While I'm Right Behind You Thrustin'

You fucking pervert. I bet the only reason you are reading this is because of the title. I bet you were looking for some obscene material to get your jollies off...sorry this is about the River Runners, not some soft, or hard, core porn. However, if one wants to get technical, there has been a lot of sex on the river by various members of the crew...hehe. I really could get into some of the stories, but I don't think that is right for this blog at the moment. I suppose when I get really hard up for material I will throw something in about some of the sexual excursions, but until then all you pervs are going to have to wait. Hold on a minute, someone is going to have to actually read this blog for there to be pervs around, huh, I guess I could write some of those stories. I mean, I will be the only one to read it. It amazes me that out of all the times Ducky and I have but this address on Facebook, no one, and I mean no one has taken the time to come here and read what I have to offer. It dig into someone like a pick-axe being driven into the heart of something so precious to me and those I love. Ok, now I'm rambling about God knows what. I noticed recently when reading some of my last few posts that this blog is not separating my paragraphs. Sorry to all those reading, or not reading, the blog. I am and English teacher for the love of Pete, I know how to write a paragraph and distinguish it from the rest of the paragraphs, so I do apologize, it truly is unintentional. As I was saying yesterday in the blog we plan to make it to the Busti Camp Site for our first evening on the river. It is about fifteen miles and we can do it if we do things right and put the miles on before we hook up. In all truth, six weeks from tonight I hope to be chilling by the fire right now with a frothy one in my hand, some good tunes on the radio and good company to surround myself with. I'm not sure about the other River Runners, but this trip is important to me in more ways than one. The last time we did this run we had some major problems, well not only the group, but myself as well. Something about Highway One has always scared the shit out of me. For some reason those rapids are tougher than the Doons, even thought they are smaller. Highway One has cause me more problems...well I shouldn't just say me, I should say the rest of the crew. A lot of people have had problems, even the General when he lost his paddle and had to use his landing net to get through the rapids. Or the time Grandpa and Ladies Man had an incident. I will write about that story tomorrow or sometime in the near future. There was the crash with Ducky and Beans, the one where Dishman road the cooler down the rapids...wish I could have gotten that on camera. I have gotten hung up a couple of times there, and dumped once really bad, the same year as the fire. I'm also pretty sure Dishman and Digger dumped on her inaugural year of the trip. The one where she was the FNG. If I'm not mistaken, Ducky has had her share of mishaps on the part of the river also, with various people. I think out of all that have gone on the trip, Ducky has had the most partners. I almost think she has canoed with just about everyone that has gone on the trip, except for Em and Mini-Hulk. Well, I suppose there are a few more than that but that is beside the point. Oh, as long as I'm on the subject of records, we are still looking for a Grandma to come on the trip. Haven't had one of those. So like I was saying, if all goes well, then we will make it to Busti, and conquer the stretch of the river that has given us the most heartache along with some killer memories. The next morning, when we wake, stoke the fire and brew that first pot of coffee that wakes the passed out Runners like revely, we will grub out, pack the gear and the empty cans; then we will set out on the mighty Bigfork once again, having only seven miles to go that day. I would like to get on the river that morning, maybe paddle a mile or so and then hook up until we have to separate for the Doons, or maybe to pee. When we get to the Doons, we have a decision to make; actually we should make it before we get there. We need to decide if we are going to stay at the start of the Doons, where we have built a site and camped twice, or if we should stop in the middle and camp on the Fucking Hill. Without the Mule to haul shit means we are going to have to do a whole lot more walking up and down the hill. However, Ducking and Shawn have been really working out, so maybe they will be the ones to do most of the work...lol...one can only wish. Either way, we are going to be crashing at the Doons so I don't care where we stay...as long as we stay. This year I'm going to leave something at the Doons for all the people that make it there during the year to read and sign. I have an extra map of the river in my possession. I'm going to leave it someplace at the camp site on top of the hill, triple bagged, with a black sharpie on in it. I'm going to also leave a letter about who we are and why we do this trip every year. I'm going to ask that the people that read letter sign the map and leave it in the same place I left it so when we return the following year we can collect it and see who has all been there. It is going to take a leap of faith that it will make it 365 days without some fucking asshole burning the SOB like some kind of tool, however, it will be neat if it survives to see who all makes the run every year and if they would be interested in being a River Runner. We are always looking for new recruits. Something else that is going to happen on this trip is that Ducky and I are going to go and dig up our buried bottle of Whiskey. She is going to be going to Ireland this year, on her Honeymoon...I'm so happy and jealous at the same time, however, I want her to bring back a bottle from the Jameson distillery we can bury and enjoy every year until it is gone...Shawn you can join in also if we can call you Spuds. But we are going to go and get the bottle this year, at least dig that fucker up and take a horn. I want to keep it there until it is empty...or until we can no longer do the trip. I would actually like to polish it off when my youngest kid is old enough to take that last horn with me...coming full circle. Speaking of kids, I can't wait until I can pass this tradition along to the fruit of my loins. In all actuality, Wade should be able to go on the trip this year. I took my first ride on the river when I was ten years old, the age Wade is now, but I don't think this is the type of trip for him, not yet anyways. I do want to take my kids on the river, just not through any rapids yet; I'm too scared that they may fall out or something. Nevertheless, I'm going to talk with the General this year and see if he wants to take a trip down the river with Renny and Logan this year. Not through any tough parts of the river, no rapids, but maybe just a trip from the Busti bridge to his land or something. A trip that we can take them on to teach them a little about the river and camping. Two days, two days we are going to be spending at the Doons this year. Besides the map thing I want to do something that is going to leave a lasting impact on the site. We need to do something that is going to make it great...whether he DNR likes it or not. Maybe we should put in some kind of horseshoe pit or something. Leave something there for those that make it to the site to enjoy. I figure if we leave something like that there, people will forever remember The River Runners. I'm not sure what else I want to say for this entry. I pray the weather holds well, a little rain would be ok, however, none would be better. Hell, even if we have rain the whole time, it will be an adventure to remember. It would not be the first time we would have had to deal with rain. Many a trips have had a lot of rain on them, makes things a little soggier, but we get by. Makes the fire that much cozier. The one thing that I really don't want is a lot of heat. There have been a few trips where the sun just beat down on us and almost made it miserable. Tough to get into the party mood when you're hung over and uncomfortably warm. As we draw closer to the launch I will be adding more stuff here. Next I'm going to write about a few of the crashes. Until next time I will remain...Crazy Joe.

