April is drawing to a close, and we are looking back at the second installment of Creek Week 2016. The
program may be complete for the year, but the fun is only just beginning for the 8 ladies who joined us to step up their skills and share beautiful moments on the water. This week’s participants hailed from near and far and everywhere in between, with “local” representatives from North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee, and some brave travelers from Massachusetts, Colorado and Alaska.
The week graced us with warm temperatures but no rain. Undeterred, we set off to work the Green River, finding copious opportunities for practice and play. We kicked off Monday with stroke review and some warm-ups to engage the core muscles. We spent the remainder of Monday and Tuesday seeking out boofs and maintaining effective boat angles on the Upper Green.
Come Wednesday, we trekked up to Blackwater Falls on the Narrows for boof practice and some fun runs of Baby Sunshine and Hammer Factor. Thursday, we refined the sweet boofstrokes and lines learned on Wednesday. We certainly earned our turns on the Green this week, with four straight days of hiking…a small price to pay for the splendor of the Green River. As we paddled, birds sang and buds opened wider on the trees, providing us with an intimate glimpse of the spring world coming alive.
On Friday, we set off for an ELF run of Wilson’s Creek. Low flows channelized the water and made for tight lines, affording us the perfect opportunity to put our boat control practice into action. Gentle rains provided graceful background music to the collective spirit of accomplishment and joy for a week of hard work and play. The rain was a little late and a bit meager to help water levels, but it certainly was lovely. Surely, there was a rainbow tucked somewhere among the mountaintops.
The ladies of Creek Week Round 2 embodied admirable teamwork and flexibility and a beautiful eagerness to learn. We thank everyone so much for being a part of Creek Week! Additional thanks go to Adriene Levknecht and Emily Shanblatt for their awesome instruction and support. We are all pumped for a great season!
