Good Gauley

Sept 12 to the 17 was spent traveling to, along/on/in and from the Gauley Festival, the biggest whitewater festival in the country (says David), in Summersville, WV. It was a big vacation in distance and time away. This was the longest we'd been away since Abi was born so I was sure to fret and plan way ahead of time. We left on Wednesday afternoon straight from daycare and stayed at the Ranch like usual. Then, Thursday morning, we hitched up the RV and headed south. We arrived at Battlerun Campground in time for Abi's afternoon nap. Meanwhile, we set up camp, david answered work calls in the shade and we took in our surroundings complete with ducks interested in stale crackers. Battlerun is on the Gauley Lake - where the river water comes from. Each day I noticed the level getting lower and lower as the water was released down the Upper, Middle and Lower Gauley River.

A grew view for only $24/night. Awesome!

Abi Shack at the Battlerun Campground

David working

feeding the ducks

Friday was my day to run the river and David's to watch Abi. I was nervous having not paddled the Gauley in four years and not paddled anything harder than Class III since Abi was born. It was a girl paddling day with Ron as the only male for the duration of the run. Renee lovingly led me through the rapids and dealt with my nervous pre-river chatter. We put on the river and the first rapid was dubbed "surprisingly big wave" by Ron. Great, I thought. But I paddled hard and got through but I hadn't been in big water in so long that it started to work into my brain. By the second big rapid I got flipped and was shaken even though I rolled up fine and everyone cheered. Then it was on to more big rapids where I paddled and didn't smile at Kuntz Flume, the Class IV rapid where they take your picture. I was not having fun. I was having a mindfuck of a day and I needed to reset. I said I needed a minute and burst into tears and just let it all out that I was nervous and scared of the big water and blah blah blah. So, after that we headed towards Junkyard Rapid, which I remember flipping at four years ago. Renee described what I had to do including floating up to the top and looking for the easy path. Well, I floated up and then decided to float where I shouldn't and flipped. contacts askew I floundered through the rest of rapid almost getting pulled into a little hole. Screaming expletives I made it through cursing the rocks and water and waves and from there on out it was a good day. I needed a cry and shout and then, a few rapids later, a big smile appeared as I was rocketing through wave trains.  I got used to the movement of the big water and felt more confident in the boat and dealing with the pushy, funny water. I gave everyone a fright as I went through the Class IV+ rapid at the end having flipped at the top and having no contacts again. It was decided that Lasik is in my future. My last big fear to face. After we got off the river I was too tired to go to the festival so David went and picked up food and called it an early evening.

Saturday and Sunday David paddled the river while I watched Abi. I had done research a few days before we left to find all the playgrounds and libraries and what not in the area. We went to all the playgrounds nearby and luckily, there were some really great ones within a few miles of each other, including a cool one at our campground. We went to Wal-Mart, Abi's indoor playground, and read books in the RV. There was plenty of Elmo and coloring. The weather was great with cool temps and sunny skies.

playing the chimes at the playground

On Saturday night we decided to have a look at the festival with Abi. We figured we'd leave when she was tired. We were there at least an hour and a half where she ran around, inspected the kayaks, made friends with other kids and dug the bluegrass music. We took her home and put her to sleep shortly before 9 - the latest she'd been up. If you are wondering if she slept in on Sunday because of this the answer is no. Don't worry, I have devilish plans to wake her ass up at 6 am on a Saturday when she is a teenager. Just because I'm a mean mom and it might be a good form of birth control if I do it regularly while chirping "this is what it's like to have a baby!!"

Abi meets her future husband, heir to the Jackson Kayak empire

Anyway, we headed out of town after David got off the river on Sunday. We wanted to stop at a campground along the way but we ended up driving five hours and hitting the Hampton Inn three hours from home. Monday we pulled in at lunchtime and we quickly set about making Abi lunch, unloading the RV to take it to the RV storage place for the winter, and getting settled back in. It was so good to be home in our own beds and food that wasn't hot dogs, instant rice, and Bob Evans.

sitting atop the 7 foot tall climbing wall. Giving her mom a heart attack silently

sunset at the festival

The Abi Shack is taking a rest until November when we take her out for a night at the Tohickon Creek - the final hurrah for kayaking for the season. And then a short respite until May when it all starts over again. 

