Yeah. I not too bothered by the water
level and all the perils associated with it, I know the “Big Barge” can handle it and I pretty well know not only where the deadfalls and strainers are but where and at what water levels the possibilities of future wash-ins may occur. I just want to keep the recovering hand clean and dry while zippin’ and dancing downstream through shortcuts, wave trains, and busting through canopy. It’s the possibility of having the glove ripped off my hand while brush-busting through the canopy is my only worry for now. No rain or wind as of yet but it rained pretty heavy less than a half-mile west and just over a quarter-mile east from here about an hour ago. Even at the extreme outer bands of a storm it’s still hit-or-miss, just like our typical tropical florida rain always does.
Sissy, do you have esp?
Meri-Heather called yesterday (she's at a friend's for a week) asking if I wanted to stay over during the storm and I informed her of my plans. She's not too thrilled about the trip, worried more about the nastiness of the water than anything else, but said that I could stay there stay with her and do the creek the morning after the storm. I think she just wants to sneak out while I'm asleep and double-check all my medical & emergency gear, check out the hand before and after, etc. She's funny that way.
I have six daughters
Which one should I listen to?
Seems the other way around.
They are always asking for my advice
Cheers,
JackL
My daughter has given me
excellent advice over many years as she would see a situation from her point of view with neither of us being judgemental about it. Her intuition concerning me I never doubt. She still in college to become a criminal psych. so yes, when it comes to brains she’s got it all over me.
I’ve never asked her permission for anything concerning what I do by myself but if I bring up the subject of paddling a remote spot she’ll let me know how she’s feeling about it.
Examples of her intuition:
#1. Because I didn’t listen to her advice (she was FOUR at the time!) a boomerang sliced open the tip of my ring finger to the bone.
#2. Because I did listen to her about taking a detour off of US41 on our way to Terre Ceia Island in heavy fog at about 4AM we avoided a six-vehicle pile up w/ fatalities when a loaded semi plowed into cars waiting at a RR crossing.
#3. Because I did listen to her I cancelled a two-day paddle/camp out to Carl Ross Key (before Hurr. Wilma and Katrina tore it up) all because she didn’t ‘feel’ right about it, although forecasters said the next few days would be great. The morning I was supposed to paddle out of Flamingo came north-easterly winds of 30kts. w/ gusts of 40. That system hung around for three days.
All I know is if I listen to my daughter’s words and heed them I do well. If I don’t I pay the price.
Yeah, It may be brown and ugly but …
the sounds and the thrill of staying upright while making maneuvers in rushing water, honing up my hand-eye coordination at various speeds, working the gray matter upstairs to calculate how far upstream you have to plan for the various obstacle(s) avoidances, what to tie off to for picking grapes out of the canopy while still in the canoe, watching the wildlife on the move, and getting a quite a workout both physially and mentally are just a few reasons I paddle the poop-soup floods.
It my be a moot point…
Here it is, Tuesday at almost 3pm and no rain from the storm yet, here in Lutz anyway. This is what I get for planning an outing according to the weather channel 3 days in advance. The gage at the creek is reading 72.6 ft. and dropping. If the creek gets rain now I figure it will rise 2 ft. at best, which will put the water level a good 8 ft. below flood stage and will be just high enough to flow over the most of the rocks and boulders, deadfalls and strainers. Still, I would actually have to use a few forward strokes once I hit the pools.
Tomorrow will tell…
It was rude of me to forget but …
Thanks to everyone for your input.