Anne, Paula, Shannon and Katheryn ran the Big Eddy at 2400cfs. Fisherman’s was a bit changed around but you could still get down to the big gray rock by staying towards the left. New rocks to avoid and a nice big hole to river right of the gray rock. Water pours out the hole and […]
A small group ran the Cedar from the slolam gates down to the normal takeout. Running at 2000cfs. I was in my RPM. Anne, Katheryn, Geoff, Sydney, Toria, ? made up the group. The river wide wood had been cut and there is now a clear shot down the middle with an easy eddy beyond […]
Butterflies, dang, I hate the butterflies in my stomach. ‘Okay, time to roll’ Julian prods me. The lagoon is flat, clear water. Compared to where I had flown from (Seattle), the water was even warm. Topping it off, it was a beautiful day. ‘ Dang butterflies’. Julian, a young blonde Argentine guide/instructor was paired off with me for my first kayak day. An evaluation day on the Espolon. We had ridden from El Campo to the little town of Futaleufu, picked out a bright yellow, large volume kayak for me, outfitted it and made our way to ‘The Secret Lagoon’.
We weren’t alone. As we hauled our yaks down to the shore I caught a glimpse of a tall blonde man in a speedo and kayak regale showing some dry land exercises to a young kid, well, a young guy probably not much older then my son. I recognized the instructor. This was Chris Spelius, exChile owner and kayaker supreme!
‘Lets rrroll’ Julian prompts again.
The heat of the day transforms into an evening chill. The lodge is toasty warm from Pedro’s cooking. Pedro spared nothing. There were two huge plates of meat. Two large bowls of noodles and three equally large bowls of different salads. There was not a scrap left. Looking about I realize why. Between the 6 guides (average age 25) and the 8 guests (average age 30), the average gender (mostly guys, just Helen and I to keep them in line) its no wonder fights didn’t break out over the food!
After dinner the chatter was about where we all were from, how the kayaking is back home or, in some cases, other parts of a global trip. Ferguson finally gets down to business
Eco Camp, foundly nicknamed El Campo by my newly found friend Mike. Mike is somewhere around my age and married on a little adventure escape. He is a bit taller, 5'10", then me, light brown hair, kind face and a great, easy going disposition. He seems in good shape, well, except for his knees which he chatted how they would need re-building if he kept up skiing so he decided to get back into kayaking.
Mike and I were the new comers to El Campo. El Campo is situated on the spit of land where Rio Azul and Rio Futaleufu confluence. Getting to El Campo is an experience unto itself.
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