New River

Jackie and I decided to do a weekend trip.  We've never really visited  West Virginia even though we've lived less than an half hour away for maybe 30 years.   We'll leave on a Saturday morning and return Sunday night having made a loop to the south, turn to the middle of the state and then north back home.   So off we go.

First we head south.   We go through Harper's Ferry and down the Shenandoah Valley.  The valley is pretty, most people don't visit, rather going with either the Interstate, trying to make time, or going on the Skyline Drive, particularly in the fall for "Fall Colors", or during the summer for a picnic or just a leisurely drive.   The valley has not only beauty, but unexpected surprises such a steam locomotive railway and a Coors brewery.

All pictures, with the exception of those on and in the New River were taken with our first digital camera - we had a lot to learn.

 The Shenandoah Valley was a back-and-forth battle field the length of the War Between the States.   Its beauty hides its grim history.

The mountains line the valley.

The colors are every bit as terrific as later in the fall.

Skyline Drive

But eventually we run out of valley and hit the Skyline Drive.    One of the attractions pointed out on the Drive map is a waterfall.  We stop and decide to walk down to see it, after all its only 1.5 miles, round trip.  We forget two things;  1) three quarters of the walk is up hill - very up hill,  and  2) the Skyline Drive has not had rain quite a while, its been pretty dry. 

A stream goes through the small ravine, along a dirt walk.

And there's the falls

There's a nice little area to stand and watch the water - certainly not the "falls" we expected, but a nice cool, humid spot.

There one place on the road where you can look back to where you've been

            And the Shenandoah down below.

The New River

Well, we made it to our turn-around point, the New River.   Ironically, the New river is the oldest river in the United States.   From above it looks quite like other rivers until you realize just how far below you it is.  Eons have allowed the river to carve a deep channel through the valley. 

It widens as it flow down towards the bridge.  It is also joined by the Gauley River, held back by one of six dams on water feeding the New river.  The New River is known for a multitude of class four and class five rapids, but during the summer there are only a few class four's - it need the water from the Gauley River to fulfill its greatest promises as a river with exceptional rapids and challenges.   "Gauley River Time" is most important time of the year for those who run the river.  Advance reservations are needed for those who want to raft with one of the river outfitters when the Gauley is let loose.  

As the kayakers say, here's one of those damn dams!

As with any river worth its rapids, it starts slow and wide,

and then when you are lolled to sleep, it narrows and you're in for the ride of your life!

The New River, from a a rafter's, a kayaker's, bungee  jumper's, and B.A.S.E. jumper's view,  ends at the New River Bridge.  It was for the longest time the largest arch bridge in the world - now in third place.   None-the-less, with a length of 3,030 and a height of 876 feet, it remains the highest vehicular bridge in the Americas, and the second-highest in the world.  It is the epitome of places for an adrenalin rush - on the sacred "BRIDGE DAY".  (look up Bridge Day and hold your breath) 

Class Six - Full Moon Madness 

Every where you go, rafting the rapids is discussed, offered on billboards, in the paper and entrances to the river.   While at lunch we asked where to find a good place to go to learn a bit more about rafting the river.  We were told that "There's only one place - Class Six."  Having no idea the significance of  the words - "class six " - we followed directions to the place.  And what a place.  We normally don't advertise for any product or business, but in this case there's reason for an exception - we love Class V I !    Go to http://www.class-vi.com/.

We stopped to look around and the longer we were there, the more we were attracted to try New River Rafting.   It looked a bit costly, but we saw they has a special - "Full Moon Madness".   This special was one or two days a month, during the full moon, of course.  The cost was easily half of regular trips, including the full run of the river, a "lunch" while on the river, and finally a buffet dinner that night.   

So we bit.

The guides there told us that we'd need some thin rubber soled shoes, shorts and a shirt - all the clothes should be light and not absorb water.  So off the Wal-Mart we went.  Wal-Mart was prepared for for folks like us who needed her minimum to go our on the river - within 30 minutes we were ready to suit up. 

We reported to the main building to meet our guide.  He asked if we had any special needs or health problems, and to make certain, we had to complete a form that pretty much held Call IV harmless.   He said, let's go to the bus and get our rafts - but one last request, "as you pass me going out the door, put your car keys in my bucket. "   And we're off.

On the way to the river our guide tells us there are few rules while rafting:  1) butts on black (the raft has a black section about a foot wide on the top,  all the way around - you must stay on it at all times!),  2) the paddle has a wide section where you grasp it at the very end ( that end is dangerous - teeth knocked out, black eyes, bloody noses and such result when you let go of that end - new let it be exposed!), 3) If you fall out, you're on your own - rafters use the "save yourself rescue system" (there's no way a raft can turn around and pick you up - you must save your self and and maybe you'll catch up with the raft down river), and 4) if you fall out, you must keep your feet up on top of the water (if your feet go down to the floor of the river, there's an excellent chance one or both may become wedged between rocks and you have no chance of saving your self).

Jackie's eyes got larger as the safety lecture went on - oars, falling out - butts on black?  She pictures a raft ride like on TV, everyone sits in a seat and the guide used the engine to keep the raft going to where it ought to.  This is not what she envisioned.

