Richland Monday

[canoe]

great day!! Eventually had 8 boaters on the creek(Cowper and Cole caught up with us at Cindy's), very low level(almost ELF) a couple -3 swims/pins, i got the best boof off USC that I've ever done(almost vertical). WHAT A DAY!!! dale

[Cowper]

Ditto! By the time I broke free from work, I felt I had little chance of catching those headed further NW where slightly more rain fell, and I had a strong urge to break in a new boat on Richland anyway.

I had called two or three, and hadn't located anyone who could get loose yet, but finally decided I was not going to miss yet another Richland run on a sunny, warm day, even if it meant walking my own shuttle. So I left work with no real plan other than driving to the put in and hoping for the best.

But from that point on, everything got better. A phone call to Dale netted me a conversation with Pam and the knowledge that there would be others on the river, and no walking after dark required! (THANKS PAM!!!) Within 30 minutes, it got even better when I found Cole and I could combine resources and save a little of that $4/gallon fuel.

Those pins - didn't see but one of them, but it was almost comical. Me and Ray were almost racing each other to get to the boat so we could practice our recovery skills - I later chastised the owner for not pinning it good enough. I mean, we didn't even get to use the pulleys or long ropes - just one caribiner and my rescue strap; plus the two of us tugging. I also missed Dale's boof, but the afterglow lasted for hours so I know it must have been good, and his account was confirmed by other witnesses.

Yes, a stellar day!

[Karla]

Glad ya'll had a good paddling yesterday. I am hoping something will be up good for Saturday when I am off work.

Karla

[Ate My Lunch]

Here's a Beer for who was feeling my bumper sticker at the put in!