River Day 12/30/2013

It's hard to believe, but we just celebrated the last River Day for 2013.  The usual four were all able to make it this week (Ted, Jay, Tim and I).  Most of us are on vacation during this holiday season (sorry Ted), so it was an early day down, and a little early going home.  We had a typical winter day this week; temps in the low 30's (and falling), snow flurries early on, plus a little wind.

There had been a lot of precipitation over the last week, so what firewood we've collected was pretty wet.  It was a little slow getting started, but thanks to some accelerators, it was soon a thing of beauty.  Tell me you can't feel the heat coming off that photo?

The rains had also caused the river to rise; the water had reached a point about 25 feet or so below the fire area..  The high water prevented us from going down river to collect wood.  So instead of foraging, we just pulled wood out of the eddy in front of the camp.  Except for what we used to get the fire going, ALL of the wood we burned came directly out of the water and onto the fire (best fire from the river?).  The fire was so hot that Jay noticed that the birds were coming back to the area.

We got our weekly visit from Freddy, and as usual he had some interesting tales.  He also brought his latest project for a little show and tell.  I didn't even think to take any pictures of it, but we'll describe it for now as an implement of death for any rodents he happens to lure onto it - a rat trap with attitude.  Freddy promised to keep and preserve any evidence of its success over the next few days, so if it isn't too gruesome (or warm), maybe we'll have a pic or two then.

I can't think of a better way to start the week, and end the year, than to be with great friends at the river.  So to all of our readers and fellow Rivertarians out there (whether accidentally or on purpose), we wish everyone a Happy New Year!

See you in 2014!

River Day 12/23/2013 (Christmas Edition)

We celebrated the last River Day before Christmas this week, and we all (Jay, Tim and I) made it down except for Ted.  He had to work at the last minute and missed the annual gift exchange.  Why does work have to keep interfering with river time?

Tim's gloves drying out from a week in the rain.

The weather wasn't bad for this time of year; upper 30's with misty-rain.  We were hopeful a few times that we were going to get a little snow, but we didn't see any of that until we hit the top of the mountain on the way back home.  It was a bit windy early on, which made us appreciate the fire that much more.

We listened traditional Christmas music on the satellite radio most of the time we were there.  Freddy (our "local" visitor) doesn't appreciate our taste in music, but we don't hold that against him.  He did drop in for his weekly chat; I think the weekly River Day celebration has become something he looks forward to, even though he lives at the river.

We made an early day of it this week; early down and early back home, but it was still a great time at the river, and one of the days of the year we look forward to most.

To Rivertarians (and even non-Rivertarians) everywhere, we would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas!

River Day 12/16/13

The weeks holiday was celebrated by Jay, Ted and Tim, Mark had to leave town on business. With temperatures pretty seasonal, in the mid to upper 30s most of the afternoon and a little cloudy, we spend some time searching down river for some wood. With the recent high water levels from all the rain and snow the area has had lately, the river can be very generous in delivering us a supply of burning material for what ultimately becomes the "best fire on the river".

(As proven in the attached picture) Conversation lead us, as it often does, to topics of our upbringing and our childhood. Somehow we got on the subject of old hardware stores and TVs with tubes! Kinda strange topics I guess, but fun to talk about with the guys just the same. We did get our, what's becoming weekly, visit from Freddy. He was a little later then usual, must have been that visit from the Park Service that we noticed was in front of his house. He had a few interesting "Freddy" stories, as usual always good for a few laughs. The water level looked like it had dropped a bit from last week, Jay made mention that it was at a good fishing level, although none of us tried. Jay bought down some 16 bean soup for dinner, something we haven't done in a long time. That's always such a nice meal on a cold mid December evening. All in all another great Monday and the only way to start the week. The only thing missing was some Christmas music... oh, and Mark of course!!

River Day 12/09/2013

The four regular Rivertarians (could this be an oxymoron?) all made it to the river this week; Ted, Jay, Tim and I (Mark).  The weather Monday started out rainy, but it tapered off throughout the day.  By the time we got to the camp, the precipitation was more of a fine mist, and the fog had settled in pretty good up and down the gorge.  We actually had a few patches of blue sky by the time we left.

