Just outside of Charlotte & the Olympic training center of the US Olympic Kayaking Team.
Most of our troop waterside at the McDowell Nature Preserve, where we camped.
Troop mug shot, July 2010
Sam Burgess, Scoutmaster & Fearless Leader.
Leaders Campsite
Sr. Patrol Campsite
Jr. Patrol Campsite. (Note ventilation for 100 degree days)
Jr. Patrol Campsite 2
Sr. Patrol Campsite 2
Sat. Breakfast. (sorry for blurrs-lack of coffee)
Breakfast cereal bufffet.
Cereal in a cup to get on the water.
Cole's B-Day, Jacob's haircut & Spence's appetite.
Watch that guy eat!
Are we awake yet?
USNWWC Entrance
Center from inside.
Climbing Tower
View of Olympic Course
View of Olypic Course 3
View of Olympic Course 2
The Curve & Rivers Edge Rest View
Climbing tower & wall
Climbing tower
Climbing Wall
Climbing Area
Raft Talk & Raft Gear Area
Kayak Gear Area
Rope Course & team Buidling Area
Climb-2-Zip Area
View of facility from 2nd Course showing 7 turbines to left.
Kayaking course start
Kayaker entering the course
First gates and eddy
First rapid
2nd Course
Raft escalator. This is how we mmoved back "upstream" to make another run. Pretty sweet!
Top of Raft escalator.
Raft Escalator with Turbines in background.
Course 2 Lower Falls
Course 2 Freshwater Spring
Our crew headed to Raft Talk
Raft Lagoon
Jerry gave us the first Raft Talk.
Listening intently.
Showing the troop how to wear the Brain bucket & PFD.
Jerry kept us laughing while we were learning what to do.
Equipment for Rafting Area
Which way do we go?
First run jitters.
Pink paddles? Why pink paddles?
Jr. Patrol's aboard & Guide Dave Stevens readies the leaders raft.
It's gotta be the shoes! All-sport shoes from the rental office.
Olympic Course Bridge Drop
View of Center from Climb-2-Zip
Whitewater Kayak lessons
Course 2
Directions give you an idea of all the available activities.
Rope Course & Team Buidling Area
Ropes Course
Climb-2-Zip Zipline
Geronimo!
What a ride!
Mega-Jump (& under construction, Mega-Zip)
Arre we sure we REALLY want to do this?
Jacob, Cole & Tristan in line for the Mega-Jump
Being Gentlemen, our leaders let the girls go first. "No, no, we're not scared! Go ahead!"
Look MA! No hands!
Where's the bottom?
Make sure I'm clipped in.
Yeah, I'm Ready!
I think.....
3...2...1!!! Did he say One!
Coming Down!
Next!
Uh...OK. I'm ready....
Watch that last step!
Are you sure my friends came this way?
Man! That's a long way down!
Whoa!
Cole readies for his B-Day jump.
What a way to build an appetite!
Scissor, paper or rock to see who goes next.
How about 2 out of 3?
You want me to do WHAT?
Guess, Bill lost...
OK then, How about 10 out of 14?
No pushing!
I can FLY!
Isn't there another way down?
They all left me!
Give me another second for another prayer...
Look! A flying Scoutmaster!
The Survivors.
Capt. Lou & Jacob in the shade.
Climbing wall with Spence (left) & Nathan (right).
Ok. I'm ready for this.
One last adjustment.
Spence giving the girls instructions.
Nathan halfway up.
Yes, I can!
Almost there...
Now, put my foot there...
Nathan on the Free climbing side.
There's more than one way to the top!
Hinton cruising in after a mmtn. bike run.
Where's everyone else?
They couldn't keep up.
Turbine power keep the water moving.
A Sport Raft ride.
Whitewater Kayak launch
Raft lagoon & launch
Running 6 of 7 turbines while we were there.
Kayak gear area
Top of the Raft Escalator. Everyone off!
Splashdown!
Paddling down current from the Turbines.
Practice before the real whitewater.
A Traffic circle?
Is that an albino raft?
Learning to wait in eddies.
Gearing up for flatwater kayaking on the Catawba River
Oh no....I'm faster....just watch!
Learning to roll your kayak.
Bill trading his shepherd's crook for a kayak paddle.
Mr. Burgess doing his morning sit-ups while reserving Mr. Beitel's nap area.
