Back in Black

Hard to believe that two weeks have passed already since leaving the States to come back to Uganda. Things are going well, and i hve been reasonably busy with work. There has been work for kayak school the past 5 days- ( i know, its almost like a real job! ) And the rafting trips have been fully booked several days this week. Hard to believe considering how quiet the campsite here seems in relation to my memories of last summer. Where there used to be Overland trucks here almost everynight, ther have been three or four trucks in the past 2 weeks.

The river has been changing almost everyday as well- The boys reported that the diggers at Silverback come right up to the waters edge now, and have caused the rapid to change again. Its frightening how much has been deforested already- and how barren the shore looks. the boys of the raft trip yesterday say that the first wave was almost gone, but the 4th wave made a major comeback. It will be interesting to see how the rapid keeps fluxuating and changing in the next few months.

Im going to try and take advantage of this section as much as possible in the next few months- but we will see. Other then that- things are pretty much the same around here. There have been many new buildings built up around the gate, new shops and chapati stands. There seem to be less boda boda men as well, perhaps in response to fewer kayakers coming to stay and go for Silver back runs. Still, the rafting video goes off in the NRE bar at 9, and life goes on.

Welcome Back

After much deliberation this winter and spring, I made the decision to return to the White Nile River in Uganda to work for the remainder of the summer season.  I'll be teaching kayaking for Kayak the Nile and leading sit-on-top trips for Kayak Cruises. Check out the website to book trips or see what i'll be doing at www.kayakthenile.com

It was a hard decision to come back- but made the choice to be here for the last bit of time before the top section gets dammed this coming year. The river is as beautiful as always, if a bit low.  

I arrived back in Jinja on Saturday, and have worked a few days already, partied a few nights already, and am starting to get back into the swing of things.  

Its good to be back- everyone has been extremely welcoming, from my friends, the people I work with, and even the locals.  Everywhere i have gone so far i have recieved encouraging "Welcome Back"s!  Its always flattering to have felt missed, and also flattering to have people surprised that i left. It feels oddly normal to be back here, though the leisurely lifestyle doesn't seem quite as appealing as it did last year.  All in all, good to be doing something, and happy to get some sun! 

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Lyons to Ottawa

After a terrific time at the Teva Mtn Games, it was off to Lyons Colorado for the much smaller, more local friendly Lyons Outdoors Games. To be honest, it was one of my favorite events on the entire Colorado circuit this spring. The smaller feel was friendly and inviting, and the games still provided a tough creek race on the South St. Vrain, a steep class 4+-5 creek, (won by Tao Berman, with Pat Keller coming in a close second) as well as a boater cross, slalom race and an amateur, cadet and pro rodeo. That isn't even including the non kayaking events- sadly, i did not make it off the river long enough to see the moutain biking or chainsaw events- maybe next year! 

Lyons was good fun- i ended up competing in the Not so Pro (Ho) rodeo instead of doing the pro womens. I had a great time, and had a suprisingly good ride for me- with a loop, a space godzilla, and i think they even scored me on an accidental cartwheel! The Not So Pro Ho rodeo was myself, Taylor Cote and Jessica Yurtinus. Having three of us meant that the womens class was separate from the amateur mens- and we all had a lot of fun. I narrowly beat Jess for first place- earning my first ever kayak rodeo winnings!!! 

The hole in Lyons was forgiving, if a little flushy- and great for trying and learning moves. After the rodeo i sat for ages working on cartwheels and loops- just trying to get more consistent. The feature even inspired Pat Keller to get back in a "playboat" of sorts- borrowing one of the locals RPMs and throwing down. Its not everyday you get to see someone Tricky Woo an RPM... The weeend was pretty friendly all around- with locals climbing right out on the rocks to take pictures of their kayak heros as they played and practiced- a nice campsite to stay at- and good burgers at Oskar Blues restaurant. 

Pat Keller Throws around an RPM while its owner watches. Photo Adriene Levknecht. (for those of you who don't know, an RPM is twice the length of todays playboats, making it twice as hard- or more- to use) 

After Lyons, it was off to Salida for FIBark - or the First In Boating on the ARKansas river. FIBark, is i believe the oldest whitewater festival in the states. I decided not to compete in any of the events, but had a great time hanging out and getting to see Salida. There is a ton of great boating in the area- from the Pine Creek (where the Pine Creek race is held) to easier sections like the Numbers, the Fractions and Browns Canyon. 

BoaterCross on Pine Creek. 

I think the Salida/Buena Vista area is my favorite in Colorado- friendly, nestled in the Mountains, and still easily accessible. FIBark was also fun because i got to meet up with John Harvey and Lisa Sewell, friends from PA. I got to run the fractions with John, and then later got to run Browns canyon with another friend who showed up- Amy Jimmerson. It was great to get to catch up with Amy a bit- and Browns canyon is a beautiful, classic grade 3-4 Must Do run in the area.  That evening there was one of the most spectacular sunsets i have seen which we got to enjoy, sipping beer back at the put-in to Browns. It was, alltogether, a great last weekend in Colorado. 

Sunset at Browns Canyon. 

Immediately after Salida- I set off on an epic drive across the states and Canada to head towards the Ottawa river. I stopped to spend a day in Larned, Kansas with my sister and her boyfriend Fraser as they travel across the US from East to west on their bicycles (check out their blog www.144spokes.blogspot.com) . Kansas was hot and humid- but it was great to see Iz and catch up a bit. 

Catching up with Iz in Larned- at Fort Larned- a historial landmark and living history museaum in Larned, Kansas. 

I took a few detours getting there, thanks to my GPS- but got see some random things along the way! Here is a photo of a homemade statue in the front yard of some guys farm in the middle of Kansas. There must have been 50 of them! 

As hot and humid as Larned was, the people there were super friendly- a local pastor let us spend the night in his (AIR CONDITIONED! ) Church before we all headed out early the next morning. Iz and Fraser started biking around 4:30 am to try and beat the heat and the headwinds, while i stayed and tryed to do some interneting until 6 am or so. As i was leaving Kansas, there was an amazing rainbow- reminding me of Dorothy in the Wizard of OZ- "Somewhere over the Rainbow, way up high,.. " 

After Larned my drive continued on, with a breakdown in Bevier, Missouri, where i had the pleasure of meeting and dining with a new friend George while my alternator was replaced, a quick trip to Chicago to see an old friend, Lots of traffic and U- turns before finally arriving on the Ottawa river just in time for an '80s party at Wilderness tours. 

I drove up to Ottawa to meet up with my parents- who were on there way for a canoe club trip. Getting to spend a week on the Ottawa playing at corner wave, and hanging out with new and old friends made it one of the best weeks of my year- I only wish i had spent more time there! (and eaten more putine! Mm french fries and gravy) I got to try out the new Jackson Star on my last surf session, and have to admit that i had a great time. The boat was fast, loose and fun on a wave, while still responsive and stable. Im excited to see what the athletes do with it in Switzerland.. IT was Canada day while i was in Ontario, adding even more to my trip than kayaking. I got to spend some time catching up with one of my college roomates and wandering around the beautiful city of Ottawa, in adidtion to kayaking. Life doesn't get much better then that.