Labor Day Yough

Labor Day weekend was dynamic with a little bit of chaos and laughter and frustration and so on. Here are Katie's observations and lessons learned:

This was the first weekend where she didn't go back to sleep upon waking very early in the morning and had a harder time giving in to nap time.We arrived at the ranch Friday night after a pretty normal ride out - stop at Reading for dinner at a diner and then driving until we hit Somerset while Abi watched Elmo and then fell asleep. She hates it when we set up the black sheet to keep the light out signaling sleeptime. She knows that shortly after Elmo will be turned off and she'll be "enclosed" to fall asleep. We did figure out how to tilt the car seat to a more reclined position (only 6 months late!). This time, I raised the A-liner and was more a part of putting it together. We hung by the fire for a little bit and then retired. Abi woke very early, earlier than usual (4:30) and we started our routine of giving her milk and hoping she goes back to sleep for a little bit longer. She was fussy and crying and sniffly so we thought her allergies were kicking up. So, we tried to give her some claritin and she ended up throwing up all her milk all over herself, the sheets, and some of david's clothes. We used up most of the towels we brought too. So, our plans now became a trip to walmart to see about a thermometer, some new sheets, and whatever else might be needed. So, onto the dark, windy roads we went. We returned early enough that people were just waking up and blearily walking toward the coffee pot that Janet lovingly sets up every night and first up has to flip the switch.

This was the first weekend I didn't overpack everything and it came back to bite us. First morning was vomit, the second morning was pee! that's a full-sized set, a pack n play sheet, two sleep sacks (slowly phasing them out), abi's shirt, david's shirt, and towels. Ilesson learned - stow back up towels and sheets in the Abi Shack.

Terrible twos (weakly and sarcastically cheers hooray). Throwing a tantrum in the middle of the ranch and me trying to force her to keep walking while she did the dead legs thing was not my high point as a mother or of the weekend. Thankfully, pro moms were there to tell me to just walk away. I had taken Abi to see animals at the neighbor's place - ducks, roosters, puppy, rabbits, and kittens. Of course, it was plenty dirty and dangerous with bird shit and old children's toys that no longer meet sue-happy parent standards of today, i.e., a trampoline without a net and a deck without a rail that you jump from to get onto said trampoline. Or! you could swing on the rickety swing set until you get high enough to launch onto the trampoline (hopefully). This, in Abi's eyes, was wonderland! duckies! rabbits! dirt and hills and duckies! after ten mins i wanted to take her back where she wouldn't get tetanus or get cut up by all the rocks and roots, so i began carrying her away. Abi began screaming and kicking, so i had to carry her like a football down the rocky slope towards the ranch. Thankfully, pro moms were there to tell me to just walk away. Halfway across the lawn i let her go and kept walking warily. I envisioned Abi darting back towards the neighbor's yard where she had just seen eutopia and i'd have to chase her in the humid and bright early September day. But, funnily, after some rip roaring on the ground, screaming and tears streaming, she got up and came towards me. Who knew she'd come for me over those animals - i surely didn't!

We are slowly packing less and less for her in regards to must haves. Last year we had to have formula and water, enough bottles, her high chair, bibs, at least three outfit changes per day including socks and weather change clothing. This year we have her booster, her bag of clothes, and a bag of misc toys, books, bowl/fork/spoon. Milk is in the cooler with snacks for her and us. She abandoned bibs months ago and we gave up trying to tie and pin it to her. All she eats is finger food anyway that isn't messy like purees.