To get into the spirit of the season, we broke out the XM radio and listened to a little traditional Christmas music.  If you can't have the 40's channel, it's the next best thing.

Freddy came down for his weekly visit.  While he was there, we had a "celebrity" visitor: Uncle Si.  Okay, it might not have really been Uncle Si, but I'm pretty sure he might be related.  He had been out hunting in the afternoon and stopped by to show Freddy his deer (big dog?).  Apparently it took 5 shots from a muzzle-loader to bring the beast down.

The water was up fairly high, but not anywhere near flood stage.  Heavy rain over the weekend had all the streams flowing, and the river was slowly rising.

Of course we had a good fire going, and there was plenty of wood to keep it fed; stuff we had been accumulating, and a few new additions also.

It's hard to believe, but there are only three more National River Days left for 2013.  We plan to make the most of each of them.

River Day 12/02/2013

Only three of us were able to make it to the river this week; Jay, Ted, and I (Mark), but we still had another great holiday (aren't they all?).  The weather was similar to last week's; low to mid 40's, overcast.  I'm not sure about everyone else, but I'm ready to see some snow at the river.

Apparently the river had been up a few feet since last Monday.  There was a small line of debris (mostly just leaves) up in the yard at the camp.  It didn't get too high, but was definitely out of its banks some.  There's a large limb that's nearly as big as most trees just down from the camp.  It hung over the river from a larger tree for years.  With a little prodding, that limb fell this summer and had been in the same spot since.  Anyway, the river was high enough over the last week or so that the limb was moved 50 feet or so from its original resting spot.  (Not sure why I didn't think to take a picture of that?!?)

Freddy came down for a while.  This weeks stories were about animals for a change.

As usual for this time of year, most of the evening was spent pretty close to the fire.  Even though it wasn't especially cold out, it was well appreciated.

Glad to start the week out with a great River Day!

River Day 11/25/2013

 

Another great River Day this week, enjoyed this time by Ted, Tim, Jay and I (Mark).  It's always good when all of the "regulars" make it down (assuming you can call Rivertarians regular).  Once again we had good weather, even though it was a little cooler than last week (upper 30's - low 40's).  It did start to cloud up as the evening went by, due to an approaching winter storm.

Jay brought down a trailer loaded with some scrap wood for burning (much appreciated), and Tim brought down some goodies for the fire too - old doors from his house.  These were all interior doors, and as you might imagine, made for an interesting contribution for what was in all likelihood, the best fire on the river.  I hope the pics do them justice.

We had a visit from Freddy, who as always had a few stories.  The main theme from him was his buck kill (bow) from last week - complete with pictures.  He can always be counted on for colorful tales.

This was the Monday before Thanksgiving and a significant storm was forecast for later in the week.  I think everyone is looking forward to a snowfall or two at the river on a Monday.

From all of us to Rivertarians everywhere (okay, even to non-Rivertarians), we hope that everyone has a great Thanksgiving holiday!

River Day 11/18/2013

This is a very late post - one week late to be exact - but I thought I'd go ahead and make it ahead of today's River Day.

The whole Rivertarian gang was able to make it down this week - Jay, Tim, Ted, and myself (Mark).  The weather was pretty nice (clear, mid 40's), but fairly windy early on. No one tried any fishing this week, and most of the activity was at or around the fire.

Not too much going on the river (our part of it anyway).  We did have a nice visit from Freddy (he's become a regular now, not just a local), who shared a few stories with us.  Most of his stories include brushes with officialdom; I'm starting to see a pattern.

One good thing about the days getting shorter - we were actually at the river for night-fall.  You can't beat hanging around a hot fire after dark.  Now all we need is a little snow.

Sorry for the late post, and for the lack of a bunch of pics.  I did take a few of the best fire on the river just before we left, so I've put one here for the reader's enjoyment.

What a Great Monday at the river!Ted and I (Jay) where the only ones that made it down this week and the weather was great.The water level was down but we still had the best fire on the river.

