First run of 2020: Sheepscot

While living in the Coronaverse for the last 6 weeks has certainly caused many of us to change our habits, all it did was delay the inventible run on the Sheepscot for Brady and I. The yearly tradition usually includes any number of additions each year and this time we had two! The first addition was Sarah (who said it was her fourth run but skill in maneuvering the bow would later have me questioning my own role as Brady's bowman). The second addition was that of Sarah's awesome blue Discovery 158!

As part of our "social distancing" rules in the state, I borrowed Brady's Outlaw so we wouldn't risk infecting each other. It was my first time in an inflatable kayak and I enjoyed it completely. The ease at which this thing was controlled was thrilling. I was squeezing into places where Brady and I avoided in the canoe but always looked fun.

I also enjoyed the piece of mind that comes from raft/inflatable that if I hit a rock it was highly likely I wouldn't damage the gear to the point of failure (although I did squarely hit a rock with some sort of wooden plank sticking out of the water with nails... don't tell Brady).

It being my first time (and probably only my 5th time in a kayak) I was like that awkward baby dear trying to stand and failing time after time. I found myself completely over correcting my lines and embarrassingly completely turning around. After the first few miles I was able to reign it in and execute the lines I had wanted and Brady helpfully pointing out a few errors with my mechanics made the last few miles look like the first few didn't even happen.

The Sheepscot is always a great river for starting out the year on. Its low risk and short with plenty of eddies and opportunity to take a break for a drink. Going earlier in the year ensures there is plenty of water and while the water was chilly (not unbearable) the air temperature was warm with the sun on us.

We also had the pleasant surprise that the Hide Tide dam had about a third of it removed so that we could actually run some rapids before and after the damn. They also installed some great steps down to a nice little gravel take out. It's an easier take out then the muddy one upstream of the dam (there is no bank to climb). Though I would recommend catching the eddy behind the damn (river left) then ferrying to the gravel take out on river right.

We had another successful run on the Sheepscot with new gear and a new friend. Maybe I will get myself an inflatable kayak...