This years plan

Truth be told I'm really thinking hard for things to write about on the blog. There is so much to write about, but yet sometimes nothing at all, ideas, thoughts, actions, events...damn where to begin, what to give attention to, tough man, really really tough. Yet tonight I feel I want to write about this years plan...so far at least. Like always I'm going to have to have to tweak the plan as we approach launch time. Huh, as of writing we are down to 42 days, 12 hours and 11 minutes until launch time. Just the anticipation alone is enough to drve me mad. I hate the trip yet love it, but that is for a later entry. The plan this year, which would be sweet if it could happen this way, would be for the General and I to start our on Dora lake on Wednesday and trek twenty miles down river to the Little Minnow site and spend the night. We would then proceed the next day to Bigfork which would only be a trek of twelve miles, where we would spend the night there and wait for the rest of the River Runners to show up for the next mornings launch, which would be at 9:00 AM sharp. We have done it before, we will do it again. Well actually we have been able to make it most of the years we haven't had to wait for Jeremy. More than likely though I won't be able to get away for that long from Em and the kids, so it will probably look like this. Ducky, Digger, Em, and who ever else is going to go on the trip except for the General, Brother John and Mikey, will show up on Thursday at the cabin and start to get gear ready for the trip. We will pack, unpack and repack to make sure our shit is sharp. I will get in touch with the General and make any last minute arrangements that may need to be made. The General, being the go-to-man, will have what we need stashed somewhere at his cabin. After a good meal, a couple of brews, we will hit the hay for an early wake up, 6:00 AM to be precise, ready to start the day. I want us to meet in Bigfork at the landing by 7:00 AM to get all the gear and canoes unloaded, then while the pro's from each canoe stay and load, Ducky and the rest take the trucks back to my mom and dads house. We wil have arranged for them to drop off the General's truck with the big trailer at our pull out spot on the North Busti road. With any luck by the time the truck-runners make it back, we will have the canoes loaded and ready to hit the water. However, I think this year if we feel something is wrong with a load, it should be fixed right away. That may make the diffence between a flip or a safe run to the campsite. Once on the Bigfork we will have to do some paddlling right away so we can make a little time down the river. I'm not saying we paddle like it is a race, I say we get on the river and make some miles so we don't have to push ourselves later in the afternoon to make it to the site at a decent time. That has happened in the past, happened three years ago when we burned the field. In fact it has been that long since we made this run. Our plan that year was to go from Bigfork to the Busti Campsite, which is just down the river past the Highway One rapids. It is a fifteen mile run, not that bad if you make some time, but if you time up into the barge, things slow down a little and before you know it, time is late, you're hungry and there are still four miles to go. But if we make tracks this year at first, we can float some later. Pending we get through the highway one rapids with no problem, we will camp at Busti. Shit people, I'm getting beat, so I am going to hit the hay. I will add tomorrow or sometime this weekend. Until then I will remain Crazy Joe.

The River Hath POPPED!

