Sure the salmon is a nice kick off to the season, but how about 19 km Class III-IV to start spring paddling? The Nolichucky in Tennessee is a perfect Bill Schlarb river - boulder gardens, eddy hopping, boat scout, pick your way down (Bill - think costa rica).
Adrian had to work Saturday morning. Picked him up at 1:00 in Kingston. From there drove to Staunton Virginia last night. On the road at 7:00 this morning. Erwin Tennesse by 11:00 a.m. On the river by noon. Spring is in full bloom here. It went up to 21 C today. Beautiful sunny day. Nice way to kick off spring paddling week down here in the Southeast. At the take out there's a guy named Johnny and his partner Charlotte. They run Uncle Johnny's hostel for hikers on the Appalachian trail and the boaters. They do shuttles as well. So Charlotte came up to the put in with us and drove the car back to the take-out where it was waiting for us. We met up with local boater Chris (who used to live in a campground by the takeout until he bought two acres by the put-in) and bombed down the river boat scouting only with him leading the way (there's nothing like doing a new river you've never seen and have no point of reference and some guy with Southern drawl you barely understand is describing the offset holes and pourovers and you're glad he talks with his hands because they make the most sense and you figure well there's no Class V here so I'll figure it out as I go). Adrian had some quality upside down time in the sticky right side of Jaws (he didn't do that twice!). Chris pulled off about half way down the run to wait for friends to catch up and we did the rest of the run picking our own lines. Beautiful steep gorge the whole way, clear water - you could see bottom most of the time.
After we got off the river, drove the rest of the way to the vacation home we booked in North Carolina, did a shopping trip and then we fired up the bbq, grilled up some steaks and killed a bottle of Shiraz in our totally awesome bachelor pad log home (4 bd - 3 bath, 3 flat screens, 2 fireplace....) North Carolina gem (check out the cabins on greatsmokyrentals.com). There's even foosball, shuffleboard and WII and wireless internet (which is why I'm able to post tonight). Adrian's still wandering around the place wondering which room to crash in. Wish some of you other Cdbers had made the trip.
Awesome day on and off river. Tomorrow we are probably off to the Tellico. Will probably swing by Nanthala to see if there are other boaters around to be local guides etc.
A perfect day...well except for the reckless driving citation that Tennesse state trooper handed me on the I-81 clocking me at 86 miles per hour (I was in a hurry to get to the river officer). Oh well, I've done worse.
Now do I figure out the controls for the hot tub tonight or leave that for tomorrow... decisions decisions.
