The Narrows is a special place for many reasons: the reputation, the race, the gradient, the mystique. I got a chance to paddle it this past Sunday after getting skunked on a Saturday run (Operational schedules are determined daily, but I secretly think it's hourly sometimes).
January 31, 2004
Joint Carolina Canoe Club and Foothills Paddling Club trip
CCC: Knut Radloff, Stan Stutts, Gary Mason, Johnson Rice, Jill Dinsdale, Woody O'Brian, Chris & Bridget Nudi, John Hall, Stephen Janes.
FPC: David Blumberg & Merridee Harper, Ruth Albright, Bill Joerger, Fred Metherell,Guy Latham, Whitney Eure.
It seems that at every CCC event there is always some incident, good or bad, which provokes campfire conversation and laughter. The CCC 2004 Easter Weekend was no exception. As paddlers, there is a new quote that we should all exercise before putting on the river: “Ask questions, assume nothing”. I’m told credit for this goes to Ron Tolley, after a 6 hour trip on the French Broad from Barnard to Stackhouse. It’s a quote, after learning, which I failed to exercise myself before getting on the Nolichucky with 20 paddlers. Never again, it is now my golden rule.
Who: Robert Martin (TL), Jack Shuler, Diane Owens, Ted Jean and Gary Lambert from Florida, Canadian Jack, New York Jim, Buffalo Don, Up State Chris/Rich; Jay Trayler, Pat Glazier, Robert Weddle, and last, but not least, Nate Gulbreth and Todd Corey, with whom I've not gotten to paddle for 2 Obed seasons in a row.
When: March 21-25, 2004
Where: Well, that's a good question …
Instructors: Sharon Myers, a mountain of paddling sized up as a women’s medium;Spencer Muse, a beautiful paddler, a gentle soul, and a triumph of dedication and perseverance over aptitude.
Students: Russ Scheve, Kurt McKissick, Michele Pagnotta, and me, Sandi Metz.
PRELUDE
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