A couple of hours ago the Bigfork River decided to open up for the season. I think this may have one of the bigger releases in the last few years. She seemed to have crested at around 13 feet with a discharge of over 10000 cubic feet per second. So one could say she is flowing like a mother fucker...I would love to see what the Doons look like right now. I bet they are just solid white from beginning to end. Man oh man do I want to have a good flow this year for the trip...everything goes so much smoother. I would be able to die a happy man if I lived to go on another trip like the one Ducky and I did that one year with a full group to share the awesome fucking ride. Next weekend I'm going to go and get some pics of the highway One rapids and maybe Little American. Wish I could go there tomorrow, but alas i have to work so that will be a no go. Maybe I could go this weekend and get some for the blog and my Facebook page, I will have to see if time allows. Few things are more beautiful that a rageing river in all it's bubbling, frothing powerful glory. The rumbling thunder of the flow is hypnotic and soothing like a hot drink on a cold winter's night. I am so sorry people, I thought I was going to have more energy to write tonight, but I'm fucking drained. I will get back sometime within the next few days to write about something from the trip. If any of you River Runner's think of an idea, please don't be afraid to drop a few jag bombs. Until then I will remain...Crazy Joe

This could be the year of the FNG

Here I go again, writing on the blog for those that don't read...lol...kiss my ass. I have been in touch iwth Ducky and the General in the last few days and have learned a little about how this year's trip is shaping up. The returning River Runners are going to be the General, Ducky, Digger and myself (of course). I guess the Mule and Mini-Hulk are not going to be in the mix this year. They have some matters to attend to this spring that can't be let up on until it is finished. They are going to be missed, especially the Mule when we have to haul the shit up the Fucking Hill at the Doons. Nevertheless, we hope to see them back next year for trip Seventeen. I didn't include Em in the list because with her work schedule, it is hard to say if she is going to be able to get the time off for the trip. I hope she is able to get the days off because we are going to need all the experience we can get on the trip, especially if we have the water level that I'm guessing, which in all truth may be better for the FNG's because the Bigfork is a lot easier to navigate when she is up.

This brings me to the point I was attempting to make with the title, the Year of the Rookie. The General said that The Rev is out which also means Doc isn't going to make it either. This is shitty because I was begining to like Doc. He was a good man to have around and didn't mind getting himself a little dirty, plus he hauled firewood like a sonofabitch. However, some old faces may be entering back into the mix, Brother John and his song Michael, whom is going to need a nickname if he wants to go on this trip. John has made three trips, maybe four I'm not for sure. He did make the first two, I know that and then one after that for sure, but the fourth is a little hazy. Michael has made two trips before, I think anyway, but never three, so he kind of knows the routine, however, he is going to have to pay his dues, but not Brother John. He will have the Grandfather Rule enacted...even though he isn't a grandpa yet, I don't think...anyway to the point, he was one of the original River Runners and he will be the oldest on the trip, this will automatically exempt him from a good portion of the work. Fuck now that I think about it he may almost be fifty, shit cause I know the General is 47 and Brother John is older by a few years. Oh how the time flys. When I spoke with Ducky and found out the Mule and Mini-Hulk were out this year she also said she may have and FNG for the trip. One of her friends from work has express interest in coming on the trip and maybe her husband if he can get the time off work. Her friend also has to secure the time off, but from the way Ducky is talking it looks to be a major possibility. The last time I spoke with Digger she said that her hunny, Mark, at least I think that is his name, has yet to get it off and may not, however, she said not to count him out just yet. If that is the case then it will be down to seven people. I have not forgotten about Shawn this year, he is going to try to become one of the regular River Runners, but in order to do that you have to go on more than one trip. Two cosecutivley or a total of three works in my book. I'm trying to think of anyone else that could go on this trip, because the more we have more fun we have on the trip. I was hoping to have at least ten so we could have five canoes in the party, that makes for one hell-of-a-barge when tied together and floating down the river. If all that say they want to come though, and make it, we may have as many as eleven this year, which may mean someone might get to take the kayak for a cruse this year...how fucking sweet is that. We would have Em and myself, Ducky and Shawn, Brother John and Michael, Digger and Mark, Spitfire (Ducky's friend) and her hubby, last but not least, the General. Man that would be a kickass crew for the year, but like I said earlier, a lot of those people are not a for sure if at all except for the main five...that includes Shawn. Ok people, it is getting late and I'm dog tired. Have been doing a lot of writing latley, it is the only way I'm going to get good enough to do something with this newfound passion. Still, I'm loving this site and plan on keeping the log going until I can no longer canoe or type...by then I should have a shit-load of entries...many, many, many moons from now. The long and short of it that planning needs to begin so we can figure in all that needs to go into the planning for we don't like to do this trip halfway, it is balls to the wall or nothing. I just can't wait to get onto the river and enjoy some peace and adrenalin pumping in my veins. Pray the river stays up and so do our canoes...lol...and say a special one for the FNG's because if we get the white water, they may need to get some new shorts. Untl next time I will remain...Crazy Joe.