How'd the kayak trip go Maple?

“yup, so if you see my naky pic on the internet, ask the guy if i can have my camera back”

“ps, he can have the pic....”

“sounds like a great time...we each hit the wall at different points in every trip...yours was a big wall...your a stronger person now...next time will be easier.”

“OK, miss maple, cool adventure!”

“By popular demand… Delaware Water Gap Trip Report

Myself, Mapleleaf and “newbies” from the “other” site: Chrissy, Ryan, and John, decided to change things up a bit this past weekend. Instead of the usual slogging along by foot with ten tons of gear strapped to our backs, we decided to take a nice and easy float down the river.

Mapleleaf and I meet up with Chrissy and Ryan on Friday night at the shadiest campground in all of PA. Just picture a field surrounded by trailers, include the lulling sounds of Jeb and his buddies taking an evening cruise around the area in their pickup trucks, sprinkle in a filthy restroom, and finally, imagine that the only two trees for me to hang my new hammock on were right next to the road where these hillbillies were joy riding. Not a good nights sleep was had by all. Visions of getting run into by several tons of truck kept me awake most of the night, despite the oh-so-coziness of the hammock.

Anyway, we got up early on Saturday, broke camp, and headed off to meet up with John at the Dingmans Ferry Access. After much shuffling of gear and cars, packing and repacking of gear in waterproof bags, inflating kayaks, and various other last minute inspections of gear, we finally got on the river by noon!

Chrissy and Ryan were in a mammoth canoe, John was in his sea kayak, Mapleleaf was in her new fancy aerodynamic inflatable kayak, and I……well, I was in the short, yellow, inflatable “Challenger” kayak.

The beginning was a nightmare. Hurricane force winds where blowing up current, making any moment downstream near impossible. After 1 mile, much cursing, and extreme effort, we all pulled off to take a break. I was so irritated by my lack of progress that after a few minutes, I decided to get a head start and jumped back in the yellow barge and began paddling like a beast.

Well, something must have clicked for me because the next thing I know is I’ve caught up with a different group of paddlers, am handed an ice cold beer, had made friends with everyone on the river, and had completely lost the rest of my group! In the yellow barge!!!

It was cool having spent an hour or so paddling solo, mixing in with different groups, and then going solo again. I found that the kayaking was like skiing – very Zen.

I saw a Bald eagle flying overhead.

After the fear of the first rapids, I was stoked to hit bigger sets. White water here I come!

Quite a ways down, I stopped paddling, kicked my legs over the front of the boat, laid back and took a wee nap while waiting for the others to catch up. John was first on the scene, then came Chrissy and Ryan, and finally Mapleleaf who had stopped to watch deer for a while. Then we headed forward together as a group. Went about another mile when Mapleleaf, Chrissy and Ryan pulled of to the side just before a set of rapids going around a bend in the river. I didn’t know what was going on and ended up halfway through the rapids when I discovered that I needed to turn back! Dang, paddling the “Challenger” across the rapids and then up the calmer water was really, really hard work! But so much fun! I felt like superwoman!

The campsite was a gorgeous spot just off the river. We all set up camp looking more exhausted than any group I’ve seen on regular BP’ing trips! John did the hero bit by rescuing a dumb a$$ woman swimming in the river with no life preserver on. In a river full of rapids. Anyway, it was quite spectacular watching the drama – a kind of funny too when he threw the jacket about 3 feet too shy of her!

After the drama, we all inhaled or food, drank a beer each, and lay down by the small fire the guys built - ‘cause us ladies where too tired to do anything.

It was one of the most beautiful evenings. The forest looked like a million fairies where flying about as it was filled with fireflies! Bats fly overhead, a deer came into camp, the gurgling of the rapids could be heard, and the sky was clear and full of stars. Watched the moon appear from over the crescent of mountain s, through parting clouds, with its reflecting in the river. All from inside my kick a$$ hammock!

I love my hammock. I don’t wake up sore. I can see everything going on outside without having to move. I watched the moon and the stars that night. Slept like a baby…until the bear incident.

Woke up around 4am? to the sound of four big, deep “breaths”. I thought I saw two eyes somewhat close to the ground just behind our camp. Scared the heck out of me! Then later on I saw a strange thing moving down the riverbank. No noise at all. Just a moving large head. Boy, I was wishing so hard for the sun to come up!!

Next morning I woke up to the sun peeping over the top of the mountains, glinting off the river, and much to my joy – a Bald Eagle landed in the marsh near the rapids and stared hopping around hunting for fish!!!! I was so excited that I was rewarded for waking up so early by the presence of this beautiful bird! I sat for 15 mins. Watching it play before it took off across the river.

After that, everyone started to wake up, eat breakfast, and pack up. Got on the river early. Beautiful sunny day. The Gap is now my favorite place of all. Gorgeous. No more words.

Mapleleaf finally got to see the Bald Eagle I had been raving about. She got a bit teary so I was very happy she got to see it.

