C-Forum

I would like to wish all my boating buddies (and buddies to be) a very merry Christmas and a happy holidays. We are all capable of having a white Christmas if you just get out to the river!

Merry Christmas to all y'all (proper southern speak--plural possessive) c-boaters.

KNeal

Scott,
Merry Christmas as well.
December 5th came and went this year with no stories about you and the Black River from Peter Farr. That was a classic epic. The paddling community needs more entertaining stories, to your dismay.
Hope you're doing well and look forward to seeing on the water next season.
Geoff Kee

Merry Christmas to everyone as well!
May the water level be great all year long and the lines good !

Geoff, As far as the infamous Upper Black trip is concerned, I don't think that I wish to repeat that. Sitting around for 5 hours in the waiting room at the Belleville ER is NOT how I like to spend a Saturday evening...

Cheers!

martin a.k.a. the great gonzo!

Martin - Suck it up, princess - at least you weren't forced to make your nimble Finkenmeister be turned into a barge! Anyone ever paddled a raft made out of 3 open boats? Not fun...esp when the middle boat is full of someone with a dislocated shoulder who can't paddle.

No, you just paddled out to saftey, leavin us to run the river in our 3-boat-barge while you're sippin coffee, and eatin vegan squares!

I still think the Upper Black is one of the nicest rivers in S. Ont.. Would love to run it again...

ANyway Scott Merry Xmas as well!

Mike.

Wow, easy there Mike, who spent probably the better part of an hour in chest deep ice cold water therhered to a rope while rigging ropes to that broached Outrage ...

No sippin coffe for me, we were looking for you guys!

But I agree, the Upper Black is the best one of the HWY 7 runs!
Particularly Triple B and Particle Accelerator, always exciting!

Cheers!

martin a.k.a. the great gonzo!

I remember that outrage, I was in the water with you, remember Have a good break.

To all...

May the water be plentiful, the friends many, the trips rememberable and your life full of joy, health and happiness! Happy holidays!

Paul C.

I was back to the Upper Back again this fall. I am beginning to appreciate it now that I have stopped hyperventilating every time I hear its name. That was not a fin night for anyone in that group. I still think we were lucky to get away with as little damage as we did. Things could have been a lot worse that is for sure.

In case y'all want to tell stories around the fireplace this evening.... Here's what happenned

http://peter.lpi-solutions.com/personal ... rough.html

Interesting trip report. I like to think this won't happen to me, but imagine if your trip reports started getting progressively worse. That's when it would be time to hang it up, I think. Like if your trip reports started going from "Carnage on the Bottom Moose" to "Losing all my Gear on the Lower Madawaska" to "Beat-down in the Elora Gorge at low water."
Alden

I think Peter was going to have this published in the next edition of "Up the creek" - stories of boating gone-wrong...

It was certainly an interesting experience, and how quickly things snowballed from bad to worse. Still, one of my fav. rivers I've paddled (once) gotta get back there!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to all. I hope Santa brings good weather & great levels to all. He has brought the level back to Weldon for us Hopefully, he'll bring the proper spray system to the guys at Shaggy so I can get some...ok, a LOT of metal flake in a new red Sith

Wishing everyone in the C-boat community a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year Hope everyone can get out and paddle over the holiday!

Santa brought an early present to my friends and I. After a heavy rain on Friday we enjoyed a 65 degree day on Sect IV of the Chattooga yesterday. Can't ask for more than warm weather and good water!

Michael

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the land
not a paddler was stirring, no trips had been planned.
The dry bags were hung by the chimney with care,
in hopes that St. niCholas soon would be there.

The canoeists were nestled all snug in their beds,
while visions of Mitchell sticks danced in their heads.
And Ma in her poly-pro, and I in my cap,
had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap.

When out on the river arose such a splatter,
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
tore open the shutter, and threw up the sash.

The moon on the crest of the high running stream
gave the lustre of midday, like silver it gleamed,
when, what to my wondering eyes should afloat,
but a freighter canoe and eight tiny C-boats.

With a little old paddler, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. niCk.
More rapid than Lugbill, his coursers they came,
and he whistled and shouted and called them by name

Now Slasher! Now Maven!
Now, Outrage and Dancer!
On, Cascade! On, Viper!
On, Zealot and Zephyr!
To the top of the course!
To the top of the falls!
Now dash away! Dash away!
Dash away all!

As a boater a boofing a waterfall flies,
when they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky
so up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
with the boats full of toys, and St. niCholas too.

And then, with a splashing, I heard on the roof
a stroking and bracing to land with a boof.
As I drew in my head and was turning around,
down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in neoprene, head to his toes,
and his clothes were all soggy from high water flows.
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
and he looked like a voyageur opening his pack.

His boat how it sparkled, the red metalflake merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
and the beard on his chin was as white as the snow.
The t-grip of a paddle held tight in his fist
he J stroked with good form with a twist of his wrist
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
that shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
and I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself.
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head
soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
and filled all the drybags, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
and giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.

He sprang to his boats, his team to the water,
And away they all flew like river born otters.
But I heard him exclaim, as they floated from sight,

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"

[maybe I (or somebody!) will get the rest finished before next year!]