming through those same falls in my canoe on Monday...

Woodie

R.Powers said...

Lisa,
Bath water is what our Gulf feels like this time of year!

Miz S,
They were hanging back in the rafting company shed. Personally, I was delighted to not have to wear them.
We don't need no stinkin' helmets!

Doug,
It was a blast.

Kimberlee,
The photographer sits at the falls and gets the shot you could never get yourself. Cost me twenty one bucks, but it's nice to have.

Kevin,
51.

Heff,
I think there's a minimum flow that guarantees a ride on any given day. Some rivers had reduced flow at times with no trips if the dam was holding water back for some reason.

R.Powers said...

Woody,
Have fun!