We get to the rafts.  We are broken up into teams and we're directed to a raft and told to carry it over to this down-hill path with a kind of rail reading to the river.  Jackie says to me - "Carry the raft to the water?"   We all grab a hand-hold and wobble as we  struggle to get the raft to the top of the incline.  There we place it on the rails - does it slide down to the river - hell no!  We have to push / guide it down.  By now, speaking only for my self, we're panting.  Finally, we put it on the river and get in.

Time for lessons.   First a quick review of the four rules.  Then we get paddling lessons, which are pretty simple.  a) Don't ever paddle unless you're told to, b) when told to paddle, paddle for all you're worth, and 3) let's learn how to turn - one side paddles forward, the other side paddles back ward.   Got it?  And don't let the end of the oar loose!

And off we go.  What?  We carry the raft?  We paddle?

Note: all pictures taken on and in the water were by waterproof disposable cameras

We're in the water at last - paddle practice.

                                                                         It starts off slow and easy, 

And we're all grouped together

But up ahead see see / hear our first rapid

Note: Class VI has stationed a photographer on the first rapid, as it is one of the best, with a deep drop and a high finish.  Of course, by the time were were back, the photos were ready for purchase.  As soon as I find ours, I put it on the page - its pretty neat.

              We're gett'n close and

                                   the man says "Paddle!"                                 

It looks a lot more frightening when you're there

                                Here's another                                                            And another

                                        And another                                               And another 

"OK, this one is special - when I say "Paddle" you better paddle!"

Going through sideways is necessary to pull off a trick - Paddle, Paddle, Paddle - and you nose right into the the falls and suction pulls you right to within inches of water pouring into the raft, and then you stop - and can stay there until you want to go - or another raft bumps you away.  Cool!

We go through another section

But stop at the jumping rock It looked higher at the time!

Then its everyone who wished to jump in the water and float - Yes, you can float through a class two rapid, but keep your feet up on top of the water, make certain your helmet is tight, and  watch out for the rock

                                                          That rock?  

                                                                   Yep, that big rock.

                                                                              Sure, I can miss it. 

                                                                                       Damn, I hit the rock

                                                                                                Rock is hard!

Then its Lunch Time

                                Pull the rafts up and out

And gather round the lunch buffet - on another hard rock

Oh, and where's the toilets?  Well there's a few trees - make like a bear........

Always time for just one more picture

And down river we go

The man says "Paddle - Paddle!"

Here's why - this one ahead has a real drop off

Here we go 

Cute Story - these eight guys below are a wedding group - this is their Bachelor Party.  We splashed them whenever they were close and they returned the favor.  After several beers at "lunch" they were having an even better time.   They were to only raft to loose a member.  On one rapid there was a huge drop followed by a very powerful high wave - and off he flew.  We were right ahead and between us and the Bachelor Raft, he was dragged back in. 

Then the storm hit!  This storm had ferocious lightening and pouring rain.   The pictures below don't do it justice.  At one point we actually could not see the raft ahead of us.  Look carefully and you can see the rain hitting the water and streaming down in front of the lens.

The rain was so cold we were throwing river water on ourselves to keep warm.

Storms over and the water's smooth - we just drift

We have really enjoyed the trip - wet and happy!

And the trip nears the end - we go out a couple hundred            feet below the bridge 

The trip gets shorter 

                                    The bridge grows closer 

The end is near, we go under the bridge

And we pull out - sad / happy / wet / tired and looking forward to the evening meal - to our surprise a four star meal in a beautiful dining area, overlooking the New River.   

A excellent meal, a wonderful adventure and many new folks.  One couple drove down from Pittsburg for this one day of Full Moon Madness, and after dinner, drove home.  We hoped to do that ourselves - Class VI sends us specials, but we never followed up - dummies!

The next Day 

We drive around the area for a couple hours before heading home.   We find a couple more places to look down on the new River. 

We run into a chair lift from the top of the hill  down to the river.   Unfortunately it wasn't running, but there appeared to be a small park and dock down there, so we drove down. 

When we get there we find a guy giving river rides - this above the damns, of course.

It was a pleasant ride and we saw numerous small cabins (shacks) built right on the water. 

I don't recall much detail to tell the truth, but I think they had only something like 30 feet to build - therefore they built right on the water's edge - and sometimes right over the water. 

A couple more looks at the bridge, a look down at the river, and we're turning for home.                          

Potomac Headwaters 

The boys have taken me up to the Savage River to fish several times.  Going there, we ride along beside the Potomac River from Hagerstown through Cumberland.  There we cross over and head into Western Maryland.  

This time Jackie and I follow road in West Virginia north towards the Maryland line.   Following one narrow road after another we find the headwaters of the Potomac River.

        The scenery is totally unexpected 

                                                                cliffs down to the water line    

                 Two views, one without

                                                                                      phone lines               

Cool, clear, shallow water - wish I had a fly line

Jackie takes one last touch of the water

and we head home.

GREAT WEEKEND