We got off to a late start and decided that we were acting like kayker slacker butt-boat-double-bladed-paddle-whackers. We even got a 'yaker to run our shuttle, a first by our calculations.
This occurred Saturday, Feb 4, level 5' and falling.
Now for the record, I've rowed Lower Richland a couple of times and managed to keep a Super Puma right-side-up on the Tot at about 6'. That said, my pucker factor was quite high (I believe the phrase about first time on Upper Richland pucker factor references, regardless of boat, often involve the phrase "drive a railroad spike" somewhere.) I was following Cap'n and Marcel as closely as safety allowed.
So.......all went well down to the confluence lunch spot (thanks to the kayakers who flagged us down at Crack so we didn't get stuck on the new tree there).
At Cindy's Hole, Marcel's raft did a strange sideways flop-drop and I sort of forgot that the move is left of left of center(important). I opted instead for the nice tongue of water to the right. (Do NOT do this). No sooner had the raft achieved horizontal-ness than my upstream oar was grabbed by the sinister churning current of the hole. Rather than break my arm, I let go,figuring that a flip was imminent. "High siding" entered my mind while under the raft. I went over the upstream tube, bumped my head on the raft and surfaced to swim to the first eddy on the left. It should be noted here that the raft surely kept me from getting worked in the hole.
So.......I climbed up on the rocks while Marcel eddied out and Stewart chased my oars that had been ripped from the oar rights. Video of person-free raft surfing the hole .http://vimeo.com/36290572" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Marcel arrived with throw bag in hand and after 2 attempts landed a nice shot behind the seat and pulled the raft to the side. Throw bag was filled with enough rocks to keep it in the raft. Note: always good to have a swiftwater rescue instructor on the trip.
Stewart arrived with an oar and a few minutes later we were off to get the lost oar and continue down the creek. We were interrupted by Jeff getting worked in the hole long enough to get everyone's adrenaline pumping. He flushed out and was reunited with his boat and sufficient air.
Thanks to Dan Daniels? for snagging my lost oar just above Apple Pie.
We'd tied the rafts off just above Upper Screw Up to retrieve the lost oar. Following Stewart and Marcel, I approached the launch pad. Got stuck on a rock and could not get off of it. Oh, wait, that's not a rock, my stern painter is caught on a rock upstream. #$%@#%@#$%@#$!
My only option was to get my knife out, get out of the seat, cut the rope, and jump back in the seat and try to get right(and get the knife folded and back in pocket). Cap'n had said emphatically, "don't get too far left". Somehow did it and kept my @$$ in the raft, hit the line at Lower Screw Up and finished with raft upright.( Stewart's advice for LSU: ship the oars, close your eyes, and hold on to the frame. Good advice. )
Marcel and Stewart were uncommonly kind in not heaping too much abuse on me for the rope trick(maybe because I had takeout beer?). They did say that they were just about to leave me to it when I finally cut the rope.
All in all, great day!
