Marital Bliss! - PFD
Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2010 10:46 am
Well, it's long overdue now but I finally have some time to sit down and write my report and send out the MUCH needed thank you's.
--Starting with the Bachelor weekend June 12th...
There was much deliberation about doing the Yough vs. the New Gorge. But with H2O levels on the gorge in the 6+ foot range at decision time and other logistics taken into account we decided to go with the Yough. Plus the hospitality of the Trip K can rarely be declined!
Wade, Jeff, Matt, Mike and myself met up at the Trip K ranch and had a couple of great days on the Lower Yough. Wade and Jeff arrived before Matt and I did. They made their way to the Sugar Shack! and made friends with the locals. Sejal, if Wade wasn't already taken by you, I think he would have had a new Boyfriend that night!
Day 1 - Wade and Mike were in the Shredder, the rest of us hard boating with a respectable level of 3.1 if I recall correctly. We met up with Pat and Lee that morning before the run. It was a fantastic day! Sunshine, good river chat and much laughter. No SWIMS from anyone!
Swimmers was a bit on the high side so it was a pain in the butt to get into (had to walk up and drop in) but there were plenty of waves to play on. Pat and Lee moved over to the Trip K from their camp ground that night. There were plenty of drinks and some sweet cigar smoke and more laughter as those who had taken the plung before me reassured me about my decision.
Day 2 more of the same at 2.9ft. My highschool bud Mike, who is a non-paddler, did great in a ducky and actually came out of the experience WAYYYY interested in kayaking. He lives in Johnstown, PA with Stoney Creek in his backyard, so hopefully he gets into it good!
Big thanks to Matt for planning the weekend. Also big thanks to Wade, Jeff, Pat & Lee as well as my non-coastals bud Mike, for a great weekend. Not to be forgotten, HUGE thanks to Dave for opening up the Trip K to us. Sorry you couldn't be there for some quality "bro down" time. Place looks great BTW.
--Onto the wedding day and honeymoon...
Not much to tell here, it was a class II-III event. I'd run it again without scouting (but that's not happening!). The wedding went off without a hitch. I didn't cry, although i was close! Paige looked beautiful as always, I looked as good as one should in a tux (It was no dashing dry suit or anything and they wouldn't let me wear a helmet. So that took away from the overall outfit.) Matt as my best man did great as expected.
The reception was a blast although it didn't last long enough. Matt gave a fantastic speech. I highly recommend him as BM if you're looking! It was fantastic seeing all my kayaking buds come out dressed in their best. It meant so much to me seeing you guys come out. Most of my friends from yesteryear are back in PA and couldn't or wouldn't make the trip, so I felt a bit unloved. Having MY PEOPLE there meant so much. I can't thank y'all enough! I only regret not being able to sit and actually talk to everyone. But I guess that's the nature of such events.
--The Honeymoon...
A bit of a bust actually. Suffice it to say, we won't be going back to St Lucia and may never use Sandals/Beaches Resorts again.
The room was a dump, got "downgraded" to a less expensive, but FAR nicer room without any compensation. The people we met in St Lucia were just miserable! (Both on the resort and off) There were plenty of drug dealers around though! The food was ho-hum. Drinks were good! The beach was decent and we had plenty of sun and time together. So looking at it from that standpoint, how could it be bad. Right? The plane rides were long and they didn't book us sitting together for the flight back.
Just overall not the best trip I've ever taken.
BUT, back to the real world now. Looking to get out paddling whenever I can and hoping for some water in the James!
Thanks to everyone!
SYOTR
-Rob
--Starting with the Bachelor weekend June 12th...
There was much deliberation about doing the Yough vs. the New Gorge. But with H2O levels on the gorge in the 6+ foot range at decision time and other logistics taken into account we decided to go with the Yough. Plus the hospitality of the Trip K can rarely be declined!
Wade, Jeff, Matt, Mike and myself met up at the Trip K ranch and had a couple of great days on the Lower Yough. Wade and Jeff arrived before Matt and I did. They made their way to the Sugar Shack! and made friends with the locals. Sejal, if Wade wasn't already taken by you, I think he would have had a new Boyfriend that night!
Day 1 - Wade and Mike were in the Shredder, the rest of us hard boating with a respectable level of 3.1 if I recall correctly. We met up with Pat and Lee that morning before the run. It was a fantastic day! Sunshine, good river chat and much laughter. No SWIMS from anyone!
Swimmers was a bit on the high side so it was a pain in the butt to get into (had to walk up and drop in) but there were plenty of waves to play on. Pat and Lee moved over to the Trip K from their camp ground that night. There were plenty of drinks and some sweet cigar smoke and more laughter as those who had taken the plung before me reassured me about my decision.
Day 2 more of the same at 2.9ft. My highschool bud Mike, who is a non-paddler, did great in a ducky and actually came out of the experience WAYYYY interested in kayaking. He lives in Johnstown, PA with Stoney Creek in his backyard, so hopefully he gets into it good!
Big thanks to Matt for planning the weekend. Also big thanks to Wade, Jeff, Pat & Lee as well as my non-coastals bud Mike, for a great weekend. Not to be forgotten, HUGE thanks to Dave for opening up the Trip K to us. Sorry you couldn't be there for some quality "bro down" time. Place looks great BTW.
--Onto the wedding day and honeymoon...
Not much to tell here, it was a class II-III event. I'd run it again without scouting (but that's not happening!). The wedding went off without a hitch. I didn't cry, although i was close! Paige looked beautiful as always, I looked as good as one should in a tux (It was no dashing dry suit or anything and they wouldn't let me wear a helmet. So that took away from the overall outfit.) Matt as my best man did great as expected.
The reception was a blast although it didn't last long enough. Matt gave a fantastic speech. I highly recommend him as BM if you're looking! It was fantastic seeing all my kayaking buds come out dressed in their best. It meant so much to me seeing you guys come out. Most of my friends from yesteryear are back in PA and couldn't or wouldn't make the trip, so I felt a bit unloved. Having MY PEOPLE there meant so much. I can't thank y'all enough! I only regret not being able to sit and actually talk to everyone. But I guess that's the nature of such events.
--The Honeymoon...
A bit of a bust actually. Suffice it to say, we won't be going back to St Lucia and may never use Sandals/Beaches Resorts again.
The room was a dump, got "downgraded" to a less expensive, but FAR nicer room without any compensation. The people we met in St Lucia were just miserable! (Both on the resort and off) There were plenty of drug dealers around though! The food was ho-hum. Drinks were good! The beach was decent and we had plenty of sun and time together. So looking at it from that standpoint, how could it be bad. Right? The plane rides were long and they didn't book us sitting together for the flight back.
Just overall not the best trip I've ever taken.
BUT, back to the real world now. Looking to get out paddling whenever I can and hoping for some water in the James!
Thanks to everyone!
SYOTR
-Rob
