I went on the Coastal's trip on Saturday and had an amazing time! I ran clean lines through all of the major rapids except River's End. Entrance was an intimidating beginning but very fun in hind site. Cucumber, Railroad, and Dimple were a blast. A million thanks to the folks in my group (Susanne, Chris, Katheryn, Mayo, and Jon) who led me down lines and made the trip even more fun! I left with bloody knuckles and many great memories!
Also, I want to add a very special thank you to Wade and Sejal for putting together an amazing trip!
Cheers and SYOTR,
Josh
PFD Lower Yough
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sportskat91
- Class I
- Posts: 181
- Joined: Sat May 03, 2008 10:20 am
- Location: Richmond, Va
Thanks for the memory flood, Josh, and congrats on your PFD.
My actual first time was in a raft as a kid, back before we had electricity.
First time in a hardboat was a big deal for me. Mine was with the Monocacy Canoe Club. Thankfully I came through without bleeding (that came later).
I recall watching with some nervous horror as everyone in the parking lot pulled on cold-water gear while I had none. (It was mid June and it hadn't occurred to me to bring any.) That part turned out to be no big deal.
Downstream we went, encountering bigger water than I'd ever seen before in a yak. It all went well and confidence grew until we got to the Dimple Factor.
Pucker.
Our line consultant, Tony, uttered wise words in the staging eddy which I've repeated many times. "See that boulder on the left with the water pillowing up on it? That's Dimple. Look at it now and then never look at it again."
Hitting that line was a big woo hoo!
Great fun time, great river, thanks to Wade, Sejal, Tom and the gang for organizing and herding the cats. And, who's idea was this anyway? Dave K as I recall.
Cheers,
Ken
My actual first time was in a raft as a kid, back before we had electricity.
First time in a hardboat was a big deal for me. Mine was with the Monocacy Canoe Club. Thankfully I came through without bleeding (that came later).
I recall watching with some nervous horror as everyone in the parking lot pulled on cold-water gear while I had none. (It was mid June and it hadn't occurred to me to bring any.) That part turned out to be no big deal.
Downstream we went, encountering bigger water than I'd ever seen before in a yak. It all went well and confidence grew until we got to the Dimple Factor.
Pucker.
Our line consultant, Tony, uttered wise words in the staging eddy which I've repeated many times. "See that boulder on the left with the water pillowing up on it? That's Dimple. Look at it now and then never look at it again."
Hitting that line was a big woo hoo!
Great fun time, great river, thanks to Wade, Sejal, Tom and the gang for organizing and herding the cats. And, who's idea was this anyway? Dave K as I recall.
Cheers,
Ken
Glad you had a good time! 
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming....WOW What a ride! . . . . . Trying to live up to this, Priceless. As long as you have good insurance!
Glad you had fun Josh and way to step it up on some of the more "technical" lines throughout the day. Oh, I hold no responsibility for the bloody knuckles! 
John and SportsKat91 rocked it as well and were a joy to travel down hill with. I think SportsKat01's helmet got as much use on the rocks as the bottom of her boat!
I'm glad I was able to keep you away from the more serious members of the group(not mentioning any names, Lee) which on my PFD I'll never forget at River's End the simplest of rapid descriptions: "follow me". There's a humorous video floating around somewhere of me pinned between the wall rock and saw-tooth yet hanging over the ledge still in my boat. Mark P. maybe??
Cheers to Mangles, Barb and KessmanN for the great ideas and wonderful execution!
Side note: if you haven't taken Dave K's creeking clinic; DO IT! It's an amazing way to find your way through the Lower Yough(and back up and down and back up and down and bac....)!
John and SportsKat91 rocked it as well and were a joy to travel down hill with. I think SportsKat01's helmet got as much use on the rocks as the bottom of her boat!
I'm glad I was able to keep you away from the more serious members of the group(not mentioning any names, Lee) which on my PFD I'll never forget at River's End the simplest of rapid descriptions: "follow me". There's a humorous video floating around somewhere of me pinned between the wall rock and saw-tooth yet hanging over the ledge still in my boat. Mark P. maybe??
Cheers to Mangles, Barb and KessmanN for the great ideas and wonderful execution!
Side note: if you haven't taken Dave K's creeking clinic; DO IT! It's an amazing way to find your way through the Lower Yough(and back up and down and back up and down and bac....)!
"I may not have gone where I intended to go but I think I ended up where I needed to be..." Douglas Adams
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sportskat91
- Class I
- Posts: 181
- Joined: Sat May 03, 2008 10:20 am
- Location: Richmond, Va
I'll jump on the bandwagon and thank everyone for my PFD and PSD. Special thanks to Shaggy for showing me the big-boy line on river's end! That set me up for the most epic combat roll of my paddling career! I saw the looks when the others in my group went by on the more traditional line. "What is Jon doing behind that rock on the wrong side of the flow?" I really appreciate everyone who gives me a little push to get better (jump in that hole, surf that wave, etc.). Thanks. I can't wait for my PTD!
Jon Dzielak