Water Adventures
This past weekend included a big rescue on the
might Royal River. But first, the other
details:
Friday- Beer and pizza on the deck at Flatbread. Tays-tee!
Heather was tired from a long week and got dropped off at home. Kelly and I hit the store for a 6-pack and then a beach that's not well known to go drink some of them. We quickly learned that having something to open beer bottles with is important. A beach covered in smooth stones is not helpful. After several minutes, we [mostly Kelly, really] were able to get two open.
We were joined by a very friendly and cute cat. After getting us to pet it, the cat walked a few feet in front of us, dug a hole, and proceeded to heed the call of nature. It made us question the rest of the beach. There was certainly no going barefoot for us.
Then, a bit later, a woman walks onto the beach and, next to a large rock wall, proceeds to heed the call of nature although thankfully not in the same manner as the cat. The way she came down to the beach see definitely didn't see us. But she definitely saw us on the way back. Must have been a touch embarrassing.
A while later, well after dark, we hear some guys in the parking lot making noise. They sounded like they were carrying a cooler and ready to party. The first one walks down to the water carrying not a cooler but some S.C.U.B.A. equipment. Three guys in all are going for an after dark swim in the ocean. Kelly asks them what they are diving for. "For fun" is the answer. While we both agreed it could be fun, we both had our reservations as well. Eels won't hurt you but when you get surprised by one, its going to make you dirty that wet suit.
They took off into the water and the flashlight beams slowly faded into a general glow, which then faded out completely. Very cool.
We left before they came back, so no diving report.
Saturday I had plans to meet Jon for some boating on the Royal River. [Yes, here comes the big rescue story]
The Royal River, for anyone who hasn't read my other words about it, is a really skinny pond. It barely moves and is only a few feet deep in most places. We were further upsteam than either of us had been before, so it was extra narrow and shallow.
The sun was blazing and the humidity way up. We had to operate the pump in several shifts just to get the two boats inflated. As a sign of things to come, Jon got a good gallon of water in the boat trying to get in it.
We both started off down the river and quickly we could see this would be an adventure. It didn't take long until Jon was stuck up on a log just under the surface. I felt my butt hit the shallow river bottom at one point.
We came around the first bend in a minute or two and could see the next stretch was going to require some navigation efforts. There were trees and branches galore poking up from the water everywhere. But despite the clutter, we both made it through "The Gauntlet" unscathed.
After turning the next corner about 15 minutes into the trip, we could see a more open section ahead. Ahh... time to relax.
Nope.
Jon's boat is suddenly letting out air like a kid blowing bubbles in his soda with all his lung strength. With wide eyes, Jon reaches back behind him and plugs the hole with his finger.
Okay, its stopped. But what do we do?
The opposite bank is shallow and I tell Jon to try and paddle [with one arm] to it. I row my boat around him and try to help push him over. After a minute or two, he removes his finger and abandons ship.
Ship Adbandoned.
So, we have a 6 foot, 8 inch [? very tall anyway] guy without a boat. We have one good boat that already has a 6 foot tall guy in it. These boats are large enough so that when I sit in it, my feet reach the other end. My boat is also rated for about 550 pounds and we've got about 500 between us. Jon tries to walk up the river for a bit. It's not working.
We load all of our stuff into his boat. The inner air chamber will hold it easily. I cross my legs and have Jon get into my boat perendicular to me with his feet hanging over one side.
Rowing is now incredibly difficult. Considering we had only just begun a 2 hours trip, we head upstream. I'm fighting a slight current with a 300 pound weight at the front. It takes a few minutes but we're back at "The Gauntlet". The first challenge is getting around a fallen tree. It covers most of the river and leaves just a small window of passage. The biggest issue is that the trunk causes the current to really pick up here. We head into it and get stuck. I can't fight the current and my paddles keep getting caught in the tree. We're scraping sharp branches on both sides. I ask Jon to lay as flat as possible so we're not dragging into sharp branches [which mostly point down strean into us from the current] Finally, after some struggle, we get the boat through. One obstacle down, 80 to go.
We slowly work our way up with only 2 other real problem spots. In one case, It was Jon's boat that was causing trouble. It was clipped to the back of mine. But Jon has accidently clipped it partially to one side. His boat started interfering with my oar when I tried to approach a tough spot at an angle. Jon was able to get his long leg out onto a log and push us through that one.
So, we finally make it back. Then we notice that one of my sandals is missing. I had velcroed my tevas to the side of the boat after getting in. not expecting a person to be there, I had attached them right where Jon's legs went. At some point, it had been knocked loose. Jon thinks he sees it downstream and goes for a walk. He gets a bit wet but he rescued the sandal!
We drove back to his car after a short but full adventure.
Friday- Beer and pizza on the deck at Flatbread. Tays-tee!
