Deerfield, part 3

On a beautiful Saturday afternoon, I drove out to Western Mass. to meet up with an AMC group to camp out that night and paddle Fife Brook the next day. It's about an hour and 45 minute ride on Route 2, which is a terrible road going from a divided highway to a 4-lane undivided road with lights, to a divided highway, to a "super-two," to a country road. Then it is part of Interstate 91 for 3 miles before turning into a rural 2-lane highway with good scenery. I am going to time the way home and then take the Mass Pike and I-91 next time to see if it is quicker, which it might be since it's 65 the whole way and no lights.

Anyway, I met up with the group at the campground and we went to dinner at a nice restaurant in the surprisingly nice town of Shelbrune Falls, tucked away on a bend in the Deerfield a mile off Route 2.

When I woke up, it had just started raining, and this continued all day. Of course, this is an all-weather sport, so we just went right about our business. This was the highest level the Deerfield at, 900 cfs release plus the rain. I swam twice in my new boat's maiden voyage, no rolls, once shortly after peeling out before Freight Train and the other time while trying to surf at Miami Beach, which is the last rapid before the island. The level was so high today that we were able to run the right channel at the island, which is usually too bony to run, so the left is the normal route. I think the left side is a little easier, especially at the end where the two currents reconverge.

I did not feel as comfortable with my boat as I had on the previous Fife Brook run in the rented boat. I think I needed one trip to get used to the smaller boat. I was thinking of running the Gap, but I'm gonna wait until next time so I'm more used to the new boat. This boat has an extra balance point on its sides, which I discovered right away at Hangover Helper, when I went about a third of the way over. I was disappointed I did not get a roll. I need some practice. I'm going up to Squam Lake with my family next weekend, so I'll bring the boat for some practice sessions.

It was a good day, as I met some new people, some of whom were canoers--although the preferred and technical term is "open boaters". I got some good surfing in as well, which was good as usual.