Oh and Jo, I guess I should be honest about my victory... Only reason, I won was because I wussed out. I took every elevator I could, to get up the river--albiet risking life and limb! Fortunately, I did not take one stick in the eye in the dark of the night, nor did I encounter any boat breaking sawyers while riding up those shore-line eddies. Let me tell ya, you guys are tough! I didn't see you on my way back down, but Hogan and Jason were tracking right up central, facing the current head on! And, unlike November's race, there was some current in this stretch of the riv!

Here we go again!  The race is on.

Temps are forcast to be 32 as a high today and 23 as a low tonight.  For those of you who have not experienced paddling in this weather the temperature is not the problem that you might think it would be.  You are not cold.  You do not shiver and think hypothermic thoughts.  However, your nose will run, the water drops flinging off your paddle will make a clacking noise when they hit your boat, and it is particularly difficult to tie your boat on the car when it keeps sliding off.  I suppose the ramp could also pose a slide-off hazard to anyone approaching the rivers edge in rubber booties, too.  That would suck, but it would be kinda funny.

Last month Sartori's wit way outdid mine.  We were the only two racers because Hogan's wife apparently likes him more than Joe's wife does and told him to forget paddling in 27 degree weather with icebergs.  (This month something may have changed because she's letting him paddle in 23 degree weather!)  Iceburgs?!?  Yes, there were a couple of floaters.  They added an interesting twist, I think.

As we took of I was feeling good but there just wasn't a lot of Octane in my stroke.  Joe passes me right away and hugs the River Left bank upstream for as longs as he's in my vision.  I cross over to river right to take advantage of what I think will be slower current and hear a noise.  Long whining agonizing quiet howl.  Oh, dear!  I think it's a puppy dog.  I wonder what to do.  He's probably been soaked and is going to die if I don;t help but I am in this tiny little kayak and I don't particularly like dogs anyway.  Another whimper finds it's way to my ears.  I scan the shoreline...probably should be watching for floating obstacles but I really have a problem with suffering and think I might help the damn thing.  One last whine...Wait!  It's Joe!

I wonder if he tipped and is freezing?  Good thing I have my cell phone.  I can call Danielle and let her know she was right to keep Hogan off the river this time.  Just about the time I was about to cross back over to River Left to continue my race I figured out it was an Owl.  

Joe was not without sound effects, however.  10 minutes after the owl's serenade I hear a hollowing crrruuunchh noise.  The sound of sideswiping an iceberg in a composite boat.  It echos loud in those boats!  Joe let's out some expression of dismay and I see a blurry figure jut out from it's shadow along the shore.  Tee Hee.  

Congratulations, Joe Sartori, winner of the January Sunset Race.

Come join us for the Winter Wonderland version of the Sunset Series Races.

Greentree Park to GreenTree Park
meet at 530pm
Burger and beer afterwards at TJ's
Bring a drysuit for max comfort!
2 dollar entry fee, winner takes all.


Call JoJo for more info
314-49-triple7-49

meet at 530...

So I guess yall paddled the whole time after dark yesterday?

I was at greentree the other day and the current was movin pretty good through there

Ah!  60 degrees!  What a treat.  Last March we had 8 people covered in 1/4 of ice when we finished our 10 mile race.  Then we had to carry up a hill that was covered in mud and ended up sliding all the way back down! 
In the winter we are doing Round Robins instead of Point A to Point B's.  Next month we will begin again with our favorite Point A (Sherman Beach) to Point B Green Tree Park).  The reason for this change was because of ice...and because we didn't want to leave someone behind to freeze while we ran shuttle. 

Permits are in place now.  We have ribbons and we charge a 2 dollar entry fee that goes to the winner.  One thing that has not changed is the beer and burgers that consume after the race.  The last couple of race months were so cold I left my drysuit on until I got into the restaurant where my fingers could thaw.  Everyone in the restaraunt thought I was a skydiver. 

Come join us.  Training season is upon us and this is a good addition for many reasons.

Love, JoJo

Meet at 530pm
Green Tree Park
2 dollar entry fee
Winner takes all
No shuttle this month
Beer and burgers afterwards at TJ's

You all should have see the guy in the booth next to us last month. JoJo came in and started stripping off her dry suit. After that came a few more layers... I thought his eyes were going to pop out! Don't worry, she wasn't anywhere near being immodest, she isn't like that! Hope to see more people tonight!

Hogan

Good Job Joe S on kicking my butt.  See you Thursday April 15? if my work
schedule does interfere.

Vince

Ohhhhyeah!  83 degrees and the river is up!  I can't wait for Thursday night's race.  We'll go back to "Point A to Point B" racing this month.  Meet at Sherman Beach at 530 for shuttle.  This 10 mile route has us eating wings at TJ's by 830 with the shuttle done beforehand.  Call me if you're a newcomer so I plan shuttle logistics correctly.   JoJo

Shuttle Bunny needed
meet at 530 pm
Sherman Beach to Greentree Park
2 dollar entry fee
no boat or gear requirements
Beer and wings at TJ's afterward

Love, JoJo
314-49-triple7-49

I'm always up for it. I'll call Jo Jo tonight and see what the arrangements are.

Hogan

Let's do it!  Meet at Sherman Beach at 6 pm for shuttle!  Oh, Please let a shuttle "Angel" plop into our laps. 

Spencer adds turmoil to the Sunset Boys as he chases Joe all the way to the end.  In his Newly purchased QCC we'll see how things turn out...Sartori's goin' down???!!!???

JoJo
314-49-triple7-49

Looking forward to it!  No QCC yet, so I'll be paddling the P&H monstronsity (which I'm grateful to use). 

Now, so long as I get down without seeing a corpse like last Wednesday...

Apparently, I was the second person to call 911 over the body found last Wednesday.  It was a typical midweek workout paddling workout from Greentree to 141, well it was supposed to be typical.  Seeing something like that really interfered with my paddling psyche.  Tonight will be the first time back there.

BTW, Sue has also volunteered to shuttle if it is needed.  I just need to give her some notice. 

Spencer