The dock to Catawba River launch.
Who's next?
Kind of like having kayak caddies!
Looks like they have plenty!
Nathan underway.
I got this!
Tristan is .....gone!
Jacob, catching up.
Now is that guy really pushing that piling out of the way for me?
Spencein reverse rudder.
Mr. Bill, ready to launch.
I got this. I've seen it on tv!
Hey wait....how do I turn it around?
Oh... I see.
In perfect balance.
Mr. Burgess watches over the flock.
Alex catches dad.
Must be that new haircut.
Yes, it's built for speed.
Now get a load of that Raft!
Cole, working on his stroke.
Actually he gave the rest of the guys a head start.
Got her cruising now.
Nothing to it.
Waiting for the 6:30pm River Talk.
Can you pick out our guys?
Yep....looks like 100 degrees to me.
Getting fitted for a PFD
What size are you Spence?
Cole leading the charge.
Jr. Patrol & guide.
The Guide lottery. Who rides with whom?
We got this down!
Watching the other boat about to get sprayed by their Guide.
Who wants to sit up front & get really wet?
Alex waves to the camera.
Sr. Patrol in line for gear.
Hinton & Joseph helmet fitting.
Charlie had to be different.
Hinton ready for splashdown.
Charlie & Joseph comparing stategies.
Yep, we're ready.
These guys sure look serious.
Hinton & Joseph meet their raft-mates.
Being gentlemen, they let the others ride up front. "Yep, it's cooler up there."
Charlie told me that the Blue helmet signifies the leader
You guys ever been down backwards before?
Not on purpose!
Customized paddle bend.
Water treatment process. All the water used is just Charlotte tap water.
Bridge view of the Center.
River's Edge Rest. & the River Jam Music series is ready to begn.
Downstream view of the Olympic course.
Jr. Patrol with Jacob, Spence, Tristan, Alex, Nathan & Cole on the Olympic course.
Riding the Raft Escalator back upstream.
One of the rapid gates. Water flow & rapids can be adjusted by adding "bollards" (rubber bumpers seen to left) into grid system on bottom of each gate.
Jr. Patrol with Cole, Tristan, Spence, Nathan, Alex & Jacob.
Sam & Lou watch for the next raft.
River's Edge View.
Hinton & Joseph with raft-mates.
Sr. Patrol with Grayson, Austin, Reuben, David, Charlie & Nathan.
Hinton, Joesph & crew
Hinton, Joesph & crew in raft. Sam & Lou on bridge.
Sr. Patrol with Grayson, Reuben, David, Austin, Charlie & Nathan on Olympic course.
Getting Wet! Sr. Patrol with Grayson, Reuben, David, Austin, Charlie & Nathan on Olympic course.
Taking the drop! Sr. Patrol with Grayson, Reuben, David, Austin, Charlie & Nathan on Olympic course.
Underway in the passing lane.
View from the front of leaders raft.
Bill & Lou anxious.
Apprehension on both Bill & Hinton's face. Guide Dave's got us under control.
Everybody's stroking.
Here we go again!
Lou, Hinton, Sam & Joseph relieved to make that drop!
That's right! we made the Big one!
Reverse paddle toward an eddy.
View of the Mega-Zip that's under construction.
Scoutmaster Burgess
Mr. Blaisdell relieved he saw no bears.
Mr. Ashey checking the water depth.
Back to the flatwater.
Now what?
Time for a swim! Mr. Blaisdell goes first.
Hinton couldn't resist.
Neither could Joseph
Now watch this!
Right back into the boat!
Perfect technique!
Hinton & Joseph setting the pace.
Ramming speed?
It's the Sr. Patrol!
Excuse the lense drop. Back up the Raft Escalator.
Raft Escalator View 2
Mr. Beitel on the other side of the camera, hot, wet & stoked!
One of the big drops on Olympic course.
Taking the plunge on the Olympic course.
The Raft parking lot.
Raft Escalator loading
Leaders & Jr. Patrol after a long, great day!
Day's End at the Whitewater Center.
All-U-Can-Eat Time @ Golden Corral! Nice finish to a Great Day!
Cole's B-Day dinner @ Golden Corral
Ahhhh, Glad we left room for dessert!
Pizza Hut time on the ride back to Wilmington.
Lotsa empty plates from the Pizza buffet.
