Kibler Valley, Basketball Court to Presb. Church

Wow what a difference river flow makes.  Last Friday Dennis and I did this run when the dam was running at 9600 kwh.  It was fabulous!  Today is was 7600 kwh.  This was much harder. It was very "boney" as the other paddlers called it.  You have to really play dodge rock or get bit!. Our first run was a little rocky but we did great.  At this point I think Dennis and I were a little big for our britches.  We thought our little Mango Liquid Logic Coupes were invincible with us at the helm. WRONG.

I have been paddling 26 times since Thanks Giving 2011 and have never flipped, today had to be the day for an unexpected, (unwanted) swim.  I was going to try Basketball Falls a class 3 rapid which is at the top of the run.  I put the boat in the water above the falls and was trying to ferry over to the line another paddler we had met showed us. I was supposed to go slightly right of the pointy exposed rock at the top of the falls and ride the current through the falls.

The water was too rocky and shallow. I could not get power to get to the line I was aiming for.  I got stuck on a rock sideways and next thing I knew I had flipped. Struggling to get out of my thigh straps, I finally got to my feet.At this point I had the boat in one hand and my paddle in the other but the current was so strong I could not walk.  I had one option, release the boat and hope the paddler below would catch it and swim through the rapid. I remember standing there thinking..... Is this really my only option to swim through these falls?

I know from my whitewater rafting safety lessons, YOU DO NOT WANT TO WALK OR EVEN STAND IN FAST MOVING WHITEWATER. Here I struggle to stand in water I should not be standing in and can not make a step.

The swim.... I released the boat to do a solo down the falls, held my paddle and lowered myself into the water and took a pounding swim over the first falls then took at easier swim over the second falls and swam toward the bank shaking a little.

Sooooo thankful another paddler got my boat paddled it over to me.  HE WAS GREAT!!
After this swim I was a little shaken.  My confidence was shaken too.  I hit every rock possible the next 1/4 mile, got stuck on a rock then Dennis's boat slid on top of my boat and help pinned me to the rock.  The other paddler had to rescue us again.  This section has so many rocks and strainers and I hit each one this run.

Then 10 minutes later my glasses fogged up and I could not see.  I had to take them off and paddle without them. As my glasses fell out of my pocket to the bottom of the boat I looked up and Dennis flips his boat.  I think he was sympathizing with my swim.  Thirty minutes later he did it again though.  He has never flipped his boat before either.  It was a bad day.

Rough day for the Taylors.....     We ate kayak humble pie....... Score: Dan River, Kibler Valley 3, Taylors 0.  We may be battered and bruised but we are not defeated yet.

I may be watching too much of the Olympics.....

Smith River, Sports Complex to Mitchell Bridge

Timed the water level perfect. Had a fun and eventful day with great friends Warren and Kelly.

This section of the Smith River at the Sports Complex Access gets the water from the Martinsville dam 3 1/2 hours from the release time.  The dam releases at 1pm today and by 4:30pm it had peaked at the Sports Complex access.  The first part of this run is pretty flat and boring but from Eggleston Falls on it is pretty fun and has nice scenery.   This section has many class 1 and 1+ rapids (possibly a 2) and one 2+ or 3  which is Eggleston Falls.  We put in at 4:30pm as the Sports Complex passed Marrowbone Access at 5:30pm and got out around 7:15pm.  This information is helpful because I have not found it written anywhere and it is much more enjoyable to paddle in the river when it has water!!

Dennis and I discovered that Eggleston Falls is pretty easy to run if you go slightly left of the the center exposed rock then shift right toward the BIG exposed rock down stream.  Our friends Warren and Kelly enjoyed the sluice on the left to bypass the falls.  It is a fun ride as well.

The only low point was passing a stinky deer carcass as fast as I could and hearing gagging noises behind me, breathing out of my mouth while trying not to gag myself.  I discovered I can gather speed when I paddle if I need to. Phew!

Also I discovered people are generally kind when a stranger stopped after being flagged down by Kelly and gave the guys a lift to the put in after we left the keys of the vehicle parked at the take out in the vehicle parked at the put in. Thanks kind stranger!  Reminder to self:  Always ask about the keys before entering the river!

Also note to self: Calling the cab company in Martinsville is useless unless you can give them step by directions on how to get to you.  I gave them the address but they do not have a GPS I guess and had no idea how to find us.  Better not need a ride in Martinsville.

One more fun paddle before school starts!