What to do when it's 15 degrees out

[Machias]

You go whitewater rafting!!!!    Awesome day on the rivers.  Put in at Ely's Ford on the Rapidan River near Fredericksburg, VA.  Site of some historic Civil War Battles.  I was worried earlier in the week since the min level for good paddling is 1.60.  The river was at 1.21, then we got rain Weds night and the river got up to 15!!     But by Sat morning it was back down to 3.27.  This river feeds into the Rappahonnock river which on Thur morning was at 18 feet and rolling, but was back down to 6+ by Sat morning.  Lots of Class I and II rapids, nothing scary, but lots of fun.  Started off pretty dang chilly, right around 15 degrees.  The sun wanted to peek through a couple of times but never really made it.  I took off on my cataraft, a 16 foot Aire Jaguandi, NRS frame with 10 foot oars, about 45 minutes before the rest of the group.  They caught me up and zipped on past me a little before they pulled out for lunch.  They were in canoes and kayaks.  Made the whole 16 miles in 5 hours and 20 minutes with about a 30 min stop for lunch.   Can't wait to go back once it warms up a little bit, lots of smallies and muskie in these rivers.

Getting ready to launch



Launch was a bit muddy, ankle deep at the bottom of the ramp













Lunch spot















Sorry this one was not in focus

[deerslyr]

Man I want that pontoon bad! Looks like a lot of fun

[Boss .300 winmag]

Machias are those river levels measured in feet?

[Machias]

Yes

[Boss .300 winmag]

Wow it doesn't look like it could ever get that big, that must cause lots of flooding.

[Machias]

Bigtime

[sumbeech66]

Looks like fun. 

[Machias]

Three more photos

This guy tried to launch his 17 foot canoe seal style, didn't go so well......dang that water was cold!!! 

[RadSav]

Sounds like you will be ice skating or snowmobiling end of this week!  News out here says you'll be getting hit hard.

[Machias]

I think it will swing just north of us, looks like just a rain event, unless it sags down a little bit.

[Elkrunner]

Looks like a fun time

[Heredoggydoggy]

Three more photos

This guy tried to launch his 17 foot canoe seal style, didn't go so well......dang that water was cold!!! 

Not that funny--just a day or so ago, a guy died of hypothermia when his kayak overturned on the Spokane River.  They said the high winds on the river made kayaking difficult that day. 

Looks like you guys had a fun day though. 

[Machias]

He had a westsuit on, we were all prepared to take a dip and survive.  It was really funny!

[Heredoggydoggy]

Good that you guys were well prepared--I don't think the guy in Spokane was...  Those pictures reminded me of spring on the Connecticut River back when I was growing up in Massachusetts!

[Machias]

Good that you guys were well prepared--I don't think the guy in Spokane was...  Those pictures reminded me of spring on the Connecticut River back when I was growing up in Massachusetts!

Yea it amazes me folks going out without proper gear in water temps that will kill you in minutes and lots of times with no flotation device!!!