chapter 520

4/06/2019

White Water

love that dirty water, Boston you're my home

The Tenandeho White Water Derby is a 46 year old tradition in the Capital District. This father and son team really seemed to enjoy the event and did quite well. Has to be a special moment for them to look back on.

I've gone to the event numerous times throughout the decades where friends had participated. I've done segments upstream in tranquil waters below our favorite Round Lake adventures. This year it was sunny and around 60 degrees, one of the best weather windows they ever had so Colleen and I spent a couple hours there. My pictures came out great so I had to memorialize.

Water has been the focus of my life in many ways so I'm just drawn to this.

Teammates are brought together from various backgrounds. At the College of Forestry we competed in races for fun and prizes but perhaps the most dramatic canoe adventure was with a group of DEC workers on a weekend overnight trip on the Raquette River.

The danger, the exhilaration, the camaraderie, the joy of (some) success; I see it written on their faces. Another father son tandem.

This guy was doing well and maybe showing off a little just before he hit the wrong line a tad outside the channel and overturned. In order to succeed you have to be prepared to fail to avoid disaster, dismemberment or death. We saw many overturns but did not see any injuries.

Safety rescue workers were stationed at these bottom rapids but the onus is on your own boating skills, knowhow, and some protective equipment.

This guy was an experienced kayaker but just got out of control. Not the posture you want going headfirst downstream but was ok and laughing it off. Most people will use helmets now.

Going solo in an open canoe is difficult but this guy is confident, in control, balanced and on the right path to success.

At about 8 my earliest boating partner was older brother Dale when we did a few summers of Canadian Fishing. Dad trusted us to go by ourselves on that big Cranberry Lake in Ontario, Canada. Maybe it was less of trust and more of he wanted to be fishing by himself. You could go forever if you got lost. At any rate we became very independent and self reliant. I usually go solo now but when accompanied, Colleen will share most of my trips. 

Tenandeho Org website

2010 Tenandeho video

1983 Tenandeho video

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