Spring Armada

[sbroam]

It is not too early to be thinking about the Spring Armada - my calendar is already starting to pick up March, April, and May dates...

Is the North Branch Potomac still cool? It works for me - I wouldn't mind a shorter drive, but then again I'm sure the folks coming from Canada and New England would, too! That and the "Fox's Pizza Den" is probably counting on us to make their sales for the month...

Discuss!

Scott

[Mike W.]

The NBOP is fine with me! I had a ball up there last year ! I couldn't find release info for this year though.

My only request is that we do not have it Mother's or Father's Day weekend.

I can bring:
Viper
Big EZ
Cascade
Probe 11

Mike W.

[Drew W.]

what part of the north branch do you folks plan on running? there's a few different ones listed on aw and I'm trying to get a feel for the skill level needed to tag along
assuming it's not out of my league, I'd prefer a weekend other than those of march 6th, march 13th, or april 17th

[KNeal]

Hey, Scott. I was just thinking of opening up this subject, so since you beat me to it, let's see what we can do this year. Like you, my schedule is filling up through the spring.

It seems that the NB Potomac has been a great central location so how about we keep it there? As memory serves me, the first time we met there was on Mother's Day weekend, the second year we met in late April and last year, we met on Mother's Day weekend. The second year when I organized it, we had a great turnout (over 30 single bladers!) so what about meeting in April again? Mother's Day weekend is not a good weekend for me to get away and anything later than that makes it too hard for me to go.

If we can agree on April, I will volunteer to organize the Armada, again. This is not a difficult task at all--simply say where to meet, when to start, when to finish, and listen to what others want to paddle and agree that it all sounds great! I will be happy to organize, in spite of the fact that I just posted this and have not even brought the subject up to my wife yet !

Now is the time to chime in with your opinions. Is there somewhere else that we want to go for the Spring Armada? Is there a weekend that will be best? Late April and maybe late May will work for me. Let yourself be heard!

KNeal

P.S. Scott, remember that you always have a layover place here at our house whenever you are in the area. Ummm. By the way, do you have any more of that South Carolina barbecue mustard? Mmmmm. Sure was some tasty stuff .

[sbroam]

Section of the river? I don't know what it is called, except it is dam released and class II+ish, with a IIIish rapid(Robins Nest?). Not demanding, but fun. Camping along the Savage is particularly nice.

For me :

April 24-25 are out (my daughter has dibs on that weekend)
April 10-11 are Easter (that would be a hard sell)
May 1-2 is out (daughter's birthday)
May 8-9 is Mother's Day and we decided that wasn't great last year
May 29-30, June 1 - out for me (we go to the beach)

Mustard BBQ sauce? No problem. Remember I can bring genuine Blenheim's Ginger Ale, too...

Boats I can bring:
Rockit
Slasher
Score

Boat I hope someone else brings.... :
a Viper I can fit in

Scott

[KNeal]

The NB section has been the stretch from below Bloomington Dam to the Savage River confluence. Like Scott B. said, it's class 2ish+ with probably one significant rapid, Robin's nest (class 3ish?), and it is really not that hard, as long as you don't land in the nest. Our very own J. "not Elvis" pretty much rules that spot when he is on that river so it would be wise for 1st timers to follow another line .

We need to see when the Bloomington dam is releasing so we can start choosing the weekend (however, Scott, you sure have limited your availablilty ). Camping has been along the Savage River along the section used for the '89 World's Slalom Championships. A really cool spot . Last year, the Savage was CRANKIN'! Too bad it was too high to run . I think the pizzeria in the town of Westernport would be more than delighted to host our post-paddle "banquet", as long as they get an early warning from us, BEFORE we arrive so as to avoid the level of shock they experienced 2 years ago. Boy, were they surprised to see us coming in...and in...and in... .

There are other runs available with about an hour's drive--Cheat, Lower (and Upper) Yough, Stoney(sp?), Kitzmiller section of NB, and others. I have come up and paddled on Friday before the armada (pre-armada) and I plan on doing that again to take advantage of a FULL weekend of paddling.

Boats I can bring:
my "modified Atom" (squashed stern)
my Viper (if I can get it down from NY in time )
c2 slalom boat (stern-left, bow-right)

Dates to consider right now:
April 17
May 15
May 22

Let's get a release confirmation on those weekends and I will be happy to organize again this year.

