By Dennis Catoe

We did a Saluda paddle on Sunday, August 15th, from the zoo all the way down to Gervais Street. There were about eleven of us including me, Dave, Diane, Nicole, Rembert and Ernie and some flat-water and new members came like Tom and Brian and others I can't name.

It was a great chance for some to try whitewater whose only thrill was a tail wind on flat-water. We scouted Shandon rapids for harm. The roar and rocks did cause some alarm, but that's what everyone came for after all. So with determination "let's do it" was the call.

This is not to say it was all entirely easy. Some flat-water folks felt downright queasy. Tom stalled and wanted to only take video. Reluctantly down he went rather than say no. Yet Tom came through like a whitewater pro all the time wishing he was on the Edisto.

Next up - Whitehouse rapids - which has a great surfing hole where last week the Mullis tried an unsuccessful canoe roll. So Dave and Diane took a pass to play on this trip since Dave's still sore from a Diane's paddle to his lip. We stopped on the island for lunch and a short stay, then proceeded to the rock gardens near Gervais Street. Here you think a flat-water paddler would be fine, except you paddle everywhere but a straight line. And 15 foot touring boats had it really hard time turning in two inch water every other yard. But everyone came through happy and a little smarter. 'Cause there's nothing better than being on the water.