Watuaga

Tyson woke us up early Saturday morning with great news. His friend Krystal and her boyfriend Andre wanted to paddle with us on the Watauga. Our drive to put in was delayed by getting completely lost following the headwaters of the Watauga. The day turned out to be beautiful and warm, yet the water was a little cooler than Wilson’s. Sarah and Krystal did the upper part of the Watauga. They shredded the gnar surfing waves and dodging undercut rocks. Sarah saw a dead baby calf stuck in a strainer that was swept down with high water earlier that week (very sad). Downstream of the calf, Noah, Jane, David and John Hoffman (Class 2008) put on with Andre. Things picked up quickly when John got sucked into a sieve that swallowed his boat but not him. At the same time Jane swam out of her boat through some squirrely water on the same rapid. The rapids continued and increased in difficulty and Jane bagged her first Class V! Andre was a fantastic guide and styled all the lines. We entered Tennessee on Stateline Falls. This drop was about 15 feet tall and the water on the left landed on an exposed rock. Therefore it was necessary to boof right and generally style the line. It was for sure the most righteous way to cross any state line. We were warned at the take out to drive slowly because the locals were known to pull guns on kayakers. After this epic day we returned to Blowing Rock for another night at Tyson’s following a delicious BBQ dinner, during which Jane and Noah got more in touch with their southern side and ate some fried okra. Sadly we had already lit all our fireworks off, but were thoroughly wiped from the Watauga so we had a mellow explosion free evening.