Baron vs. The Nantahala

I've had a week or so to reflect back on my experience. We recently returned from our annual trip to Vogel State Park in GA. We always have a great time relaxing and getting away from the hustle and bustle of what has become everyday life for the Goins clan. Whilst on the trip I was able to participate in something I hadn't tried before...so in honor of those great match-up movies like Freddie vs. Jason, Alien vs. Predator, Godzilla vs. Mothra...I submit for your approval, Baron vs. The Nantahala (insert looming terror movie music here)

It was a Friday unlike a normal every week kind of Friday...no work, no apartment, just a cabin in the woods with family and friends. There was an air of anticipation and excitement as there had been talk of a kayaking trip, and today was that day. The men rose early that morning, 9:00ish, which is early for vacation rising, scarffed down a hearty breakfast and hit the road. The party consisted of one Roxy Wishum, Keith Wishum, Mark Wishum, Russ Wishum, and me...Baron. 4 Wishums and a Goins packed into a car headed for the great state of North Carolina and the Nantahala River. I was the only one in the group who had never done this before. In fact, my only experience with any type of rafting came last summer at the end of Wilderness Trek in Colorado. This would be no normal rafting trip though. We were going funyaking...I wasn't exactly sure what that was at first. Sounded to me like something someone did after riding the Mind Bender 15 times in a row. But hey, I was up for it. We arrived at the river and decided to eat lunch first...I went with the Roast Beef Gone Wild sandwich. I was pretty sure that would sustain me for what lie ahead.

After cruising the strip looking for the cheapest funyaking outfit we could find, we settled on Fast Rivers, gave them all our money...changed clothes...put on those sexy water booties and gathered our gear, a life jacket and a paddle. At this point I finally got to see what a funyak was. It is an inflatable canoe like kayak. You can sit in it, lay in it...whatever you prefer. I figured it didn't look that intimidating and my hesitation was developing into mild confidence. After an adventurous bus ride to the "let in" site, we were soon in the water, I in my funyak, and we were a cruisin. Didn't take long to get to my first rapids...granted they were not huge at all, but for a first timer it might as well have been the Ocoee. I skillfully maneuvered myself out of harm's way and I was movin...

The rest of the river consisted of smooth sailing followed a few little rapids, a few little rocks (most of which I hit with my funyak). I was getting pretty confident until...

I saw it coming from a ways off. Big rock, standing taller than me (cause I was sitting down)...not one I wanted to mess with, but as I was trying to maneuver to the left something kept dragging back to the right and before I knew it, there was Mr. Rock. Surely I'll just bounce off of it and catch the current around...that was the last thing I thought as my funyak began to climb the rock...sideways...

You ever been in one of those situations when everything seems to move in slow motion? That was happening to me at this moment. One second I was floating, the next I was swimming...and man was it cold! upper 40s/lower 50s...and I wasn't through with the rapids yet either. My first move was to shove the boat off of my head. I had no idea where my paddle was...all I knew was that I was now body surfing in freezing water through some rapids...for the first time!

Luckily for me, I found a calm spot and Roxy pulled up along side me and allowed me to climb on until I could get back to my boat. Did I mention it was cold? Fortunately for me (and Keith who was towing me, remember no paddle) our outfitter wasn't far up river and I was able to gather my wits and a new paddle for the remainder of the journey.

The remainder of our journey was what they referred to as "the falls". Now, I'm a city boy with no real rafting experience...I've recently dumped into freezing water...what confidence I had developed earlier was drifting away with my lost paddle...and we were heading for "the falls". I'm getting a wee bit worried at this point...I know it can't be that bad, but in my mind I'm picturing this.

So, we take off and I'm anxiously approaching "the falls" a little scared but determined that I am not dumping out in that water again...and what came next was pretty much was a blur. I do remember my funyak, at one point, rising up on its side (not good if you're in a boat)...I was then bumped by Russ from behind (which proved detrimental to him, as he then went swimming) which caused me to head down "the falls" backwards!

I wish I had the pictures to show you how dramatic it really was (but they were really expensive and I also had to pay for a paddle...cheapskates), I fought the Nantahala and came out victorious...a little damp, a little cold, but victorious none the less.