Heather was tired from a long week and got dropped off at home. Kelly and I hit the store for a 6-pack and then a beach that's not well known to go drink some of them. We quickly learned that having something to open beer bottles with is important. A beach covered in smooth stones is not helpful. After several minutes, we [mostly Kelly, really] were able to get two open.
We were joined by a very friendly and cute cat. After getting us to pet it, the cat walked a few feet in front of us, dug a hole, and proceeded to heed the call of nature. It made us question the rest of the beach. There was certainly no going barefoot for us.
Then, a bit later, a woman walks onto the beach and, next to a large rock wall, proceeds to heed the call of nature although thankfully not in the same manner as the cat. The way she came down to the beach see definitely didn't see us. But she definitely saw us on the way back. Must have been a touch embarrassing.
A while later, well after dark, we hear some guys in the parking lot making noise. They sounded like they were carrying a cooler and ready to party. The first one walks down to the water carrying not a cooler but some S.C.U.B.A. equipment. Three guys in all are going for an after dark swim in the ocean. Kelly asks them what they are diving for. "For fun" is the answer. While we both agreed it could be fun, we both had our reservations as well. Eels won't hurt you but when you get surprised by one, its going to make you dirty that wet suit.
They took off into the water and the flashlight beams slowly faded into a general glow, which then faded out completely. Very cool.
We left before they came back, so no diving report.
Saturday I had plans to meet Jon for some boating on the Royal River. [Yes, here comes the big rescue story]
The Royal River, for anyone who hasn't read my other words about it, is a really skinny pond. It barely moves and is only a few feet deep in most places. We were further upsteam than either of us had been before, so it was extra narrow and shallow.
The sun was blazing and the humidity way up. We had to operate the pump in several shifts just to get the two boats inflated. As a sign of things to come, Jon got a good gallon of water in the boat trying to get in it.
We both started off down the river and quickly we could see this would be an adventure. It didn't take long until Jon was stuck up on a log just under the surface. I felt my butt hit the shallow river bottom at one point.
We came around the first bend in a minute or two and could see the next stretch was going to require some navigation efforts. There were trees and branches galore poking up from the water everywhere. But despite the clutter, we both made it through "The Gauntlet" unscathed.
After turning the next corner about 15 minutes into the trip, we could see a more open section ahead. Ahh... time to relax.
Nope.
Jon's boat is suddenly letting out air like a kid blowing bubbles in his soda with all his lung strength. With wide eyes, Jon reaches back behind him and plugs the hole with his finger.
Okay, its stopped. But what do we do?
The opposite bank is shallow and I tell Jon to try and paddle [with one arm] to it. I row my boat around him and try to help push him over. After a minute or two, he removes his finger and abandons ship.
Ship Adbandoned.
So, we have a 6 foot, 8 inch [? very tall anyway] guy without a boat. We have one good boat that already has a 6 foot tall guy in it. These boats are large enough so that when I sit in it, my feet reach the other end. My boat is also rated for about 550 pounds and we've got about 500 between us. Jon tries to walk up the river for a bit. It's not working.
We load all of our stuff into his boat. The inner air chamber will hold it easily. I cross my legs and have Jon get into my boat perendicular to me with his feet hanging over one side.
Rowing is now incredibly difficult. Considering we had only just begun a 2 hours trip, we head upstream. I'm fighting a slight current with a 300 pound weight at the front. It takes a few minutes but we're back at "The Gauntlet". The first challenge is getting around a fallen tree. It covers most of the river and leaves just a small window of passage. The biggest issue is that the trunk causes the current to really pick up here. We head into it and get stuck. I can't fight the current and my paddles keep getting caught in the tree. We're scraping sharp branches on both sides. I ask Jon to lay as flat as possible so we're not dragging into sharp branches [which mostly point down strean into us from the current] Finally, after some struggle, we get the boat through. One obstacle down, 80 to go.
We slowly work our way up with only 2 other real problem spots. In one case, It was Jon's boat that was causing trouble. It was clipped to the back of mine. But Jon has accidently clipped it partially to one side. His boat started interfering with my oar when I tried to approach a tough spot at an angle. Jon was able to get his long leg out onto a log and push us through that one.
So, we finally make it back. Then we notice that one of my sandals is missing. I had velcroed my tevas to the side of the boat after getting in. not expecting a person to be there, I had attached them right where Jon's legs went. At some point, it had been knocked loose. Jon thinks he sees it downstream and goes for a walk. He gets a bit wet but he rescued the sandal!
We drove back to his car after a short but full adventure.
Posted: Mon - August 30, 2004 at 03:49 PM |
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Published On: Nov 21, 2005 01:53 PM
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Published On: Nov 21, 2005 01:53 PM