Motherhood has made me braver. The first sign of this, beyond physically having a child, was doing the Savage River last year without any of my usual pre-river perpetual nervous chatter. This year, it was "naked cucumber," the rapid where they take your picture. Making it silly and fun i took on the Girl Gauntlet, that was thrown by Renee and completed fourth of July weekend, and completed it with a proud little smile on my face. When dared to run a rapid with just my life vest on pre-Abi i wouldn't have done it. I would have himmed and hawed and made excuses (it's too cold, i don't want to get out of my boat) but post-Abi I thought nothing of it. Breast feeding and major abdominal surgery and post-surgery check ups will do that to you i suppose. My body, to me these days is something i carry around and houses my tired, dreamy soul. View at your own risk haha.

Now on to West Virginia! Five days of country, Gauley Fest. Wild and wonderful i hope!

First Timer's Yough: 2011 and 2012

 The first timer's yough trip is the first weekend in August. On the left is Abi in August 2011 at 5 1/2 months sitting in Bob. On the right is Abi in August 2012 at 17 1/2 months. Last year, she wore socks instead of shoes. She sat instead of walked and only had enough hair on the side to go up.

What a difference a year can make! Next year we may even be in a raft with her...

Gimme An A!

This is not a full entrance back to blogging but I wanted to put down our weekend so everyone who is interested can read about it. Of course, there are things that I can’t write here such as the crass conversation three rivers girls had as they changed into dry clothes and loaded boats within earshot of two teenage boys and presumably their father. One stealthy side glance, once we realized our unsuspecting audience, showed that the boys could indeed hear us as they ate a sandwich and grinned slyly at each other. Gotta grow up sometime, boys! 

So, Thursday started off a little rocky. Abi has been called home with a high fever on Wednesday but thankfully medicine was procured. I worked the morning, Aunt Meg watched her a few hours and then I came home to relieve her and allow David to work or pack. We had to pack the car up and get going to the dealer to get the camper on our way out of town. It was all so ambitious and we ended up an hour and a half behind schedule. We got the camper, had dinner at Bob Evans and then headed west. Abi fell asleep about 8 but began coughing in her sleep which woke her. She coughed so hard she threw up when we were about an hour and a half from Somerset where we were going to stay in a hotel for the night due to distance and a long day. So, she got to watch Elmo, her current love of all loves (sorry, Craig. You will always be her first kiss though), until we got to the hotel and were able to get her settled in. Of course, being in the same room as mommy and daddy always prompts her to stand and cheerily say “Hi!” 

Leslie and the Abi Shack ready to head west

On Friday we headed to the Ranch to get the A-liner, “The Abi Shack,” set up. People started arriving and setting up shop for the weekend. We put sandals on Abi’s feet and waited for the crying that comes with any change. Wearing shoes without socks was a shock lately but she got used to the sandals thankfully.

The Ranch

Abi does not like wearing sandals or having pig tails. She is a hot and snotty mess. But the sky is blue!

The Ranch is a five-acre plot of land that has a large grassy area surrounded by trees. There is a trailer where the Samlins stay, a house that needs to be fixed up but has a great wrap-around porch, and all the camp fixins like a fire pit, outdoor shower, and a deck with an awning. Janet even put up misters so the dogs and humans would be cooler during the day.The Samlins are so generous to allow us to stay on their land and use their facilities. They created an outdoor shower for the stinky river rats to use. They allow us to hook into their electricity and water. It is amazing and so heartwarming to see everyone come together and it’s all thanks to Ron and Janet. 