My wrist was killing me – I wanted to stop – but the rapids were too much fun! I almost hit a boulder and had to use every muscle in my body to dig in and avoid it. Also went through a few whirlpools. A very strange sensation – not sure I liked it.

But I love kayaking rapids. All focused and working like a beast while going through them and then you’re out – and you can lay back and nap! It’s great!

Okay, this report is way too long – anyway – 15 miles done in a yellow barge on Sunday. I feel quite proud of myself, as it was even harder than the Loyalsock trip.

Sorry Mapleleaf lost her camera. L

It was a blast! Getting to try out the sea kayak at the end was great – so easy!

Sorry I couldn’t function after getting off the river. I was so tired, dehydrated, and hungry all I wanted to do was curl up and be pampered. Next best thing? Introvert until Burger King!


Anyway, it was a blast! I can’t wait to do this trip again. Hopefully that will happen soon. Chrissy, Ryan, and John were lovely and I’d do more trips with them in the near future!

The end.

Picture coming soon to my website”

“good report twinks.
remeber where calm works?


here is a hint

he has to wear a badge that says he is one!!!!

(those are his words not mine!)”

“good report twinks.
remeber where calm works?


here is a hint

he has to wear a badge that says he is one!!!!

(those are his words not mine!)”

“good report twinks.
remeber where calm works?


here is a hint

he has to wear a badge that says he is one!!!!

(those are his words not mine!)”

“only 3 this time?

i was tryin for 10!”

“Ok now you hitting below the belt!! LOL”

“WELCOME ADOARD!!!!!”

“"Bigger and Better!"”

“treebeard went out and bought me a bunch of disposable(sp) cameras for our trip this weekend.

LOL”

“These you can throw away, Maple. the other one wasn't disposable...”

“i think im trading my inflatable in for a different one. 9ft hardshell.”

“Wher the hell you gonna put it?”

“ummm still thinking about the one honey
:)”

“Is this where the in-and-out door comes into play?”

“if thats what it takes to get treebeard to agree to let me buy this, then yes



oh wait is that what you ment??

LOL”

“How much more is this one going to cost me?”

“that the best part. it's cheaper....
:)

im a thirfty shopper!!”

“its compact enough for our apartment.”

“geez-us - pick up the phone and have this conversation there!”

“no way. this way when i flipp him the bird or stick out my tounge when he says NO he wont see me.

its safer here...”

“times like these I'm actually happy to be single - of course - at this rate I'll be the crazy old lady with cats... haha”

“of course, I could buy a kayak and stick my cats in it and hang it any where I dang well please”

“Mapleleaf, I understand why you feel bummed, but don't get down about yourself. It isn't your fault, it is not like you've been laying around eating bon bons all year and then couldn't find the strength to kayak 20 miles. The fact that you gave it a try so you could enjoy a beautiful weekend and full moon says volumes about your courage.

The only thing that I can't understand is why you didn't lose the dang cellphone instead of the camera. If it had gotten the signal so you could call me, then I coulda been there with the food and drink to rescue the blood sugar levels of you and Twinks (and your paddle friends as well).

I love the name Calmwater, that is a first-rate name. Nice hero bit you managed, newguy!”

“Cool, thanx!”

“so who is up for a quickie with me?
maybe in New Jersey?
just one night, Sat to Sun.

hmmm anyone??”

“Mapes....
How in heck can you call Saturday to Sunday a "quickie" !!! ROFLMAO !!
last edited: 2/02/05 11:48:22 AM”

“A whole lot more TT women want to meet Treebeard now...”

“Nj I might be up in your neck of the woods,

want to do a quickie? *wink wink*”

“Mapes...
LMAO...If you do get up my way give me shout. I do have a nice hike (short)in my area. It usually only takes a few hours.

By the way, keep an eye out for mail. I just took a package to the PO to send to Tree for his B'day. Stay in touch.”

“HIKE?
UGH ok where?
we will be up in Blairstown and tree will be on the air so i am free!
will be in NJ from 1:30 to 5:30”

“Mapes...when will you be up here? I could meet you in Blairstown and we could do a hike @ Stokes State Forest. It's pretty nice there.
Let me know the date so I don't schedule my PT in the afternoon.”

“Hey Mike. I'm there every Saturday afternoon. You ought to come over to the station and visit me sometime...”

“NJ you have mail”

“Stu,
That would be great! How bout we go for this Saturday?”

“Yes! I sent you mail. See if it makes sense! :)”

“yeah! I got me a HOT DATE with two HOT GUYS!”

“One of which thinks a "quickie" takes 12 hours.”

“bitpusher...that's what happens when you get old. You lose your sense of time!! LOL

PS: But the ladies love it!!”

“who you calling old mister?
i am in my prime!”

“Mapes...you a funny lady!! I was talkin' bout me!! LMAO”

“Old man: Dammit, honey, what were we doing just a minute ago?

Old wife: #&%!$ing.

Old Man: Oh yah!”

“memory fart?”