Frozen Fingers
The decision to make this trip was based on looking at the water level and feeling the warm sunshine of a crystal-clear day in February. We put in at US-280 were going to take out at US-231. George was using my Coleman, Steve had his green Coleman, and I was in the famous aluminum Grumman boat. Since the water was cold and the air was cool, I was extra careful not to turn over. We made good time and enjoyed the trip since it was the first time any of us had paddled in the winter. George and I carried extra clothes in our dry bags; Steve didn't plan on getting wet. A stiff wind began to blow up the creek as we paddled through the thin shadows made by the naked trees along the bank. The sun was at its all-time low in the southwest and reflected off the water into our eyes. I remember seeing through squinted eyes the white caps being blown off the choppy water as we pitched through shoals. We all made it with no problems until we got to the halfway point at David Thrash's cab...