Topic: mini-creeking clinic?

[Roscoe]

Jill and I would really like to get out and paddle this weekend, but most of the places we would like to go to are A. new to us and B. more creeking than we have been previously exposed to.  If any of you experienced boaters are feeling like getting out on something that is not too hairy (LRC (chairlift), Tellico, Richland, Town, etc.) and wouldn't mind doing a little creeking instruction for a couple of eager students, we would be grateful.  We can do either a full weekend or a day trip.

I know that you probably already have plans, as the rains are coming through again this week, so please don't ditch your fun for us.  Barring something unforeseen, we will paddle something this weekend.  It just might be one of the old standbys.  You can just post, PM or give me a call. 

[redrock438]

Others may be avaialble but I have an event Saturday. I'm thinking about South Sauty for Friday though.

BTW- You both missed great levels on Richland Sunday

Drew A

[MW]

Drew,
If Sauty is running, you can run both it and Short for a good full day of boating.

[Roscoe]

Drew,

I know.  Don't rub it in.  I was planning on boating, but an impromptu family gathering changed plans.  I was bummed when I saw that you guys hit richland.  Maybe this weekend.  If you decide to hit something like that on Sunday, let me know. 

[redrock438]

That would be good. Sauty ran good on Monday and probably today. I'm hoping the rain at the end of the week might bring it up. I might be up for Sunday boating as well.

Drew A

[MW]

Ross,
South Sauty was one of my very first creeks. You should be okay on it.

[Sharon]

Ross,

If there's water in Richland, especially on the weekend, I think you can pretty much count on boaters being there. Even if you can't find anybody from Memphis to go, I doubt you'd have much problem finding somebody there to guide you down (not to mention helping with the Class III shuttle). When I went a couple years ago, we ended up hooking up with a couple guys from MO and AR that were eager to help show me the lines and keep an eye on me.

Actually, you'd can probably find that on most of the rivers you're looking at. It's like this one time on the Nanty, this random guy thought I was paddling alone and offered to let me paddle with his group . . . (no, you're not ever going to live that down!)

[redrock438]

I think Womack mentioned this in a post months ago. If you are waiting on Memphis boaters (this goes for everybody), you may be waiting a while. I'm not saying this offensively. Assess your skill level and find rivers within that range. When they are running, there are many boaters to "hook up" with. This will only help your paddling skills and fast track you to bigger and better rivers.

Sometimes I take off mid-week to paddle and have no plan of who to paddle with. so far, (maybe once) I haven't been skunked. Always find folks paddling when rivers are running.

Again, get out there and meet boaters outside Memphis!

Drew A

[maerlyn99]

It's tough for Ross; he's a class IV boater with a class III wife...

It's also tough for some of us to just "take a day off"; as a school teacher, I can't just call in sick--I have to make sure I have lessons prepared ahead of time for a substitute, and I have to procure the sub before I can go anywhere.  It's a class V+ procedure to go boat some class IIIs. 

We'll boat somewhere, I'm sure. 

[Sharon]

It's tough for Ross; he's a class IV boater with a class III wife...

Jill, don't be so hard on yourself. I'm sure you're a Class VI wife.

(or is it better to be Class I to indicate less difficult?)   

[MW]

Good post from Drew.
I am not saying this offensively either when I say Memphis Whitewater is missing leaders. With the exception of Drew and Boyd, nobody is stepping up and finding new runs. I put myself in the role of "follower" when I look back at my kayaking career. I was lucky enough to start paddling when the likes of Phil Allen, Sonny and Jason Salomon were active leaders. There wasn't a put-in or take-out Phil did not know in the southeast. Jason procured passes for the 1st release of Tallulah and told me about Cheoah long before the 1st release.
The thing is, I was a very eager follower. Still am. These days, when I can break away, Drew is my first contact because I know he will have something new and exciting.
This may sound offensive to some but I'm going to go ahead and say it... there aren't very many eager followers either. I'm not saying that's a bad thing. Some people may be perfectly happy paddling the same rivers. Everybody knows I've probably spent way more days on the Ocoee than I should have. I'm just saying, lack of enthusiasm has forced some boaters to look elsewhere for boating companions.
I'm not pointing fingers, I'm just pointing out what I think is a huge flaw in Memphis Whitewater. I have no solutions and as I've stated, I'm part of the problem. But with my kids and career, I don't see me changing any time soon.
Agree or disagree, the "can of worms" has been opened. Nothing can be fixed if you don't know it's broken.

[maerlyn99]

I guess Ross would have to attest to what class wife I am. 

Not everyone is a natural leader, nor does everyone WANT to be.  Just as some people are not comfortable approaching and joining boaters they do not know.  It's hard to ask someone to step beyond his or her personality to do something he or she would not normally do.

Perhaps we are light on leaders.  What could we do about that?  How do you lure in a leader?  It's likely that the people who are strong boaters and wish to be leaders live in locales that are more conducive to boating. 

Everyone will boat as they want to boat.  Those who are comfortable leading groups will either choose to do so or choose not to.  Everyone who wants to follow will either find someone to follow or simply not boat as much.  Those who are OK boating with strangers will; those who are not, won't.  That's how life, and boating from Memphis, works. 

[santha7]

Maybe we're just leading to a place you don't want to go... 

Three words for you...Boater Chick Festival. 

Boater Chicks on Kayakmind is MY group (I started it...there's a picture of Old Mill Falls from Bear Creek next to it).  I'm organizing the festival at the NOC (not with/for the NOC...at).

Don't worry, Womack; we'll let you follow us. 

Small hijack:
We're doing trips to the Green with a guaranteed 100 percent release for the Saturday of the festival, and I just found out we've got pro boater chicks for Canada flying in...we're INTERNATIONAL!!!!

[redrock438]

hehehehe, thats funny

[santha7]

and ya wonder why nobody wants to lead or follow