Struck out at 1130 for a casual photo paddle (again choosing the nearby Verdigris). After getting some photos of the Port of Catoosa activity, I could not resist the Siren's Call and swung around to venture up the west bank of the Verdigris (usually scrape up the east bank for the first half of the upriver journey).
Note to self- the west bank is more a bit easier going, at first...then need to cross at the 'bump' (need to mark this on the GPS) to the east bank to finish the trip north.
Following the east bank the rest of the trip upriver worked great. There were still a few points that required a pause, then attack to get around an obstruction without getting swept downstream. Going upriver is akin to running intervals since there are some pretty intense exertion sprinkled at various points along the way. I look at is as earning the right to enjoy the delight of the white water ride down.
On the way back, cruising through the waves heading downriver, I tried something new: turning around and facing upriver to ride the wave. Surprisingly, it didn't take much paddling effort to stay stationary (glancing over at the bank). I didn't remain in that position for more than 30 seconds or so but I can tell it is something I'd like to make a habit of. It feels like being pushed upriver as a counterweight to the river's flow, reaching a kind of equilibrium...ironic in the middle of all the noise and motion of the rushing river.
I was wondering how maneuvering back to a downriver orientation was going to work out... wanting to avoid going broadside over the standing waves, but all was fine.
I may eventually do some reading on the subject but right now I'm enjoying the element of experiment and discovery.
Note to self- Find a more secure means of protecting the camera in order to remove the inhibitions created by the the risk of losing the thing in a spill.
Location of the rapids:
Lattitude:
Longitude:
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