O.C.T. Sat, 3/28 - Goshen Pass clean-up & paddle

[Alicia]

Just moving this up w/ the O.C.T. subject line. Thanx to those who've already contacted me.

The plan will be to meet @ the Rockbridge Baths Post Office @ 10am and pick up trash til noon thru the Pass. Then enjoy a cookout @ my house in RB (courtesy of Coastals as part of our Recognition program), followed by paddling. Level permitting, we hope to run Goshen Pass (class III w/ 2 IVs that can be walked) & to try to also offer a trip on the lower Maury below RB (class II+). This latter trip can be run lower than what the Pass needs. A back-up plan is to drive 40 min from RB to Balcony Falls.

Please give me a shout here or by email so I know how many trash bags & lovely orange vests to pick up, & how many to cook for. Thanx.

[David]

I plan to be there, and would be glad to carpool with folks coming from Richmond. Meet at the Oilville park & ride (I-64 exit 167) about 7:45?

Alicia, would you mind posting directions coming south on I-81? I can't remember whether it is exit 200 or 205 that works best.

[bambam]

I've been preparing for this one for weeks by chucking trash out the window whenever I drive through. Sometimes I just park & chuck.

At the risk of speaking for royalty, exit 200 works better from points north on I-81. Turn right (west) at the bottom of the exit ramp on 710. Last chance for pit stop is here. After a long right curve turn left at the VDOT depot to stay on 710 a.k.a. Swope Road. Up and over a giant sledding hill to stop. Turn left on 252 through the gorge section of the highway to stop. Turn right on 39 to Rockbridge Baths.

Ken

[Alicia]

Don't forget I'd appreciate names/numbers so I can plan to have enough orange vests & burgers (or veggie ones).

Please remember to bring gloves & a rain jacket, as there is a chance of rain for Sat. The good news is there is a chance of rain Wed thru Sat, so hopefully, we'll have some water in the Maury.

It'd be nice to have enough folks to offer both a trip thru the Pass AND below the P.O. to accomodate intermediate AND advanced boaters.

I'll post again by Fri with my best guess for river running.

Many thanx!

[Alicia]

Rain forecast is promising for the river this weekend, but also sounding like it'll be wet for the trash pick-up. But that shouldn't stop boaters, right? Please come prepared.

I'll be shopping for lunch Fri after work, so please let me know by Thurs if you're coming.

I'll also post again by Fri nite w/ possible prospects for boating.

thanx -

[jeg2r]

I'll like to join you all for the clean up and the paddle

john

[Eskimo Toast]

I will running/limping the Monument Avenue 10K in Richmond at 8 Saturday morning....would love to help with the clean-up, but will be late. What is the estimated drive time from Richmond to the trash extravaganza? and will there be a penalty for showing up just in time for lunch?

[SteveC1]

Alicia,

I plan to be there for the trash pickup and cookout, so add me to your lst. I haven't paddled in several months, so my preference would be to paddle the lower Maury if anyone else is interested. Otherwise, I'll join whatever trip everyone else is going on. (I'm not too proud that I won't carry the Kitchen.)

Steve Cates

[Barb]

Alicia,
Lee and I would like to help clean up all the stuff that Ken has thrown out along the road, etc! We're hoping to paddle too. Thanks for organizing this. (don't tell anyone at my office that I'm sneakin out!)
I may bring one other person - she hasn't gotten back to me yet. Do you know if anyone is planning to paddle the Alone Mills - Lexington or below sections?.... she's a beginner.

[JDaddy]

I will be there to show some love for Goshen Pass, and I'm trying to talk some kids from Outdoors at UVA into it too. In the event that there is a heavy rain event, I may be willing to lead a Nelson County creek mission with other like minded souls--especially Staton's! Cue the rain dance...

[Alicia]

Great to hear from folks.

George - travel time from Richmond to Rockbridge Baths (directions above in this thread from Ken) is about 2.5 hrs, depending on where you're coming from. Yes, you can come late, just make up any bad karma by picking up trash another time.

I only got 0.5" rain today, but the river is creeping up. Forecast isn't calling for much on Fri, but real measurable rain, w/ possible T-storms on Sat. So, again, please come prepared, as we're on, rain or shine, for the clean-up & lunch. We may not be able to determine boating plans until Sat morning. Could be the Maury's too low, but folks may not want to go to Balcony in a rain storm. But hopefully, we'll be able to run @ least a lower section of the Maury, even if the Pass is too low. Or alternately, it could be pouring w/ the Maury rising. So, please be flexible, & I'll try to accomodate the best I can.

We certainly have plenty to talk about over lunch about the BSA jamboree proposal @ Goshen. (recommended reading at http://www.coastals.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6549)

[Raymond]

I've already emailed that I plan to be there, but there are two nearby boaters who are interested in the club and may join me. If they can make it, they plan to help with the clean up, and they don't eat much.

[Alicia]

I'm now hearing that there WILL be rain tonite, & the Maury IS creeping up. It's 9" (on bridge gauge) @ 7am (2.0' on USGS). I use this site for easy conversion:

http://www.geocities.com/billh1970/corr ... amstmn.htm

Forecast for Sat is low 60s w/ 80% chance rain, possibly heavy @ times w/ T-storms. With these predictions, it's anyone's guess what the river will be. If it's pouring & the river rising, we'll need to be cautious about what we do (or don't do). Please just be flexible, & know we could even get skunked for paddling @ all. I hope not.

I'll post again tonite. Thanx.

[Barb]

ok - i spoke too soon - don't plan food for me or Lee - if we can make it, I'll bring something - but probably won't be able to get there. i'm sad...

[John and Linda VanLuik]

I plan to be there and maybe Steve Cates will come with me.

John