River Diary - Nantahala, September 19, 1998

Fifteen showed for the GCA (Georgia Canoeing Association) Nantahala run, and the coordinator, despite talking about splitting us into "players" (that would include me) and "river runners" which might have been better for all...decided to keep the group together. But the river was so crowded and our group so mixed in terms of several inexperienced on the Nantahala, that given what he must have felt as his responsibility I can understand his decision to keep us together. Being "well experienced" on the Nantahala I was asked together with another guy named Edward to lead. Tom, the coordinator, ran sweep. In the group was a woman, Susan M., in her 40s, I'd guess. We both sensed immediate recognition, and she said that we'd paddled together on the Chattahoochee. It was soon determined that could not have been the case. Then I asked her if she had ever been at UGA. Turns out she had done an independent study under my supervision many years ago at UGA and had tested monkeys for me using the WGTA (Wisconsin General Testing Apparatus). I definitely remembered her but did not remember any specifics.

I'd say all in all it was in interesting day on the river, but far from optimal for almost everyone as a paddling experience, because it was so slow and so filled with "duty" by all to keep up with the whereabouts of everyone else. Doing that was difficult because the river was almost like going to Six Flags that day in terms of numbers of paddlers, general congestion, etc. I felt "zoned out" much of the day, and I mean literally. Analysis suggested it was a combination of too much booze Friday night and a poor night of sleep because Mike (son-in-law) and Lori (daughter) were up at 5:00 a.m. " noising about" so Mike could get to his post to guard his tailgater's spot for a UGA football game.  I also had an upset stomach to start the day and, maybe, insufficient nourishment. I paddled OK but was shaky at the start, e.g., Edward and I stopped at Patton's and set throw ropes, and I was too close behind him running Patton's Run and had to veer right which prevented me from eddying out as close to Patton's on the left as I wanted. But no harm done, and I was quickly in place with the rope. But after Patton's I knew I needed some energy and ate half my BIG Hershey's which helped. I also had some cookies that I ate later as well as tuna salad and crackers. I usually don't take candy, but my occasional paddling partner, Ed Muligan, had taken a big Hershey on our last trip to NR which he shared about midway along, and I discovered that it gave me needed "fuel" for a successful run at the Falls.

It was a day of "assistance given," not so much to our group, but I have never seen so many spilled canoes and kayaks, especially at Delabar's Rock and at the falls, people falling out of rafts...maybe it was a function of paddler numbers, as there were so many people on the river. One particularly troubled group of about five canoes had VOEP printed on their canoes. They were all tandem and showed signs of training, but one or the other seemed to be constantly overturning. Below Pyramid Rock which is about a 50 yard long rapid, we had to assist in the recovery of one paddler and canoe...the rafters resting on the shore below the rapid actually emitted a small burst of applause. A bit later a different canoe in the group had broached and pinned, and it took five of us to free the canoe...not including the two young women who had been paddling it. Later, someone asked me if I knew what VOEP was and I said "no." Still later, when I shared an eddy with one of them and asked. I learned it was" Vanderbilt Outdoor Education Program."

The guy I probably spent more time with in our group was in his 40s I'd say. His name was Bart, and I'd guess an Atlanta businessman. He was a good paddler, as he has paddled the Ocoee eight times. Bart caught the eddy at the end of Five Eddy, the one I have never been able to catch and hold. I complimented him on it and said that I had never been able to catch it (including my attempt on this trip). He seemed pleased and said that it was his first success after many failed attempts. So, I felt "bonded" with him about that.

At the falls, Edward said we were to run ahead and set throw ropes. I asked if he wanted to scout and he said no...which was my preference. I asked if he planned to catch Truckstop Eddy, and he said he planned to "try" so then I said we better space ourselves because I planned to catch it, too. After he was well ahead, and I lost sight of him (as there was enough other traffic and big water to watch) I proceeded, positioning my run to catch Truckstop, but as I looked ahead, I saw Truckstop catch a big raft of boaters (they surely didn't catch it) and it was going to be cutting it too close for me to try to share it with them (they held the high position), so I quickly opted to proceed with the run. I followed the curve of the flow and felt quite satisfied with the control I had in the run. Edward, I learned, had finished it out of his canoe. But we were soon in place with the throw ropes, although there were others "at the ready," too.

Our group all ran upright, although one got caught in and had to fight the hole near the boulder on down river right. Ropes were flying... mainly at fallen rafters, some rather young, but an occasional canoe or kayak as well. I actually only threw once and hit my "victim" right over the shoulders with the rope which he quickly grabbed to be "swung" ashore.

Enroute home with a soothing drink to sip and some good Andes mountain music to enjoy, I opted for the high mountain return on NC 28, since I had not done it in awhile. A red Toyota automobile with three kayaks atop and a SC tag was just behind me and made the turn for the low road as I proceeded on down the highway for the turn to the high road. I caught up with them again before Franklin, which meant they had traversed the low road faster than I had the high road (as I had long surmised was likely to be the case) but that I caught them before Franklin suggests either road must be close to equivalent as far as making time driving for me...maybe they had a pit stop after regaining NC 28 but I doubt it, as there are no easy good ones in daylight along there. They also took what I guess they assumed was a shortcut at the left turn in Franklin (i.e., while I turned left, they proceeded straight) but I was ahead of them when they rejoined the main route a couple of miles later...I must confess that I was tempted but refrained from smiling and waving as I passed them while they had to wait for traffic to pass before they could leave the "shortcut" to reenter 441. They probably enjoyed knowing they had gotten ahead of me via their low road run. It was satisfaction enough to know that I was sure they had seen an open boater on their tail before the Franklin shortcut...but what the heck...next time maybe I will try their shortcut, too...variety is the spice of life!