Cheoah River Paddling 7/7/07

Lori & I paddled the Ocoee River Thrusday 7/5 and Friday 7/6 and went to the beautiful mountain cabin of Dena & Rob Strangia. We had met Rob in Costa Rica in November paddling whitewater and Dan & I ran across him on the Ocoee recently. 2 weeks ago I went down the upper Ocoee R. for the first time led by Rob. We also paddled with Rebecca, Craik Davis, Jeff Wood, and Terran Viehe. It was a great day and we all agreed to meet on 7/7 to run the Cheoah. It was fortunate that my dauthter Lori had flown in on Monday and we had paddled the US National Whitewater Center on Tues, the Nolichucky on Wed, the middle Ocoee on Thurs and Fri in anticipation of the challenge of the Cheoah. The Cheoah River has a reputation for humbling the best of paddlers. Lori & I felt we were ready but you never know...

We arrived at Dena & Rob's great cabin and found Terran there already. Rob had grilled a pork loin that we ate with black bean and rice. It was delicious. We got an overview of the river and went to bed. Dena awoke us to a great breakfast and said she would see us at Craik's later in the day. We met the other paddlers at O'Henry's parking lot at the putin, met Mike Kennedy who would paddle with us, ran some trucks to the bottom, geared up and made the long slide down the grassy hill into a tree filled river that was moving fast. Rapids came quickly and there were few eddies as those that we did find were filled with trees or stumps. We were surprised to find so much water in such a narrow river, sometimes a couple kayak-lengths wide! Soon we were at God's Dam for our first must-make boof and a wasp landed on my arm and started stinging me as I went over. I don't have to tell you the river held my attention much more than the wasp but I was surprised he stayed on as I came up from being submerged after the boof over the falls. The river had been described as BIG PUSHY WATER and it was but I was surprised how many technical must-make moves were necessary contrary to descriptions I had read. We ran across Chris Erdahl and Anne Sontheimer who had paddled with us in Costa Rica on the river also. Soon we were past the 12ft drop at Bear Creek Falls, past Tapoco Lodge Rapid, & past Yard Sale (whose description and warnings had concerned me the most) and to Calderwood Lake at the foot of the dam used in the movie The Fugitive.

We then went to the beautiful lakefront home of Elizabeth & Craik Davis for a BBQ. We were joined by Dena, as well as Mike, Kelly, Jason, and Laura all of whom we had seen on the river. Craik grilled and took us on Lake Santeetlah and we saw an eagle's nest with 2 babies in it. Lori & I had to leave after we ate as she flew out of Charlotte at 6am Sunday. It was such a great day, river, party, & dinner. I am glad everyone was safe and had a good time. What a great group! Thanks Rob for the invitation for Lori & I to join the group. Thanks to Dena & Rob for their perfect hospitality the evening of 7/6! Thanks to Elizabeth & Craik for the get together and BBQ on Saturday! Thanks to God for keeping us all safe!!! //Hugh