Medina Falls - Ouch!!!

So we (Jim and I, who else) went out to fire up Medina Falls on Thursday. Medina falls is about a 30 foot waterfall, right in the village of Medina, and the water actually runs right under the Erie Canal. It is pretty cool to see, and even cooler to drop. Since a bunch of the team SPEDers have run this before, I wasn't really that nervous.

My first line was great. I put a little stomp action to it, and other than flipping at the bottom because I was tucked up a bit too tight, was about as good as I could have asked for. I should have just packed it in and went home. But of course I had to try and one up myself.

On the second run, I tried to get to the meat more, and plug it a little better to soften the blow. Just like a Saturday night, I out did myself a little too much. I stuck the line, and plugged the beef. In doing so, I slammed the bottom of the river, denting the front of the Magnum, rolling my ankle, and tweaking my back. Initially my back had me pretty concerned. I re-surfaced with my skirt imploded (implosion bar inside the boat) and a bit worried. It felt like someone had punched me in the back, as I was out of air, and hurting. But after I got to shore, and got out of the boat, I think it was just more shock than anything. Over the course of the next few days, the ankle gave me more pain than my back has yet, though both are still pretty sore.

Yesterday I drove over to Stone Valley with my new ankle brace hoping to get a lap or two in with someone. I was the only one to sign the book, which was disappointing to say the least. Why the hell does AW and local paddlers fight for releases if we aren't going to use them!!! People need to get off their lazy asses and get out to these releases.

Today, Jim and I ran the Black. Hole Brothers was shitty, but Jim was nailing some big stuff and I was paddling like crap. We both had some pretty good lines down river but I think Jim was showing everyone up. We got to watch some good raft carnage at Cruncher. Nice weather and just a great day to be on the river.

Probably headed to the lock a few times this week, but headed to see Rise Against again on Thursday. I can't wait!

"Save us from what we have become tonight.

Eyes glazed with distrust, no sense of wrong or right.' - Rise Against, Chamber the Cartridge

LaFlair

Black River Fest

So since running Rainbow Falls two weeks ago, paddling has been limited to Lock 32 about 5 times. But this weekend was the Black River Fest...

We had a great weekend. Saturday morning we had a "fun run" down the gorge, got to watch some nice carnage at Glen Park, Cruncher and Poop Chute. The best had to be Poop Chute, where a group of like 5 had 4 of 5 had people get shit shot. I saw a guy get back endered so hard, his boat came right out of the water and back into the hole. It was amusing to say the least. One of the guys swam, and as usual we got stuck picking up the pieces. Jim took a little digger during the ordeal, which added a quick trip to urgent care for a few stitches and some antibiotics to his day. Saturday evening was the Lozer Cup race from Glen Park to Poop Chute. SPED held up well, as Matt was like 10th, Jim was 9th, I was 6th and Danny was 2nd. There were nice "I try my hardest" ribbons, and nasty whiskey shots for the winners. The finish at poop chute was priceless. Jim and I put ourselves in harms way to save the lives of others who were getting worked in the hole. Matt decided to be a hero and take the only SPED swim out of the hole, tho we had 2 other racers swim as well.

Saturday night's party was definitely as advertised. Golf Pro's and Tennis Ho's was the theme, and a Talking Heads cover band put on a great show. Plus they had the new Demshitz video playing on "the big screen", and about 4 kegs of beer. Yea, we tied a few on....

Today we spend the day on the river again, doing the hung-over death march paddle. The lines were pretty clean, considering the brain cells we killed last night. I ran Poop Chute today twice without getting my face wet, which had to be my personal highlight of the day. Either that or listening to the General yell at the girls in the raft to quit whining and get the raft in Cruncher.

Back to Rochester tomorrow, then hopefully Stone Valley next weekend....but Cheers for now!

Getting it Done on Section III

We'll it's been a long time coming but we finally got back on Section III of the Oswegotchie.  And to be honest, I would have never thought we would have gotten back on it in early July, in 70+ degree temps and sunny.  It was just about the perfect day for kayaking.  And the river did not disappoint. 

The Crew:  Danny Doran, Paul Sally McNancypants Twist, Captain Jim, A Cookie, Kurt (yes Kurt), Dave Fulle, myself and Ron Iforgotmyskirtandhadtohikeinandwatchfromshore Turney.

The day started right off with a bang, with the 4th of 7 in the group paddling ran the first drop.  Dave got a little left of "where he wanted to be" and got a nice piece of the meat.  Now, I have heard of people still pulling a nasty boof over there, but Dave didn't get so lucky.  He did though do a great job of staying upright long enough to get him the rope.  We unfortunately could not get it before it went around the corner and through the second drop.  By the time Danny and Paul got to it, it was about 6" shorter in the front.  Hopefully Ron will send me the pics soon so I can add them.

No one drowned at the second rapid, so I must say it was run much better than our previous decent.  Sally picked up his nipples that were tore off the first time as well, which was nice.

OK so after some of the less eventful rapids, then about an hour of scouting, Danny, Andy and I fired up the "Drop above Rainbow Falls" which in difficulty was easy, but in thrill was awesome.  After all, if you miss the big easy ferry, you have the big scary right below.  

Unless you are Danny and I.

I needed to let Danny show me the line, which he did and then some.  The kid laid the smack down on the big dog.  He did such a nice job, that he solidified the line that I wanted to take.  I cleaned up myself, styling the big line.  Unfortunately my skirt did not fair so well.  I came up from the depths upright, with my skirt in my lap, and a wet ass.  I paddled it out through the first part of the run out, but with more rapids to come, and the boat full, I decided to abandon ship.  I really was just afraid of getting pinned in the boat.  It was a great line, and I don't know if I could have hit it much better (I mean ME, I don't think I could have hit it better).  I was stoked and still am.

So stoked I decided not to paddle through the rapids after.  You may know, the ones with the holes that are pretty stomping but if you just paddle you should be fine.  Yea that is my signature move is to get through the crux of the river, and then  let down.  Lucky I didn't swim on this occasion, just took a nice surf.

It was a freakin' great day and I still can't believe we went creeking in the Adirondaks in July!

Cheers!

LaFlair

PS:  Photos/video to come soon (hint hint Ron & Danny).

Jim's Black Trip

Well last Sunday I had to lead Jim's annual Black trip for him.  He hurt his eye the week before and had to take a week or so off paddling.  We had a huge group, including Paul, Danny, the Kids as well as some first timers to the gorge.  I think 17 in all.  It was a good run.  One minor issue at Knife's Edge involving a cut eye brow and a missing finger nail.  I think everyone had a pretty good time.  It was about 80 and sunny so I don't see how anyone could not.

On Tuesday, a crew of us saw Dropkick Murphy's and The Offspring in Canadagiua.  Dropkick was sick, and The Offspring was pretty good too.  Just a really fun show.

Hope you all enjoy your holiday weekend.

Cheers!