Post started around July 16, 2005...
Canoeing - Elkhorn Creek, KY (June 25, 2005)
This is long overdue but definitely worth blogging about. 3 weekends ago, I ventured out with 5 others from the young adult group at church for my first canoe trip. Okay, not quite my first trip. In 5th grade, our class went to LBL and went canoeing but it was flat lake type conditions, not the swift and rocky adventure that we went on.
Our adventure took us to the Elkhorn Creek outside of Frankfort. This was the 5th year that the group had made the trip. Several had been every year, a couple others had gone last year, and then a couple of us where venturing out for the first time.
As you all know, we haven't had a whole lot of rain at that point and the water was about 8 inches below summer pool. This was very evident as the day went on and we spent a lot of the 12 mile journey getting out of the canoe.
As I mentioned earlier, there was 6 of us who went out on this adventure, 4 guys and 2 gals. I felt sorry for whomever was stuck with me as I was definitely inexperienced in the skills of canoeing, as well as very weak in the upper body. We all headed out and the first bit was not too rough but we quickly found the low lying areas. It was also a very warm June day, and I definitely didn't mind getting wet.
*Additional notes 8 years later...The lucky gentleman, BB, that got stuck in the canoe with me had a lot of patience and willingness to get out and push. I definitely enjoyed the adventure and always wanted to a) try again when the creek actually had water b) try a more demanding adventure of white water rafting.
White Water Rafting - The New River, WV (August 17, 2013)
8 years after my first canoeing adventure and only one other canoe trip the following year since, the opportunity finally came to go white water rafting. Going into the weekend, I had no clue what to expect and was with 2 others from church who also had never really been white water rafting or done a lot of outdoor camping. Luckily, the youth and young adult ministry office provided us with all the necessary gear for a weekend tent camping trip with a day of rafting.
@ 9 am Saturday morning, we set out for our adventure down the Lower New River sill very uncertain of what to expect and what to do. And unlike the previous canoeing adventures, this summer has not been dry but unseasonable wet allowing for an extra 6-mile white water rafting adventure.
We hit 3 Class V rapids and several II's and III's. One of the first larger rapids almost ended sent me flying out of the raft, but thankfully, my foot was secure under the cross-beam and I stayed in the raft. But almost every chance I had to get out of the raft and float down the river or through a rapid, I took advantage. Unfortunately the larger rapid that we were allowed to swim down, I stayed in the raft seeming to be the only adult getting out of the raft every time and expecting another similar opportunity.
In taking on this adventure, I decided nothing was stopping me from the full experience, which included jumping off the below cliff. Yes, that is me flying in the air.
The experience was amazing for so many reasons...
- Reminded me of the lake and so made me miss adventures on the lake.
- Adrenaline rush jumping off the cliff.
- The experience of working as a team of strangers to successfully get as from point A to point B losing none in the process.
- Knowing that I can paddle through and survive this intermediate level of rafting.
I definitely returned home ready to go back especially with the talk of Gauley season there. Gauley is the other river and during September/early October the lake is drained into the river making for some very intense rafting experiences. Apparently the lower Gauley would be a step up from the Lower New River that we completed and the upper Gauley would be a big step up. Unfortunately with work and the lack of friends who like to white water raft, I am currently stuck not being able to experience this again this year and will have to see how vacation lands next year.
If you are ready for an adventure, let me know!
