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Record Low Picnic Run Set By Nine Who Dared

By Chris Jones

Nine paddlers started out in that cool, post-dawn hour. The Spokane River in mid-August is no place for the faint-hearted. A different breed comes here. Even for local whitewater heavies like Brian Burns, Chris Jones and Vic and Robbi Castleberry, this notorious river this time of year would require a whole different approach. One of patience and mental daring. With supplies for half a day, seven solo canoes and two kayaks slipped into the river at the appropriately-named Peaceful Valley put in.

The attractions of the morning -- osprey, great blue heron, common merganser, trout, and homeless people -- gradually gave way to the flatness of the place. And with this quiet revelation came another: We were doing a lot of paddling. As the hot sun rose, the wind did not and the work became strenuous. The same granite boulders seemed to go by every few minutes, as though we were on the River Escher.

Just before getting sucked over The Psychological Edge one of the veteran canoeists, Vic Castleberry, shattered our monotonous vertigo with a slow water swim. Bravo to brave Vic for expertly sparing us an uneventful run! Let the record show that a prompt assist to Vic's wet re-entry was provided by kayaker Chris Jones. Kayaker Bob White provided speedy equipment recovery, no doubt saving Vic a sunburn on that part of him closest to the sun.

As our adrenaline ebbed, our flat surroundings again became apparent. And again we paddled. And still the sun rose. And again the river began to loop around itself, hour after hour. A man on shore looked a lot like Rod Sterling. But medical literature points out that couples married for many years begin to think much alike, to know what each other is thinking. Therefore, Robbie Castleberry, fearing the results a second swim might have on her husband, offered herself to save us from the mental doldrums. Several fellow canoeists were on hand to assist her back into her boat. No equipment retrieval was required. Now we were alert. A grim lesson was being dealt us: Even at 570 cfs this treacherous river could not be trusted.

Despite our weakened ranks, we paddled on for many miles. Food and water gone, our faces dried and turned gaunt. Hands, paddles and river water became one fluid thing. Our final destination, where there was a cache of food, was marked by the most gnarled rapid of the journey, The Bowl & Pitcher. The broken boats and broken bones of many others lay there. As the river disappeared among the boulders, we chose our course and hung on for our very lives! Rocks to be dashed upon were plenty but safely we passed one by one until all nine of us were present.

Once our craft were safely secured a great feast ensued. A welcoming committee of timid landlubbers contributed a wealth of good food: Beef, chicken, various salads and veggies, as well as cakes and pies. With these, the annual SCKC Picnic commenced. Thanks to Larry for an innovative wine bottle-opening technique it could all be washed down with wine, beer, and many less potent beverages. The camaraderie was excellent, with several old acquaintances renewed. Not all can demonstrate the fortitude of the Nine Who Dared but if you missed the feast, well you missed out indeed! So they may be congratulated, those nine are Brian Burns, Vic & Robbi Castleberry, Larry & Mary Wright, Eric Erikson, Diane Adams, Bob White and yours truly.