Day Dreaming...

April has been a mighty fine month to be a kayaker in East Tennessee. This month alone I have gotten on 4 new runs. Sitting back reminiscing about the past couple weeks, jogged my memory of the one new run I got last April, Chinquapin. I was always told if this run was going, drop what you are doing and go there. Well when I got the call, I did just that. I loaded the gear and hustled to North Alabama. The creek was dropping but it had a Little water. But a lil' water is better than no water especially during a drought. This run was allot of fun and I can't wait to get back with more water. But let's hope the rains continue so we can keep getting out there and exploring. Here are some pictures from that day. Enjoy!

I 'm no stranger to the rain....

MW

A long time coming

This weekend I got to do a couple laps on my new favorite creek. I have been wanting to run this creek for a long time, but there have been several access issues. Finally everything came together. This run was everything I thought it would be. It had it all: big drops, your typical plateau mank, a big portage, and technical rapids filled with boofs and slides. So if you want to run this creek, do your work and locate all the info and everyone who needs to be notified for you to gain access. DO NOT POACH THIS RUN. If you do run it, respect the land owners and their property and stay low key. Here are a few photos of what you could expect in the pit. This is just a few of the rapids, probably less than half of them.

Me at the first big drop

Dave at one of the many slot boofs

Me at the same boof

Me charging one of the drops

Same drop

Mark T. styling one of the big ones

Mark T. Boofing his way down stream

Ted H. sliding on down

They Crew getting back in after a scout

Me after a typical rapid

Mark T. after a typical boof

Mark T. charging into one of the big rapids

Adam G. Boofing downstream

Walking to the car

Dixieland Delight

Fort Payne, Alabama, is the home of two of my favorite things in the world, Alabama (the country music super group) and Little River Canyon. Little River Canyon is the most reliable run in the southeast in the winter time. Lucky for me it's only about an hour from Chattanooga. LRC runs from really high water to really low water, offering a wide variety of lines and dangers depending on the level. Here are some pictures from a low water LRC run. It's clearly way too low and no fun, so everyone should stay away.

This is Me and and a Randy Owen Statue

We see eye to eye on alot of things like Inspirations.

After A good LRC run you can always Catch a show at the DeKalb Theatre

Nate In Terminal Eddy. This rapid gets more difficult and dangerous as the level drops.

Adam charging into Terminal

This is me running the center line of Avalanche

This is one of the most unique lines on the Canyon. It's also quite scary!

Here is John boofing the left line at Cable Falls

Here is Adam doing the same. Cable becomes a more challenging rapid at low water

Adam dropping in the trough 2nd drop at Cable Falls.

Anne falling off the 2nd Drop at Cable Falls


Next rapid up is Pinball. Pinball is one of the most challenging and dangerous rapids on the Canyon. It also marks the end of the Sucide Section. Notice all the water coming from underneath the big rock.

Me at Pinball

John at Pinball

Nate at Pinball

The next section of river is Upper Two. Upper two probably contains one of the funnest rapids in the world. HUMPTY DUMPTY Humpty is a great place to air a huge boof out.

Nate Boofing Humpty

Adam with the Rail Grab

Getting some Rock

Getting some air

And Charging Direct.

Until next time,

MW

Ecuador '09

The above is the ultimate souvenir if you go to Ecuador. A must buy.

Myself, Nate Rozell, and Mat Saul (Tinker) went to Ecuador to experience some South American White water. We dubbed the trip Tinker's Love Tour. Thus the above picture. Ecuador, despite my series of injuries, was one of the best experiences of my life. I plan to revisit Ecuador in the near future.


Quito was an amazing city. It was not only a beautiful place, nestled between touring volcanoes, it was also fun. We spent several hours out exploring the markets, enjoying the nightlife, and just wandering around.

Sick picture taken by D


A view from our Hotel in Quito





The City at night





What a tourist







Cool painting on a wall

Pictures in the Market

Trinkets

Masks

More Paintings

Conquistadors

The city among the mountains

Market

Ecuador was full of amazing rivers. On this trip we paddled the Quijos, Misahualli, Jonachi, Cosanga, and Piatua. These rivers were a mix of creeking and big water. All of the rivers were exceptionally fun and surrounded by some of the best scenery in the world.

Here are a series of me taking pictures of the others

Me shooting Tinker in Aphrodesia

Me Shooting Jeff Wood in a Rapid

Bridge on the Jondachi

Walking down to the put in somewhere

Lounging on a rock beach

Jeff Boofing

Me On the Jondachi

Me and Nate on some big water Quijos

Nigel, me, and Nate

Sometimes it rains alot and the creeks flood

And the Roads flood too. So you gotta pull the boats across

Seive!!!!!

Me Bombing down some Big Water

Me and Nate

Nate Boofing

No Fun

Me Boofing Tres Huevos

Charging

Tinker boofing his way down stream

A sick shot of Nigel Charging

Nate Charging down Stream

Tinker: Boofing on "Tinker's Love Tour"

Nate landing a Giant Boof

Me running the put in rapid on the Jondachi

My man Anson playing with some Big Water

My side kick, Daniel, Charging the Toro

The Crew Headed down Stream

Daniel Amongst some Big Water




Ecuador has some exceptional wild life. Here are some examples:

A Parrot

Tinker the Alpha Male! He's hungry for some meat...

Pigs

Lions which they kept in dog pens.

Cappabara

And Monkeys

We spent several days in the town of Tena. Tena my favorite town I have ever visited. There is no better place to hangout after a day of paddling. Great street food and tons of cool places to chill by the river and have a drink at.

We also spent new years in Tena. This was the greatest New Years of my life. From the time we got off the water you could feel the excitement in the air. These people were ready to party.

They make dummies to Burn at Midnight. To represent the Bad.

On New Years the also have road blocks in Ecuador...

except they are not checking for DUI's. They are looking for you to give them money, so I guess their road blocks are like ours.

A steet vendor was selling lots of goodies.

Fumar causa Cancer!

Big ballon going up in the air

Me playing with small Children

The Band

2009