Fractured a kneecap five years back. Spent a frustrating six months incapacitated. Even after sufficient recovery and release from the doctor's oversight, things just didn't feel quite right for an extended period afterward. Recommencing normal activities, which included a lot of hiking and biking, was sufficient extended therapy as far as we were concerned. It was maybe a full year after the injury that the knee felt fully functional. We still employed a bit of caution to certain activities, however, being wary of re-injury. "Pain don't hurt", but the ensuing weeks to months of debilitation is unbearable.
One activity that we avoided was canoeing. With predilection for moving water, we'd only ever owned specialized boats rigged for whitewater paddling. Those boats by form are only paddled in a kneeling position. One oddity to 'em that we've always experienced - paddle successive sets of formidable rapids and throughout your knees are perfectly fine. Float the next one-half to one mile of in between flatwater to the next set of rapids and we usually can barely stand to get out of the thing. We had guessed that years of paddling those boats, even though not consistently, contributed to the knee injury. Heck, happened while out fishing. All we did was high-step up onto a steep creek bank rock ledge (albeit a bit of strain on the joint) when we felt, and heard, the knee crack.
To compound the matter, we had not long prior purchased a somewhat more "all around" (as advertised) solo boat - a Silverbirch Firefly 14. Described a "flatwater to grade III cruiser." We really like that boat. Other than being a bit more of a barge compared to what we were used to, to us it paddles quite similar to any (old school) whitewater boat that we've owned. Excellent secondary stability and paddles best heeled over. Moderate rocker. We've to date paddled it only up to class II which includes surfing small, but swift, holes and waves. Lots of upstream paddling. Eddying. Ferrying. S-turns. We're figuring that it may be a bit wet in heavy class III - has a fine entry bow and could use a bit more depth. Still, paddled dry through the said conditions (taking into account our natural habit of somewhat quartering a boat as opposed to punching thru waves). Silverbirch's current website includes an upgraded version of the boat, christened the 'Highline', with added (30mm) depth for 'bigger water challenges", citing reference to the boat's recently completed "full descent of the Grand Canyon."
We posted herein at the time of some modifications we made to our boat (ref. Riverboat Rigging, April 2019). Those included adding some lacing and flotation bags along with knee pads, thigh straps, and bow/stern painter lines. The knee has been feeling so good for such a long while now that we just recently decided to finish our upgrade and get that thing back out onto the river:
We could not get used to paddling seated. And that angled bench seat, at least to us, felt an entrapment waiting to happen in the event of a wet exit with feet doubled back under while kneeling. We removed the bench seat. We had a spare ash cross-thwart lying about which we fit to the rear factory-drilled seat holes as replacement. A standard canoe saddle was purchased from NRS. We modified the saddle by drilling two lower 1" diameter thru-holes to fit 3/4" PVC pipe. After adding two daisy chain floor patches, we strapped the saddle in using 1" cam straps. We found that the saddle still sat a bit low for our now declined knee joint flexibility. We purchased a closed cell foam kneeling pad from Harbor Freight and cut/epoxied a section to fit the saddle bottom. This gave us an additional 1.5" lift. The added height was perfect. And the thwart positioned perfectly for butt-resting against, just like a kneeling thwart. Considering that the saddle can be removed, we have the best of three worlds - as alternative to the saddle, we can replace the thwart with an actual kneeling thwart. And if desired, the whole assembly can be replaced with a reinstalled bench seat.
Probably a bit overkill for the easy water we paddle these days. Regardless, all the main components (cross-bracing, seating and flotation) are completely modular and can be switched in/out as desired. And fully rigged we figure that we're now capable for an attempt at a "full descent of the Grand Canyon".
To get back into some semblance of paddling form, we've been heading out to a few local practice/play spots that we've seldom visited since first beginning paddling years back. Conveniently located three miles and less from the sanctum front door.
A few aerial views. We grabbed these images as screen stills from a highly recommended YouTube video, CSX Sand Patch Grade, by these guys 'ACME Cinematography'. Impressive footage highlighting brilliant engineering of the CSX (aka, B&O and Chessie System) railway as it rolls thru Western Maryland and the local Allegheny Mountains of SWPA. Click on the link and check it out. Considering no issues, we want to thank those guys for the use of the images - we never asked. No financial profit on our part for their use and none intended. Hope we get 'em some views:
Some small holes and waves just upriver of the Crawford Avenue bridge in Connellsville. Not a place we'd travel farther than the mile from home to paddle. A few small surfing waves and a pretty good workout eddy-hopping your way back upriver to paddle thru again. You can also upriver paddle a calm channel located opposite side of the large adjacent island. Best active Ohiopyle Gauge (OPG) 3' and lower.
About 1/8 mile stretch featuring some class II holes and waves just above the 'South Connellsville Beach'. The lower image is a closer view of the upper set of rapids shown in the upper image. The out of view channel opposite that large island features a decent class II surfing drop and wave at the head called 'Mojo' rapid. At low water we've eddy hopped that main river flow a few times while playing around in a sit-on-top kayak to do laps around the island. Best OPG 3' and below.
A long stretch of class I to II turbulence just above 'Hixon Hole', in turn just above the SCRGC. A decent surfing wave or two. A fun downriver stretch to navigate on an SUP. Best OPG 3' and below.
Looking upriver from the landing at 'JB Rock'
'JB Rock'. Maybe 40ft. We've a time or two seen guys climb to the top barefoot and jump from the near point. Not recommended. Ya' occasionally set and wonder how many ancient people may have done the same thing
An old video still. For the camera, Strong Man Matt bouldering high on JB Rock (and wearing rock shoes)
We recently dragged our boy Howie off the golf course for an afternoon. We set 'em up with an old Dagger Pelican sit-on-top kayak we dug out of the dust and cobwebs. Those were great boats to introduce new or seldom paddlers to moving water. We used to get a good end of season deal on those things from Betty and Bob at the original 'Riversport' shop up in Confluence, PA when parting out the season's rental/demo stock
Howie testing out the Firefly
Muscle Gal Sarah and upriver view from JB Rock
ZMan surfin' upriver from 'Hixon Hole'
ZMan, a touring SUP and some choppy turbulence
ZMan and whitewater SUP
Muscle Gal Sarah navigating some slight turbulence
Muscle Gal Sarah and 'Mojo' rapid
Disclaimer: Each craft is equipped with on board flotation device (aka, life jacket). Each individual is experienced and equipped for the conditions. Anything less is not recommended. Before heading out check the Gage. Above 3ft gage height that's a swift and precarious volume river for the inexperienced and/or ill-equipped.
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