Snack Time: No Portage Green laps and a bunch of ducks who surf better than me!

So this week was a fairly solid week of boating for me. I got off work because of the rain on Wednesday and we took off to the West fork of the Big Pigeon. We got there and it was a bit low, but it was great to get on a new creek. We all had a lot of fun, and I am looking forward to more rain so I can go back.

West Fork of the Big Pigeon

Friday night Scott and I went out to the Ledges with our creekboats. The French Broad was at like 2800 cfs and we were able to attain all the way up. It was a workout to say the least. Catching micro eddies and subtle currents, moving back and forth across the river all the way up to the top of the ledges. A full days worth of kayaking in 45 minutes. At the top, I witnessed something that was truly remarkable. In the very top hydrolic (definatly side-surfable in a creekboat), there were two ducks, and three of their chicks. The chicks were learning to surf. If one would climb out of the hole, the mom would kick it back in. For as long as I sat there this went on. If one drifted too far downstream one of the parents would jump in after it. They always made it back up the eddy and back into the hole. It was an amazing experience. Watching the parents teach the little ones to surf. What a joy they must now know!

One of my favorite Boofs on the river.

Nut Cracker, Green River Narrows

Saturday was a milestone for me. We set off down the river as usual, but when we got to Go Left, I went left. Then when we got to Gorilla, I ran it. I manked through nutcracker, got down to Sunshine, and in the eddy at the bottom, I completed my first no portage Green run. I'm so Stoked.