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!