Big Current

[PonoBill]

Man, I am beat. Viento run in mega current and good wind.
Tre Hendricks finished a bit ahead of me and said it was about two hours. He stayed in the middle of the river, I mostly eddy hopped. Too messy to try to tough it out for the distance--I'll leave that for the kids, The eddies weren't all that great though, the water is so high and the current so fast that they got scrubbed right off. I could have had more relief if I'd hugged the rocks, but I didn't want to be a complete sissy. Mitchell point was insane, but I got through it clean and fast, hooking one bump to the next. And once I was clear I fell--just like I always do. When it's horrid, I do fine, when it lets off, I fall. The approach to Wells was steadily bigger waves, and at the downstream tip of Wells there was a set of huge rollers, with wind swells breaking waist high. Kind of fun, but at the end when you're beat, fun is relative,

Town has too many tourists cramming into every restaurant to consider eating out. I'm going to go to Rosauers and get a big steak, some oysters, mushrooms and spuds. Do a backyard barbeque--me and the dog. Martini with three olives, steak, sit and regain my strength. Tomorrow is another day. Just a little less current though, please.

Edit: My menu changed--Roseauers had Morel mushrooms for twenty bucks a pound. Big-ass new York steak, cottage bacon and Morels, Hendrix Martini. I make a fine Martini.

[stoneaxe]

Sounds like you earned it. Be safe out there.

[PonoBill]

Russel Peart got a picture of Joel Yang in the river the day before. Big current equals lots of craziness. This is probably Mitchell Point. Totally nuts there yesterday.

[connector14]

Looks like a washing machine !   

[808sup]

Pono ,bust out your foil and give it a go. But notify the search and rescue beforehand.

[PonoBill]

Rod did it yesterday. Did a 1:37 compared to my over two hours, and he added an extra mile of zigzag. He's a lot younger, a lot lighter, and a lot fitter than I am, but I always consider that if Rod can do it, I can do it. Delusional.

[PonoBill]

Oh, lovely, 524,000 CFS today. No.

[Dusk Patrol]

What board fo you choose in those conditions?

[PonoBill]

SIC 17' Bullet V2. I think the 14' Bullet V2 fits the swells better, but I'm used to the 17'

[connector14]

I know this is all for fun and fitness, etc. but do you use anything to track your stats such as average speed, stroke rate or anything like that? I know the first time I did a Viento run (with a great bunch from Big Winds) I was doing over 9 mph when I did my first "wheelie" over the front of the V2 I rented. My heart rate got up to 175 on that run.....and I felt about dead after that first run. Can't wait to do it again someday before I can no longer "standup"!

[burchas]

Oh, lovely, 524,000 CFS today. No.

Guaranteed meal like that, I'll take 500,000+ CFS every day

[laszlo]

I know this is all for fun and fitness, etc. but do you use anything to track your stats such as average speed, stroke rate or anything like that? I know the first time I did a Viento run (with a great bunch from Big Winds) I was doing over 9 mph when I did my first "wheelie" over the front of the V2 I rented. My heart rate got up to 175 on that run.....and I felt about dead after that first run. Can't wait to do it again someday before I can no longer "standup"!

How do you track your heart rate while paddling? I have been looking for a usable, real-time heart rate monitor that is waterproof, and not having luck.

[JEG]

Russel Peart got a picture of Joel Yang in the river the day before. Big current equals lots of craziness. This is probably Mitchell Point. Totally nuts there yesterday.

a lot of current under there and luckily your on top supping on that strong current.

[PonoBill]

Actually, we go against the current on Viento runs. The wind blows from downstream. The current stands the wind swells up, but when it gets above 450,000 CFS it's a rough go. It was 499,000 today. That's about 5 mph in the middle of the river, 4 mph near shore.

[burchas]

It was 499,000 today...

Bill, are you on wetsuit these days or the thoughts of that juicy steak keep you warm enough?