Sloshing Through the Woods

I'm back from my slosh through the woods and have posted a few pictures. Five inches of rainfall made for spectacular changes to normally peaceful creeks and streams. What the pictures can't convey is the incredible sound of being surrounded by rushing water, everywhere.

The biggest creek on the trail, Middle Creek, was definitely boatable today. It reminded of my friend Gibbs whom we lost to cancer last year. After a rainfall like this I would have expected the phone to ring and to hear the words "Skoboatendan," which translated "Hey Dan, let's go risk our lives and freeze our toes off for a few hours and let the river toss us out of control down a hill." Of course I'd always say "Sure!" The best cup of coffee I've ever had in my life came halfway down the Occoee River in the middle of January. Gibbs had hidden a thermos in his boat and only revealed it when we stopped to stretch our legs and dump the water out of our boats. I was freezing and a little miserable. I'll never forget how that surprise cup of hot coffee made me feel. Ahhhhhhhh! ¶ 7:01 PM