From the ACC's Way-Back Machine

[Steve S]

Terry Keefe, Mike Beard, and David Thrasher in a Blue Hole. Writing on the side says "El Faco Ba Racing Team".

[Yarbrough]

Often I carry along a spare paddle. Never thought of taking along a spare paddler?

[Canoe_Codger]

Duffer. We call them duffers. Ive done it several times and made them walk a time or two. Ah the good old days. When you could pull up in front of OOS, plunk down a few bucks and ride off into the sunrise with a Blue Hole to beat and bash. In fact, my current canoes are the only ones I have ever had without the Doo-dah Man stickers on them. Do they still have those and still hand them out on request? I'll take four please!

Cool pic.

Michael

[Steve S]

Codger, PM or e-mail me your mailing address and I'll get 4 of them on the way to you.

[Tim Eubanks]

Holy flashback, batman! I only met Thrasher a couple of years ago. His smile has not changed.

[Roger]

Love that stuff. Thanks.

[dthrasher]

That picture was taken in the early 80's (1981?) and we were on the Hiawassee River in TN. We had paddled the Ocoee River earlier in the day and thought that the Hiawassee would be a good change of pace. That night, the three of us, plus Jack Lassiter and Frank Barton, spent the night in jail. That story is known as the Ballad of the Ocoee 5 and Mike Beard, may he rest in peace, was great at telling that story, just as he was with all of his stories. The picture was on the wall at the Whitewater Tavern in LR for years. Keefe and I liberated it a few years ago (with the bartender's permission!) and it now hangs with pride on the wall at my office.

[Canoe_Codger]

As cool as the old photo is the background story David! Do we want the "Paul Harvey" on this? Curious Codger is curious!

And thanks for the OOS stickers Steve! Now if I can just avoid buying an old Blue hole for a little while longer...

Michael

[Steve S]

It was going to be the Ocoee 4. But Frank Barton came out of his tent wearing some shorts that didn't have pockets. The deputy asked Frank to show him what he had in his pockets. When Frank said he didn't have any pockets, the deputy responded that he wasn't going to take any sass and instructed him to get into the back of the squad car.

Mike loved to tell us that the Ocoee 5 was split between two Sheriff's cars, and the one he was riding in started a high-speed chase during the trip to the jail. Mike didn't think much of the deputy's driving ability and claimed there were several times that he thought they were done for.

It's too bad Jimmy Driftwood is no longer with us. The story of the Ocoee 5 would make a great ballad.

[Canoe_Codger]

[dthrasher]

Anyone who wants to hear my version of the Ballad of the Ocoee 5 is welcome to come to our 33rd annual Rita Jenrette Memorial Bubba Float next year. I readily admit that my version was never as good as Beard's, but it is generally well received. As one point of clarification, Frank Barton was wearing silk pajamas when he was arrested and that made for some very interesting conversations while we were in the jail. The silk pajamas probably did not have any pockets, but my theory has always been that it was the pajamas and not the lack of pockets that got Frank arrested.