KNeal

[NZMatt]

Hi y'all

Well, it's tough for me to commit to things right now as I'm not sure when exactly I'm going to be moving on from Ithaca. I expect to finish up gradschool sometime in April (shooting for being done by the 22nd - my birthday ), however if the Armada is in late April I will do my darndest to be there and I will bring: Master Cut Arobat, Groove and I'd be guessing that Jo will bring her Phantom along. That leaves rack/trunk space for 1-2 more boats. Options include: XXX C1, Bliss Stick Blitz Special C1, Esquif Detonator (probably a bit big to fit with the boats I really want to bring). I'll also probably have a Massive Air OC1 with me. Let me know if there's something in that list that you're dying to try and I'll try to get it there.

Anyhow, the last weekend of April or first of May would probably be best for me...

Cheers

Matt

[PAC]

We'll I prefer a May time frame and I really do want to attend! Additionally, April 24-25 I believe is Stoney Creek Rendezvous weekend and May 1-2 is Cheat Fest Weekend. Either may reduce the number of attendees to the Armada - and we all want to see as many Cs as possible.
As for boats:
xxx
zwo
Viper
Micro 250
FYI - NBOP is near a number of other runs WV & PA (ok they are about an hour away) that could be pre- or post run.

[CosmikDebris]

Dang Matt, are you planning on one day getting all them boats back to New Zealand? Depending on work (and if I find any) I'll most likely be there and can bring a Bliss-Stick RAD 175 (that's radical aerial device for those who aren't in the know) and a Huck. I don't have any preference over when this silliness should take place, but I'd say late april would be good.
Will

[NZMatt]

Welll....er....yes as it happens ....I've figured out what it would cost to ship a container to NZ and it's not much worse shipping an entire twenty foot container compared to crating specific boats (Jo's Phantom, the Tandem, my Groove and Acrobat) and sending just them. Problem is that you can't really buy OCs in NZ, nor the glass C1s...then there's the skis and the other toys, I mean life essentials. It's sooo much simpler in many ways to ship an entire container.....now the plan is to find a position in NZ where THEY pay relocation....or atleast most of it.

If this ends up happening and I end up shipping a container south, there'll be some other interesting possibilities too, which I will espouse on at the appropriate time....

Matt

[TessC]

That is if I can still remember how to get my boat downstream!
I know the town pizza place will be absolutely disappointed if we don't show-I think it's time to consider putting them on the map-perhaps a group photo every year?

And Matt....DEFINATELY want to see you in that Air!

Pretty much any time on the sched. works for us.

Cheers!
Tess

[Guest]

I'd like to keep the tradition of attending the NB Armada- especially if we can avoid Mothers Day ( my wife will appreciate that). I will start working on Gunst now so he can be well prepared- Kneal is right- the drive is half the fun!

[sbroam]

I wait with bated breath to see what the latest additions to Gunst's yellow beast will be. The first year I saw it, he was adding transmission fluid by the gallon. The second time I saw it he had added the roll-away bed and had wired up the back with better electrical service than some houses I've seen.

[KNeal]

Here are the Randolph-Jennings dam release dates:
- April 10-11
- April 24-25
- May 8-9
- May 22-23

Go ahead and indicate your weekend preference(s) so we can whittle down ideal target dates.

For me, the weekends that would work are:
- April 10-11 (third choice)
- April 24-25 (first choice)
- May 22-23 (second choice)

The weekend of May 8-9 is the much debated "Mother's Day" weekend, so that one is probably not going to be a consideration. My feelings are that the weekend of May 22-23 will be crowded because the weather should be the warmest while the weekend of April 10-11 will be quite chilly for a gathering, though I am not opposed to it and I am sure the northern contigent (New England paddlers and our loveable Canadian canoeists ) may see this weekend as a break from their snow and ice . Hmm, I forgot to add that April 10-11 is Easter weekend and may be a no go for me.

What do YOU want to do?

KNeal

[PAC]

Here is my thoughts on target dates.....

- May 22-23 (first choice) just fits the schedule better. Weather is usually warmer (more southerners might attend) and although it might be more crowded... well folks sort of make room for 30 some single blades anyway!!!
- April 24-25 (second choice) This is Stoney Creek Rendezvous weekend. So that would mean a bit more dirving on my part but would allow paddling different water on Sat. verse Sun. The Armada would be the choice on Sat.
- April 10-11 (third choice) Hopefully I'll still be skiing (and maybe fitting in an occassional AM paddle -weather dependent).
- May 8-9 - "Mother's Day" weekend - I would appreciate not having my paddling associated with not being home this weekend.

My $.02