High water on the Upper J

Let us know how it went! Swim confessions and carnage reports are welcome, but it's not fair to tell on your buddies!

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jules
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High water on the Upper J

Post by jules »

This weekend brought decent temps and a chocolate river at 12.5 and 12.9 feet, respectively. Although it was a bit cool for my tastes on Saturday, the high water was too tempting. After all, I'd only worn my new dry suit with booties once before and hadn't had to test it. Yet.

I love the James at flood stage. Pushy water, big wave trains. Dougie was visiting; Guy and Shawn made up the rest of the Corn contingent. The PBP was representin' (Scott, JR, Ray) sans leader and her husband. The group had fun at zdam and we headed down to find other waves.

I found mine below the Powhite bridge. I was lazily drifting down and heading toward the guys in ten boat hole. I noticed the horizon line in front of me too late - it was wide so I tried to get up speed to punch because I knew I wasn't going to make my way to the side of the pourover. Guess I need to gain some weight - couldn't get through it in the ZG. Side surfed for a while; tried to make my way out to the side (this is a right-handed pourover and I'm a lefty) but due to the V shape it kept shoving me back to the middle. Tried reaching waaay out with my paddle - no luck. Tried swimming underwater in my boat - kept hitting the rock - I was stuck.

Guy was above me when I went in and was in the eddy below waiting when I popped out. He performed the gentleman's duty of ferrying me and my paddle to shore (rather than to ten boat hole) where I walked the tracks about half a mile to my boat waaaay below the arch bridge. Everyone opted for Cielito Lindo's warm atmosphere than another run, although I wanted to see my nemesis from the side again.

Sunday brought sunnier skies and higher temps, another half a foot, 5K more cfs, the original Saturday group minus Doug, plus the Monster, the Marshall (you heard me, that's right, he's back), Johanna, Kessmann, Brad and Potomac Pete. I had picked up my sister and her boyfriend at the airport at 12:30 and, being the adventure seekers they are they trusted my map and became honorary shuttle bunnies for the afternoon (my sis is the BEST!). I got a chance to see the pourover from the side this time and great fun was had dodging logs in the mystery play spot. Video to follow.

REPORT ON THE PALM TORRENT: Very, very dry. Best money I've spent in kayaking to date. :wink:
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Herb
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Re: High water on the Upper J

Post by Herb »

julesagogo wrote: Sunday brought sunnier skies and higher temps, another half a foot, ..., the Marshall (you heard me, that's right, he's back), :wink:
Nice trip report. Glad the dry suit is dry. WOW the Marshall is back! Bout time the James had some law and order back. Sweet.

Herb

A small ceremony will be held for the 91' Herb-mobile on Tuesday when it meets its new owner- Woodfin Honda salvage yard. All contributions are going to the Thule rack company for the newer Herb-mobile. :lol:
Paddle- swim- walk repeat
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fatdoug
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Post by fatdoug »

wish I coulda made the Sunday trip. It woulda been nice to play at 10 boat, but babysitting an empy boat past the boater motel under the bridge and helping shawn get it to shore was way better river karma.

Lunch at the mexican joint on St. Patricks Day was way warmer than a second run. And who knew there would be a pipe cleaner AND a Q-tip at the same table for lunch! what a day.
"You push a damn environmentalist, mountain hippie, devil worshipping pacifiest too far and you've got trouble!" - Jim Durham
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Boat Medic
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Post by Boat Medic »

Who got your boat to shore??
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kayakah
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Ouch!

Post by kayakah »

Glad your OK!
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Bob Dole
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Post by Bob Dole »

fatdoug wrote:Q-tip at the same table for lunch! what a day.
When that Q-tip gets soaked in beer it reminds me of a bobble head doll. I just want to smack it and watch it wobble for a min or two.
I used to be a paddler, now I just play one on the Innaweb.
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Post by fatdoug »

dweasel wrote:Who got your boat to shore??
Shawn did most of the actual work in getting the boat to shore. I was really there for moral support. :oops:
"You push a damn environmentalist, mountain hippie, devil worshipping pacifiest too far and you've got trouble!" - Jim Durham
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gromit
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Post by gromit »

Wish I could have been there - instead I was being tortured, I mean having a lovely time at a baby shower! Why do people have these things, and at 1pm on Sat when the James is 12ft plus - the inconsideration!! Anyway, glad you are OK Jules - guessing the incident was not at your namesake, the infamous "julies hole". The side surf sounds like fun, but not the "let me out of this hole" bit. Is the water warming up any?
:D
Glad to know Marshall is coming out of hibernation!!
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Paddleboy
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Post by Paddleboy »

It was. its really not that bad



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jules
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Post by jules »

dweasel wrote:Who got your boat to shore??
I don't know - you looked like you were taking it down the half mile to the beach with others surrounding, but it was all I could do to hang on to Guy's boat with frozen hands while holding my paddle in my teeth (by the pogies). Then we had to catch a little eddy behind a sapling where I hung on while Guy got more oxygen before we headed over to shore. After four tequila shots, I must have forgotten that. Thanks for saving my boat and not continuing to play in ten boat. :)
Gromit wrote:The side surf sounds like fun, but not the "let me out of this hole" bit. Is the water warming up any?
No. The side surf was not fun in the least. I didn't notice how cold the water was while under water but when I could no longer use my hands, it was pretty clear - it's coooold still.
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tim
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Post by tim »

So is it called "Julie Beach" now? Like I'm one to talk, got my brains bashed in on Friday. Glad it worked out for you guys.
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guy66
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Post by guy66 »

tim wrote:So is it called "Julie Beach" now? Like I'm one to talk, got my brains bashed in on Friday. Glad it worked out for you guys.
Different beach, different section. "Swimmy Beach" is still a downtown icon!! :twisted:

So when do we get to hear the "brains bashed in on Friday" story????
Envelope – Free stationary taken from the Marriott while on a business trip.
Snowflake address label – sent to me free and had to be used up.
Stained glass stamp – It was more then three feet away from me when I decided to get them so you know I didn’t see them clearly
Butterfly and Sunflower stickers on the back – Also free and required because the glue on the envelope was so old it no longer stuck.
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tim
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Post by tim »

guy66 wrote:
tim wrote: So when do we get to hear the "brains bashed in on Friday" story????
Don't flip at the top of No Place to Swim on Gooney. There isn't enough time to think "D''oh" between hits. It was cold, but at least it was snowing.

BTW, I've been working with AW regarding the new StreamTeam stuff. If you have questions, let me know. We are working on the problems. If you have suggestions,
please pass them through me. We are trying to make this work better.
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CLAMS!
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Post by CLAMS! »

If you have questions, let me know.
What is the proper boof technique?
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tim
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Post by tim »

Um, hit the rock head on or sideways, not the twisty pourover beside it? Proper technique is what we are trying to figure out for the AW StreamTeam stuff.
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