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talk story Gorge 21
Reivers Dustin
Jul 17 #29643
hoooeey. There was music. There was rum. There were many stories in the naked city. For example: who had “worst start”? You can see “DNS” in the results for a hint. And more in the “DNF” were partly due to the start. For myself I had never seen the river like that. Home Valley was howling. Many of us could not properly get out of the cove upwind past the rock and stage correctly for the start. Several took some kind of damage. One is a punctured amma, a stripped rudder cable is another. The Draino bailout was brilliant. JR could only go straight or left. So Draino worked for him. I was all mucked up at the start, wanted to quit, but hell wivit, decided I could get a big downwind out of the day. So right off the start line: biggest rides ever. Absolute nose-bleed type dropins. The waves were rolling such that I did not bury - even letting the boat ride full on. It was thrilling, but the Washington side was a better (faster) line. I wouldn't change a thing. But I kept thinking: if this was the appetizer, there is no way I can deal with the main course from Viento the rest of the way. However, that was the bigs of the day. Even though the wind was there, the monsters of mitchel point were not there. Swell city was just another good day at Swell and the hatch. Quite a few of us who had been beat up at the start, then bailed at Draino with the worry ahead, could have easily managed. MM has a great version: takes a whoopin at the start (possible candidate for “worst start”) and just turns the wheel at Draino. He sits in the calm for a minute and feels better. Noticed a frayed rudder cable and feels worse. After agonizing re-appraisal goes for it with lightest possible rudder pressure and has no problems.
So interesting race director question: where would you put the boat killer part of your race? I saw a couple of paddlers who looked out there from Home Valley cove and put there nice boat back on the car rack. This year it wasn't like that time where Carter said: “you will probably die” and lots of people walked away from the pre-race meeting to their cars. Still, there are going to be folks who were over their skillset. For any public event that will probably just happen. I was eves-dropping near the chip reader gate at the finish when Carter and support crew had confirmed the safety of all participants. It was like Canaveral at the moon landing. Whatever your bones to pick about this event. You run a people and equipment killer like this, you gonna need a wheelbarrow to carry your balls in. This takes guts.
So many other stories. I had rocked the big sets in the narrows, so made a genuine effort in the doldrums. Grinding away and an arch-rival pulls up to me. We're all like, “Nice to see you!” and “Oh yeah, man… have a great race!” trying to look bored. Basically lying with no shame at all. But it's a big river. We both shut the hell up when the big OC-1's go flying by. Check it out, maybe 8 OC-1's faster than Greg B!. whoa. As we approach closer to Viento the wind got serious. But wierd: baby waves. It took a long time for the waves to get rideable. Eventually some nice rides but it is time to decide on Swell City or closer to Wells Island. I went river-right. And looking around I see a familiar high stroke-rate: Deano!!. Sure enough he glances over his right shoulder and sees me. But he pretends not to. Up goes the stroke-rate. No more pretending. We both hammer for the finish. It was fun. I hate that last mile or so. But crooked smile Dean is so fun to work against. It made the whole thing better. Even though he got me. And then there's David S. Top dawg in over 70. And not by a little, by a lot. I think he was four minutes faster?
I forgot to tell about the rum and music. But I'm tired. I'll be tired for another month or so. But, did everyone else know that Howard W. was a hell of a drummer? Crazy daddy-o. dig that.
rd
Dean Bumstead
Jul 17 #29644
I usually exchange pleasantries with my fellow paddlers, but not this time with wily Reivers….couldn’t take the chance - I was trying to sneak around him.
Dean
Re: Gorge memories
David Hooper
Sep 6 #30052
So, I'm not quite as quick as Beau at editing videos (this only took a month or so to finally pull together), but here's a bit from race day at the Gorge, at least from my perspective in the middle of the pack. Note several cameo appearances by Whatcom paddlers.
