The September Sunset race is coming up on the 10th! We'll meet at Sherman Beach at 6:30.
I am excited for this race because I bought a new boat! In 10 years of whitewater and 1 year of flatwater I have only been in a dozen boats or so. I searched Craigslist and found a dream boat that fills a niche I had been eager to fill. It is a solo race canoe that I can take down Ozark streams with my gear for a weekender. It's made of Kevlar and weighs 45 pounds. Yes, Charlie, I will be needing another single blade paddle for this one.
Ever since I began training for this year's 340 I have discovered just how awesome single-blading is. The stroke is a power stroke, giving thrust in a forward manner. Wing blades (the most efficient double-blade) use a sweep stroke to create forward thrust. This nets an efficient paddling experience, BUT does not yield as much thrust per stroke as a single blade stroke does. The wider your boat, the less forward thrust the wing blade is able to create and the more turning thrust you get (which is countered by your rudder, which is, in turn, DRAG

. ) Single-blading also gives your middle back a stretch when the paddle hits the water (Action)it pulls your body forward (equal and opposite reaction) acting as a back band minus the chaffing! Your calluses and arm muscles also get a break from double blading.
So this brings me to the anxiety of the Sunset Race in a new boat with a single blade. GOD HELP ME! Last month's race brought out a truly "Blond" moment for me. That is...a moment when you are glad that no one else can read your thoughts...because they were not very impressive.
This occurred just as I entered the famous "141 riffle". Hogan and Danielle paddle their "Old Faithful" plastic boat due to technical difficulties expereinced during the 340 on the new boat. I had no intent on speeding through this race since it was less than a week after the 340 and it would be another 10 days before I felt energy flow back into my body. I single-bladed the whole race, sharing 340 stories with them the whole way.
Three other boaters had shown for the race. Jason, who I had met at Creve Coeur Lake, and a father/son team. All of them had built their cedar strip boats. None had run this section of the Meramec. None knew of the rock in the middle of the riffle. They were long gone before I could advise them of it. It was not until I crossed the first wave that I realized IONLYHAVEHALFAPADDLE! You would think I would have realaized this sooner.
Find an eddy! Find an eddy! Find an eddy! Find an eddy! That was easier said than done since the moon wasn't out. I know where the eddy is...I just don't know where the rock is. To heck with the rock, I still have another wave and eddy to introduce to my blade and all I can think is "Which side of the boat should I have it on?"
My heart is beating as I exit the eddy toward the channeled water that will push me toward the rock. I plan on paddling hard to cross the... "Yeeeiiiiiiiii." Obviously I still had not decided on which side to put the paddle in yet. I bobble in the riffle and my boat swings gently into the downstream eddy buying me time to determine where the stupid rock is.
Shady 69 had mentioned an encounter with the rock last month. I had clipped it with my paddle the month before that. With low water levels that puppy has got to be near the surface. I head toward the bridge pillar to avoid the rock...at least I can SEE the bridge pillar. I am comfortably clear...just in time to hear WHHHUUMP, "Yeeeow!" Hogan's plastic boat hits the rock dead on! They are fine and the boat continues to float.
The location of the rock is: 40 feet upstream and 10 feet toward river left of the right hand bridge pillar. I went back the next week to scout the rock during daylight and discovered the rock does not disturb the surface of the water at all...cannot be seen. But it will takeout any race boat that happens upon it. The fine shreds of plastic coating it may provide some cushion.
I soooo can't wait for the 10th.
JoJo
314-49-triple7-49
2 dollars entry fee, winner takes all
shuttle bunny needed
beer and burgers at TS's afterwards!