Sunday, May 24, 2009

May 22. Jenny Baxter. I like the days when we pick up right where we left off the day before on the river. Today was one of those days. It just makes the whole trip feel more consistent. It would be so much easier if there weren't eleven dams to portage around.

Anyway, moving on Robert designated me as the "pace setter" for the day. I'm not the best with maps and such, so, to be honest, I was a lttle nervous. It all turned out well though. With help, a few of us even scouted out a lovely little island for lunch. Dean gave the island the honorary title of "Goose Poop Island". It was even equiped with its very own powerline tower.

The overall feel of paddling was a little rougher than usual. We are all a little worn out by this point, and I think we are in the storming section of group development. i am confident in the individual on this trip, and I believe that we will be able to come together as a community to overcome our various frustrations.

Once we pushed through the hot afternoon we paddled up to our hose, C.D. Collins' pontoon boat. He then escorted us back to his lakeside property. C.D. and the family of recent BC graduate Scott Brown provided us with a wonderful dinner, complete with a Klondike bar! We then got to sit down with C.D., whose title is Catawba Cove Keeper. I was especially excited to hear C.D. speak about the lake because he was speaking about something he was truly passionate about and not just reciting facts. He educated us about the many different dangers affecting Lake Wylie and other water sources likike run off from construction sites, toxins from parking or power plants and how quickly and directly each affect the lake.

We have met so many people along the way so far, and all of them love or are invovled with the Catawba for some reason or another.

4 comments:

  1. Hey Patrick!!!!
    What an exciting thing!!!! Something you will remember for the rest of your life!!!
    Well we had a terrific time here with your family and Matt & Sarah. Somehow it just didn't seem the same without you! In fact it has been a really long time since we have seen you! Sometime in the future, we hope to make it down there to see you in your environment!!!
    Have fun! Love, Bob & Ginny

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  2. Patrick! I hope that you are having the time of your life. We have missed hearing from you and i cant wait to have you back at home. Enjoy the rest of your trip! Love, Maggie

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  3. Hey Patrick, thanks for leaving me to hang up holds in the rock gym all by myself... HA! Just kidding, hope everyone is doing well!

    Liz :)

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  4. Yo Jenny,

    About those 11 dams. Sometimes in life, you are carried. Other times, you do the carrying. The downhill trek is usually sweeter when preceded by a good uphill climb.
    By the way, your mom was concerned about the photo of you, standing in front of the van with the display table. Your complexion is a little pink. Didn't forget the sunscreen, did you?
    Happy trails, sweetheart!
    Love,
    DAD

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