Been another CCC week

We had a good day of flow on the Haw last Thurs. (~6.5') so I ran some new folks down the middle at 1:00 and followed up with a second group on the lower at 5:00. Off the river at 7:30.

Friday was the first day I was able to get out in the yard and do some things so I bought some herbs and mulch and got to work cleaning up some fallow beds and cleaned on of the 4 ponds.

Saturday was the annual Neuse River Cleanup. Had to get up at 6:00 AM for an 8:00AM start and boy, was it ytough to fit back into that mold. Michael C and I paddled canoes from Poole Road to the next bridge and filled both boats with about 15 bags of trash.

Sunday I committed to safety boat for the CCC Swiftwater Rescue course...again at 8:00 AM.....WAHHHHH! The river started out about paddlers' zero (~4.5'USGS) and the weather was ominous. By the time of our first break, heavy rains had begun to swell the river. By lunch it was visibly rising fast. By 2:00, they had to call water portions of the course becuase the flow and wood coming downstream made it just to dangerous to hold the course. They moved onto land for scenarios and Tiffany M and I were excused from our safety boat duties to run the lower. The bridge gauge was reading 5 feet when we left and after a beefy run with lots of big holes and waves, the bridge gauge read 6'. The Haw rose to about 13' USGS overnight.

Had a little slower day today going to the dump, to Lowe's and the grocery store and listening to the wind blow and blow and blow. Lost power for a little this AM so I sat down with a book at home for the first time in retirement and enjoyed a quiet moment.