Annual Fall Camping Trip Sherwood Lake - 2013

No, this is not a National River Day post.  Yes, there is still a National River Day.  Weekly even.  We've just become very bad at keeping up with the blog.

These photos are from our yearly fall camping trip, usually taken in the vicinity of Sherwood Lake, WV.  We had a great time this year, and except for a little rain, couldn't have asked for better weather, especially for this time of year.

As we did last year, we camped off the roadway leading into the park, a few miles before the main entrance.  Able to make it camping this year were Jay, Tim, Ted, Pat, Scott (for one night anyway), David, and myself (Mark).

What a great way to "end" the season. 

Camper City

Is Sambuca really our friend??

Pat, Jay and Tim having a snack.

Washer-toss tournament

Pallet night at the camp!

River Day 08/26/2013

(Pre-winter wood pile)

Another quiet River Day this week; probably because you can feel summer starting to wind down.  The leaves haven't started changing yet, but there's a definite difference in the air that you can feel.  Jay, Tim and I were the only Rivertarians around this Monday, but Judy was at the camp, and we got our regular visit from Freddy.  Once again we had nice, mild weather.  Probably a good thing, since Jay brought down a trailer stacked high with pallets and other scrap wood for the pile.  Another 5 degrees and a higher humidity level would have made the unloading pretty miserable.  Where's Ted when you need him?

Of course any time we have a wood gathering, or delivery even, we have to build a fire (don't we always?), so we did.  It may not have been the biggest we've ever built, but it was plenty.  I think we only burned one of the many pallets that Jay brought down.

All three of us did a good bit of fishing, and a small amount of catching.  Nothing major, but at least they're still biting (despite, or because of, the consistently high water levels).  There's still no way to get out into the main current (on foot anyway), which we would normally be able to do at this time of year.

 Can't think of a better way to start every week than to spend River Day with good friends.

River Day 08/19/2013

Just like every other week this summer, the river was still running way above normal for this time of year on Monday.  It actually rose quite a bit in the hours that we were there enjoying River Day.  Jay, Tim, and I (Mark) initially fished below the camp, and by the time we were ready to walk back up to the camp, the path back was under water.  The good news is, all three of us caught fish, either at that spot, or the usual spot in front of the camp.

Ted also made it down this week, and from the photos (sorry Ted), he must have been tired. Ron and Judy were at their camper as well this week.

The weather was mild again, and at least we didn't have any rain.  Even though it wasn't needed, we did have a nice little fire going (can you even have River Day without a fire?).

This was the first Monday in a while that we've had the regular group all show up; hopefully, it'll continue for a while.

River Day 08/12/2013

Only Jay and I (Mark) were at the river this week for River Day.  Even Ron and Judy weren't around this Monday.  We had good weather again, but still built a small fire.  It doesn't seem like the river level is ever going to drop to its normal late summer level, so all of our fishing was done in the eddy pool directly in front of the camp.  We were fairly successful, and "slew" several fish - sadly I mean that literally, but that was really the fish's fault.

Not much activity around the camp, but we did get a visit from Freddy, 7 geese, and two puppies (or river dogs).

As always, a great way to start the week.

River Day 07/29/2013

"I'm not touching that thing."

Only three Rivertarians were able to make it down this week (Jay, Tim and I), but that didn't stop us from having a good holiday.  The weather was nice, even though it was much cooler than the last month or so; mid 70's, and the humidity was more comfortable also.

The river was up again (if it ever actually went down) and pretty muddy.  The three of us all fished, mostly in the eddy pool in front of the camp.  Every one caught a few, but Tim took the record with the biggest, ugliest sucker that any of us had seen pulled out of the river.  We also caught a few small-mouth bass, and a couple of small red-eyes.

We did have a little fire going, but we didn't spend much time around.  No matter what the weather is, a fire on the river is always appropriate.

Judy and Ron were at the camp this week, but I don't think we bother them very much, and they certainly don't bother us. 

I think that everyone is in agreement that "tomato" starts with "p".  You had to be there.