|
A story I love is when a friend and I were paddling the Piney River in Spring City TN. We were the only kayakers there, and it was a late day run. 8 miles of whitewater lay ahead of us. We leave my friends SUV at the bottom, and take my truck to the top.
About 3 miles into our run, my friend is going crazy. I allow him to catch up, to see what's up.
"DUDE! The keys to my Trooper, there're in the glove box of YOUR TRUCK!"
Now, this is a remote run. 45 min shuttle, one way. We were too far in to the trip to turn back, so just proceeded on down stream.
We reach the take-out just as it's starting to get dark. We managed to break in to his Trooper, so we could at least get on some dry clothes.
I tell him to pop the hood of his truck, seeing as how this is a universal distress signal.
Within 10 mins or so, a car pulls in, with a redneck family if I ever saw one. (May be kin to Louie, I dunno, didn't ask)
Man hops out and asks "Need a boost?"
I start to explain our sititution, and he reply's "I can take you back to your truck. Were just ridin around, killin cabin fever. Hop in."
I offer the guy gas money, but he refuses.
Now, anyone fimilar with this run, the road heading to the put-in has a split at the top of the mountain. Turn left, takes you to the put-in for Henderson Creek. Turn right for the Piney.
This guy has been tellin me all about growing up in this area, and how well he knows it. We get to the split, and he starts to turn left.
"WAIT! We need to hang a right!" I yell.
"HUH?" replys the gent.
"That's not the Piney you guy's were on. I don't know the name of that creek, but it ain't the Piney."
"Yes it is." I assure him.
"Look, I've hiked, swam, fished, and done just about anything else in these creeks, and I'm tellin ya, that ain't the Piney you boys were on."
Tired of arguing with the guy, I just ended it with "Well, whatever creek it is, my truck, where your taking me, is this way."
Made me feel like I was in that scene of Deliverance, you know where that old man reply's "That river don't go to Aintry."
Old people come up with the best.
While pumping gas, an older gent asked where I put my legs in that there thing.
Another said the bright colors must be to help scare away the fish, so they don't tump us over.
Ain't this sport grand? |
|
Gotta love those curious by-standers New 
BoaterTalk 
