Chattooga Old School

[liveonearth]

This video is of people from a Georgia paddling club running a whitewater river in the classic craft of the 1970's and 80's. That is when I began running rivers, in the same region. The equipment has changed substantially. The river is still the same. The video is mostly filmed on the Chattooga, where I spent years paddle raft guiding and safety boating (kayak).

The Chattooga river still shows up in my dreams. Section IV of the Chattooga is where I became conscious, woke up, began to see past the tip of my own nose and into the people and world around me. There's some nostalgia and a certain electricity for me in seeing these old boats on familiar waters with such southern-sounding rock playing in the background. This video is inside my head already.

Contrast this with the trailer for a more current whitewater video here and you'll know why I backed down from the cutting edge. No need to go anywhere near THAT edge. I'm too old and too female for that.

Comments

[skyojos.livejournal.com]

This was fun to watch and I got to rocking in my seat. Interesting to think about how whitewater paddling and other forms of activity which require you to 'wake up' and be fully present and aware of what's ahead in the flow could then cultivate that consciousness. Also makes me want to go find some good old classic southern rock to add to my music.

[liveonearth.livejournal.com]

River running is a magnificent form of meditation. Once you shove off from the shore you are so in it, and yet you can be in that flow with others...it's much easier than sitting meditation or yoga, because you are in a boat in the current and you really have little choice if you want to survive: you must focus. I think nature engages the limbic system....

[skyojos.livejournal.com]

I know I love being on the water. Love it deeply. I would love to get some good instruction for safety and start exploring. It's on my big list. After my son graduates and I am free to change my vehicle I think I will get one I can sleep in and put some nice racks on for kayaks, skis, bikes...