Well, everyone survived the first challenging rapids in good order, if a little wetter. We had rain on-and-off throughout the day, with sunshine finally showing right at the end of the day. Read More
COMING SOON TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD BOOKSTORE
Day Seven Underway
July 29, 2009
Here I sit in the drizzle at the public boat ramp below HWY 21 in Independence, Virginia. It's 68 degrees by my car thermometer. And here comes more rain; it's still falling rather softly, but the volume has picked up. The New River Campground somewhere in the vicinity has an open wireless network, so I've hopped on to take a blog break and do some work. Read More
Big Saturday Finish to a Big Week
July 27, 2009
We had big days on Friday and Saturday. Especially busy for me because Friday night was a small (40+) event at a board member's house and then Saturday was our big Annual Meeting celebration, all of which I am responsible for. So, holy crap I am tired. I think we had well over 100 there Saturday, probably 130-140. The food was yum and I bought extra beer Friday night, since our RSVPs spiked at the last minute. Read More
Day Three a Done Deal
July 22, 2009
Still a bit chilly out, but nice chipper day for the crew. They arrived at the agreed upon lunch spot nearly an hour ahead of schedule and played in the rapids at Elk Shoals. Apparently there were some who went through the shoals several times in boats;others who went through on their asses, too, just for good measure. Read More
Ben Saves a Duck
July 21, 2009
Ben, our Stewardship guy at NCNR, saved a duck today. The duck had gone after a fishing lure hanging from a tree and had it stuck through his bill. The river's current was pushing him away from his trap; he was frantically trying to get loose. Ben got a hold of the wriggling creature, Read More
FIRST DAY UNDER OUT BELTS
July 20, 2009
Not too many surprises, except maybe for the weather. For our first day of the New River Expedition we turned up sprinkles and high 50s to start. It brightened up a good bit by lunch, but the last 30 minutes or so were pouring down rain, thunder and plummeting temps.
I started to look for Read More
I started to look for Read More
Chris' Crazy Land Adventures
July 19, 2009
It's just a bit past 8 p.m. National Committee for the New River's New River Expedition will be starting in just 12 hours.
I'm the "Advance" person for the trip, which is really just a glorified term for "gopher." I'll be schlepping kayaks and canoes on my trusty Subaru "Snowball," making sure the folks on the water have lunch, get picked up, get to where we're staying at night; I'll take pictures, do video, meet media people, and handle arrangements for the events we're having with our supporters and partners along the way, and hopefully have a chance to take a shower and change my clothes here and there. Read More
I'm the "Advance" person for the trip, which is really just a glorified term for "gopher." I'll be schlepping kayaks and canoes on my trusty Subaru "Snowball," making sure the folks on the water have lunch, get picked up, get to where we're staying at night; I'll take pictures, do video, meet media people, and handle arrangements for the events we're having with our supporters and partners along the way, and hopefully have a chance to take a shower and change my clothes here and there. Read More
Bring on the Hot Weather
February 10, 0011
I'm off to El Salvador in the early a.m. I'm going with a group from Habitat Charlotte, where I used to work. It's the same gig as my 2007 trip to Santa Ana Department and I'm looking forward to seeing some familiar faces while building houses there.
The standout thing about my trip last time, and one I expect will be true again, is how very authentically nice the people are in El Salvador. Read More
The standout thing about my trip last time, and one I expect will be true again, is how very authentically nice the people are in El Salvador. Read More