Friday!

Yes another week down. This weekend we're getting some kayaking in to prepare for Gauley season. Tomorrow we have a beginner trip we're helping with on the Pigeon River. Great first class III type river with good road service. We have a young man in our care tomorrow and I think he'll tear it up. Looking forward to it. Then on to the Upper Ocoee to get some big water practice for the Gauley!

This year is going to be the year of the Gauley for both Julie and I. We have both run the Upper and Lower and are looking for some more time on the Upper! We'll spend our first trip out working on the lower to find our bearings. Then move up to the mighty Upper on trips 2 and possibly 3. We'll see how we feel.

The Gauley is all big pushy water, Julie's favorite. I'm more into the tight creeky rivers and Julie loves to get pushed around by the big water. I dunno... Anyway, the lower is chalk full of play and the upper has some class V rapids. So on one you're all smiles and laughs, and the other you want to survive. When you do survive you smile about it, knowing the next rapid you'll be scared all over again. Good times!

Here are a couple of pics on the upper...


Anyway, enjoy your weekend imaginary friends that read this blog.

Rt

Away we go...

Alright, again it's been some time since the last blog update and I'm feeling like writing. Life has continued to be very interesting. In the last few months we've been to concerts, entertained family, been to Oklahoma, spent some time in North Carolina, taken a SWR refresher, tried to wake board, paddled the New River in West Virginia, had a 75ft tree at our house struck by lightening, paddled in the Smokys in August, and had some great laughs. Yet during this time we keep thinking, man we haven't been paddling much (obviously not true).

It's been great fun and to be honest, I have loved this summer. It has rained and rained and rained and I love me some rain. The grass is lush and green and the trees have been beautiful. Less one of course...that was a mess. It has really reminded me or Ireland. Tons of green!

We have also been spending a great deal of time with friends and that has been a ball. We have played some Wii, drank some wine, eaten some great food, and laughed until we cried. We have really met some great folks in TN and they have really made our transition very smooth. We're never at a loss for someone to join in on a weekend, or even weekday, adventure. Just a couple of weeks back we threw out the idea to drive up to West Virginia to kayak on a Thursday and we had a bite and left the next day. That was impressive and quite honestly one of the best trips I have had to WV. Great water, food, and friends. The people in TN are truly amazing and quite active.

So as far as plans, it's almost Gauley season so WV here we come, again... We're also really excited about getting some good backpacking weekends in. We recently read that there are over 900 miles of trails in the Smoky Mountains. I'd like to walk them all at some point. I think we're only 20-30 miles in thus far. But there is a great 30 mile hike on the east side of the ridge that I think we might try to do this March. So we could double our mileage in one 3-4 day trip. That would be really nice. We also cannot forget to mention, it's ALMOST FOOTBALL SEASON!!! BOOMER!! Looking forward to seeing Bradford tear it up again, what a great kid on and off the field. I hope our post season can finaly bring a W. That'd be really nice...

So there it is, life is a grea trip. Hope you're enjoying your ride as much as we are. Love, Eat, Laugh, and Explore! "LELE"

Randy