Rock Island is like Disney World this time of year!

December 6, 2004

Waterfalls, little holes, BIG RAPIDS, BIG HOLES, and
Brave Wave all
in one neat little package. Today Patrick from Quebec and I paddled the
line you see Clay running here and then surfed the play hole at the top
of
the rapid leading to the main hole, the main hole for a couple of surfs,
then off to the Brave Wave. Clay took an easy morning, having breakfast
with Brian and Tanya, and didn’t get on the water until I got off. Patrick
hung out and watched Clay and Corey run the "Mill Side" of Great
Falls,
while I went home and hung Christmas lights on the house. Apparently
Patrick is tapped into our wireless here at the house because I got these
photos from him by email. The All-Star was going huge on the Brave Wave,
as well as launching some enormous loops at the top hole. I am getting
ready for Australia and the feeling that it is almost here is starting
to
creep in!

After hanging the Christmas lights I took Dane’s Honda
MR 50 (minibike) for a spin up past the foamboat creek and then did some
jumping on his ramps. Patrick caught a photo of me in mid- air on the
50. While riding, John Ratliff showed up with his top of the line rapid
fire shot gun to do a few minutes of hunting Mistletoe. For those of you
who don’t know what I am talking about…

Mistletoe grows in the big oak trees as a parasite,
usually really high up. The only good way to get them down is with a shotgun.
Well, nothing like doing a "Bam, bam, bam" in rapid fire, then
watching the mistletoe drop down. You simply go pick it up, hang it strategically
over a door that you suspect a lovely lady might come through and wait
for her to show up. It is a lot like deer hunting, only way more rewarding.
You get to shoot a gun to get the bait, then hang the bait and wait. Kristine
is on her way home from dropping our friend Jana off at the airport and
picking up Emily and Dane from their friends house in Franklin, TN. I
have already blown the mistletoe off the tree with John, now only have
to wait and see if she comes through the door. If the lady doesn’t give
you a kiss under the mistletoe, you don’t have to let her in the door-
that is Tennessee law, I think.

🙂 EJ