I left late thursday morning for the long trip out west. The late start was due to a busy Wendsday picking up a new laptop last minute and paddling at MD chute with friends until dark. After the late night in DC I woke up early to pack the Go Big Rig and clean up the apartment before I hit the road. Once I hit the road I had to stop at the "Dogg's" crib and pick up his and Seth's boats and camping gear. After an hour of loading I managed to get 17 boats in a single layer on top of the Go Big Rig.
1,700 miles later I was in Denver! I took it easy and made the trek in two and a half days. The Rig is having some engine and tranny issues and I need it to last for this trip. Kansas was horrible as usual with over 60 mph gusty cross winds on the highway. With the pedal floored and the steering wheel at a 15 degree left angle the Rig was able to sustaine only 60 mph and managed about 6 mpg (I will be buying a diesal powered vehicle very soon!!!). With 90+ degree humid temps across the county, and no AC, the first thing that I did was roll into the Golden play park and do some playboating. The cold fresh water will wake you up and clean the road grime off fast!
(These shots are of me running Elbow Falls on Lower Clear Creek. I had a smooth line on the first run, but didn't get a good photo. This is the second run and as you can see good photos, but a painful line.)
I got to meet up with a bunch of old and new friends in Denver and paddled the Foxton section of the North Fork of the South Platte and Lower Clear Creek on Sunday. Both runs were quite easy, but it was good to get used to the altitude and paddle with good friends. Sadly I did manage to mess up a muscle in my side trying to look cool for the camera. Sometimes you should just run the rapid and not try to pose for the shot! Hopefully I'll heal up fast and be ready to race Wendsday at Vail.
(Me on a unicyle for the first time. The magic of stills shows that I can ride one:)
(This shot is the first drop of Coors Falls.)
(Sick river right boof on the second drop of Coors Falls.)
Monday I got to hang out with the Denver crew at the Lawson hole and Coors Falls. Gary Mullins was kind enough to give me a place to stay in Denver and also drove everyone around in his Stepvan, or should we say sweetest paddle vehicle ever! None of the crew really played at Lawson due to the fun times hanging out, very cold water, and overcast cold day. We all did hop in the Stepvan and go up to the sweet park and huck special known as Coors Falls. We each got a few runs in and just had a good time out on the river.
(Preston, Len, Gary, Bryon, Trent, Matt)
I'm now in Vail and will be running Homstake and Dowd Chute to prepare for the Teva Mountain Games that start Wendsday. There is plenty more to come as the Fluid crew assembles in CO.
(Gary Mullins took all these sick photos.)
See you on the river- Bryon
