This is how our kayak outing was supposed to go:
Step one: Place Geoff's bike at Hominy Creek River Park
Step two: Put in Kayaks at Bent River Creek Park
Step three: Enjoy gentle flowing French Broad River as we paddle 7 miles past Biltmore Estate
Step four: After arriving at Hominy Creek River Park, Geoff rides his bike 4miles back to retrieve the car at Bent River Creek Park
All went well as we put the kayaks into the river, then we noticed little patches of rapids which were a bit more exhilarating than we've paddled previously. We came to a highway overpass with a good patch of rapids all across the river between the highway supports. The current rushed me towards one of the pillers and YIKES!!! I was heading fast for the pillar and feared breaking an arm against it but instead I "just" ended in the water. This is the first time is our several years of kayaking that one of us ended in the water. Luckily, the river was refreshing but not too cold and not too deep but was rushing. Between the river not being too deep and me hanging onto Geoff's kayak, we made it over to the shore without me tipping over Geoff's kayak.
The force of the river had my kayak still pinned onto the highway pillar with me glad that I wasn't pinned between the kayak and the pillar! Geoff went back and heroically maneuvered the rapids (very impressively) to loosen my kayak but it would not budge. Finally, he got into the river to push the kayak loose then got back into his kayak and pulled my kayak over to the side of the river to where I was sitting. Oh yes, while I sitting there, another kayaker hit the pillar and fell in the water as I had but was taller than me so he was able to pop right back into his kayak and went off paddling.
The one thing we lost in my tumble was my paddle - which on a calm river wouldn't have been a problem since Geoff could easily tow me. However, without me having a paddle on this river, it would be a problem whenever we hit another rough patch. And we still had over six more miles of paddling til our planned endpoint. (Are you starting to wonder what this has to do with cowboy boots? That's coming up soon, don't worry.) Even so, we decided to try Geoff towing me which went well for about 10 minutes but then we came to another small rapid and I panicked at the thought of going through it towed by Geoff. We went to the side of the river so I could walk around it and then I realized that there was a path at the top of the river bank. So I scrambled up the muddy river bank to walk my way out while Geoff continued down the river to the planned end point.
I walked for about 30 minutes on what I soon figured was a Biltmore Estate bridle path. I felt a little strange walking along drenching wet and still wearing my PFD (life jacket). Eventually, came to a pasture with a few beautiful horses being fed by what I learned were Bilmore staff. I told them my story and the young horsewoman, Elizabeth, was about to end her shift so she agreed to drive me to Geoff's and my meeting point. And one of those staff members feeding the horses had on knee high blue cowboy boots. I didn't realize anybody that actually worked with animals wore flashy boots like those. I wished I had my camera. While I waited 10 minutes or so for Elizabeth to finish feeding the horses, I sat on a log in the middle of that beautiful pasture and felt amazed at what a different experience I was having than the one we had planned.
Elizabeth wasn't sure where the park was so she checked the web from her cell phone but then it turned out that she was bringing me in the wrong direction so we stopped someplace for directions. They had no idea but I did get to use the rest room there and then I found out the my luck was really odd, this afternoon, because the toilet wouldn't flush. Uggh....but then we got through to Geoff on the phone. He had successfully completed the kayaking and was at the location of his bike. he asked Elizabeth to take me to where our car was and that he would ride the bike to meet me. And that's just what happened and we were reunited.
Now we'll need to get a new paddle for me....and we think we'll stick to calm predictable lakes from now on! Phew!!
Addendum from Geoff:
Whew, I'm pooped. After I got Ellyn's kayak loose, chased it down, emptied the wter out of it, hooked it up to the back of mine, I was about a quarter mile down stream from where I dropped her off. Trying to paddle back up against the current was not working, so I got over to the side of the river and got out and walked, dragging both kayaks behind me. I caught up just in time to see another kayaker go into the drink right in the same spot, but he was able to get righted and go on.
After Ellyn went up the bank and found the Biltmore trail, I towed her kayak on downstream toward the park where my bike was parked. This took another hour and a quarter. Ellyn said she would try to call me but I had no cell signal while on the river. After I got out, and got both kayaks out, and locked them up with my bike lock, and strapped the rest of our gear to the back of my bike, I checked the phone and found I had a couple of calls from a strange number. I called it back and asked if Ellyn was there. She was but not with the person who was helping her. They could not find the park I was at but I asked her to take Ellyn to the other park where the car was parked.
I had no doubt I could make the ride, but I had used up a lot more of my energy in the kayak than I had expected when we put out onto the water. I had to get off and walk a few times on hills when my legs got too rubbery but I made the 5.9 mile ride in just under 44 minutes. Then we had to go back and load the kayaks. Ugh! There was a group of kayak fishermen there who had seen me trying to get the kayak off the bridge piling and they helped me put one of the kayaks up on the car.
Tomorrow is supposed to be a rain day. I can use a break.
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