I love the outdoor shower, especially as the sun sets

Saturday was the day I would paddle and David would paddle on Sunday. We made it through Friday night without Abi waking much beyond her coughing. We had breakfast and noticed that it was eerily empty for memorial day weekend. The PCC grouped up at the put in and I branched off with Renee and Kim for some girl paddling. We took our time, enjoyed a river beer in the doldrums, and began the conversations only girls have among themselves when males are not around. The water was cool and so refreshing in the 80+ heat. There were no swims and we were off the river and at our car by 3:30.  We headed back to the ranch. Abi had not had a great day I heard with some fits of crying but with heat and allergies you can’t blame her. People came off the river and dinner was starting to cook. Abi had her dinner and hung close to us while people chatted. I took a shower and listened, as the sun dipped below the shower wall, to the sound created by many different conversations going on at once. Being outside the group and hearing the hum I wondered how the neighbors really felt about us being there throughout the summer. It rained for a short time but dinner was soon on – chicken fajitas, shrimp and pasta, and all the munchies and crunchies. There was even birthday cake! There was much tom foolery and what not as the night came on and beer bottles accrued in the recycling.  I watched the stars as I tried to stay awake by the fire. You don’t see the stars in one large area much in the suburbs of Philly. 

Abi and her new toy

Sunday started the same as Saturday with the exception of David and I switching roles. Abi and I even copied Saturday by going to Ruby Tuesdays for lunch and then to Wal-Mart. Hearing David’s story about her meltdown the day before I ordered all the food at once and paid the check so we could cut out as fast as we’d need to. But, luckily she was feeling better and we made it a half hour before leaving. We rolled around Wal-Mart and I caved in and bought Elmo DVDs for the car. There is only so many times you can listen to the same 45 minute video about bells, violins, and drums. After Abi woke from her afternoon nap I set up the Elmo drum set. Are you noticing a theme here? Abi’s three favorite words are Dada, milk, and ELMO! “Momma” only comes out when she is sad. People began arriving from the river and this time she was not shy but was walking around, looking at the dog, and smiling and jabbering to people. It only took three days to get her warmed up. Let’s hope the next time she’ll come around quicker. Everyone told stories and talked about all the rafts that were on the river. On Saturday, Renee, Kim and i were the only ones in sight for many miles. Apparently everyone decided Sunday was the day to hit the river.

The Samlin’s car had lost back brakes so they needed to get home and figure a way to fix it so they began packing up to hitch a ride home with another paddler. Then the skies opened up with a torrential thunderstorm. Abi has just been put down and was sitting up from all the booming thunder. So, after sitting on the deck and watching the lightning for fifteen minutes and realizing that the storm wasn’t exactly blowing over I ran to the camper, took Abi out of the pack n play, pulled the shades away and we watched the rain and lightning. David had gone to get food so he had to run between the rain drops with ice cream and pulled pork to get in. We three hung out until the rain slowed. I was thankful for the camper throughout the rain storm. Last year it rained every time we went camping and it always created issues with waking the baby or leaking through the tent. So, all the trouble of getting the camper – delayed pick up, additional equipment needed, misinformation, lack of communication with the dealer, etc – seemed worth it in that moment. We are sorry that our tenting karma has moved on to the Cunninghams, whose tent blew all around and tore. Once the storm passed the stars came out and a fire was built. Again I watched the stars in between conversations and begrudgingly headed to bed. 

Monday we began the slow trek back trying to keep Abi happy in the car seat and us sane.

It was a hot and exhausting weekend but it is always great to see friends and try to lead a life resembling what we used to have. 

Abi and Daddeh

Things learned

•  Abi is allergic to cut grass as she was tearing and had snot all day long as the mower went round and round the huge plot of land. She also sneezes when sunlight touches her face.
• You are able to get a job and finance a camper on an expired driver’s license but don’t attempt to get a Sheetz reward card!
• Being diligent about keeping the baby in the shade doesn’t mean you won’t get sunburn if you don’t stay in the shade too. This goes for bug bites as well. 

Finally, as an aside, I planted these seeds two days before we left. They are summer squash, carrots, and bell pepper. It was mostly a “ah fuck it” move where I tossed the remaining seeds from the packets into containers of either all compost or half compost half dirt. I had doled out seeds in egg cartons and planted them only to have something eat half of them in the night. Well, check these damn things out after less than a week. WHAT THE WHAT?