Yesterday I decided to take my mom on a trip down the Oostanaula River! We decide to do the upper stretch from Highway 225 down to Highway 156 for a total of 17 miles! We headed out in 2 cars with my dad as our drop off driver. We went to the takeout first and dropped my dad’s car off then headed to the put in. After unloading everything and packing the canoe we were ready to head out. My dad gave us his usual pep talk, “She’s too old for this crap and you are both going to die!” Maybe I shouldn’t have made him take pictures of us and jokingly say they were so he could identify the bodies! Might not have been the best thing to say! He has such a way of pumping you up!! We shoved off and my dad carried the car and swapped it with his. I really enjoy paddling the Oostanaula, but it is a very slow river and the wind today made it a very hard paddle! Spent at least six miles paddling into the wind! Great workout though. We stopped for lunch in a small creek and then stopped for a break on a rock beach. My mom seemed to really enjoy the ride and we saw a ton of wildlife including a water snake, several turtles and more heron than I have seen in one place. We saw at least 12 flying down the river in front of us at one time and they stayed with us for miles. Total, we saw at least 30 heron. I guess it is Phyllis’ fault we never see animals!! I missed her yesterday! So used to having her with me. But I think she is the one that scares off the animals!! Now, the funniest part of the day is one my mom would rather I not tell, but of course, I have too! Now, at this point if you are under 70, stop reading until you see the next asterisks.
***I do not mean to make fun of those who are in their later years since I am not that much younger myself, but this story is just too funny! My mom is a tough lady, but her knees just aren’t what they used to be due to arthritis! We stopped for our last break on a rocky ledge that was about a foot up from the edge of the boat. I pulled in and got out to hold the boat, but I couldn’t pull the boat up on the ledge because it was too high. I held it in place while my mom tried to stand up, but after 7 hours on the river she was very stiff. The funny part came when she managed to lift one foot out of the boat on to the ledge, but got stuck betwixt and between. I couldn’t help her because I was trying not to lose the boat down the river. She made a couple of efforts and then finally got both hands on the rock. With one leg in the boat and one on the ground, both hands on the rock, and her rear-end in the air, we were at a standstill! That lasted for a couple of minutes and then I managed to wedge the boat on the ledge and get around to her. (I wish I had had a free hand to get to my camera, but you will just have to imagine the sight!) We got her other leg out of the boat, but she was then on hands and knees and could not get her legs to straighten out! Dead weight! I managed to get under her arms and finally get her standing upright! We were both exhausted from the effort, but enjoyed a snack and water and walked around the rocks to loosen up stiff joints! Did I mention we were near very potent cow pasture! My goldfish tasted a lot like cow patties! Getting back in the boat was almost as challenging, but with the use of the paddle as a brace, we managed without drowning us both! ***
Okay! Those under 70 can come back now! After our last break we decided we would stay in the boat the rest of the way! After a few false starts and a bridge that is not on my map, we made it to the take out! I only said a couple dozen times, “I’m sure the boat ramp is right around the next bend!!! (Phyllis is used to my unbridled optimism! Pretty sure my mom was ready to shove me out of the boat!) And it finally was! After packing up we stopped for some dinner and headed home! A great day, but a long 17 miles and 9 hours on the river! Did I mention, we did not see one other boat on the water? Passed a few people fishing on the banks, but otherwise, had the river all to ourselves! And we didn’t need those photos to identify the bodies!!! My dad finally relaxed for about 30 seconds when we got home! Now, to get him on the river!!!
2016-06-11