{"id":5615,"date":"2020-08-31T16:46:53","date_gmt":"2020-08-31T20:46:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/?p=5615"},"modified":"2020-08-31T16:48:36","modified_gmt":"2020-08-31T20:48:36","slug":"episode-106-racing-donw-the-don-river-trapped-under-the-thwarts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/?p=5615","title":{"rendered":"EPISODE 106 RACING DONW THE DON RIVER… TRAPpED UNDER THE THWARTS"},"content":{"rendered":"
EPISODE  106   RACING  DOWN  THE DON RIVER…TRAPPED  UNDER THE THWARTS <\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
alan skeoch<\/div>\n
august 2020<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\"Splashing&nbsp;through<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
” Suddenly upside down in foaming white water.?\u201d  \u201cWhat happened?\u201d  That thought flashed through <\/div>\n
my brain  \u201cMy head is bouncing off the river bottom rocks.\u201d  Wiggling I made a<\/div>\n
sudden and sodden discovery, \u201cI am trapped by he thwarts.”  Trapped by the thwarts.!!<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
FLASHBACK<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
The phone rang earlier.  \u201cMike here, Alan,  I have a great idea for a radio <\/div>\n
program.  We can do it live\u2026from a  canoe racing in white water down  the Don River.\u201d<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\u201cThere is  no white water in the Don River.\u201d<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\u201cOnce a year the Conservation Society opens  the dam upriver so  that canoeists<\/div>\n
can  race down the Don like it is the Frazer River canyon.  PADDLE  THE DON.<\/div>\n
 The race is a money<\/div>\n
raiser for improving the Don River.   We can do  it.  Are you  interested?\u201d<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\u201cSounds  exciting but I have one big problem.\u201d<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\u201cProblem?\u201d<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\u201cYes, I fell off a  small cliff in France a week ago.  Bashed  myself up badly\u2026cuts,<\/div>\n
bruises  and  a broken wrist.   Surgery.  Wrist is pinned together with long spikes.<\/div>\n
In a sling.   Bottom line is I  cannot paddle.\u201d<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\u201cNo need to worry.  You will be wedged  under the thwarts. SAFE.  A friend  and  I will<\/div>\n
paddle while you record the trip  on tape.  CBC  mobile equipment.\u201d<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
The concept intrigued  me.  I had been doing nothing much while convalescing.<\/div>\n
The black bruises had turned  brown.  Stanless steel pins holding bones in place.<\/div>\n
 The wrist was  in a  sling.  Truth be told,  I was bored.<\/div>\n
Marjorie was not too enthusiastic though.  \u201cJust think a live radio program from<\/div>\n
white water on the normally lazy Don River.\u201d<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
So it was  a go.  About 600 people gathered at the launch  point high up the Don River<\/div>\n
below the dam.  Once the water was released  the lazy stream  turned  into a  raging<\/div>\n
hurricane.  And the canoes  began  to be launched\u2026quickly to get the full value  of<\/div>\n
white water canoeing.  The field once full of canoes was soon emptied.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Our turn came, \u201cGet in fast, we\u2019ll push you off,\u201d said a person who seemed to be in charge.<\/div>\n
I wedged myself under the thwarts, pillow under bum.  Snug.  Mike got into the back.<\/div>\n
His friend to the front and before we could adjust we were pushed off into the foaming<\/div>\n
white water.  Mike would steer with the flat of his paddle.  At least I thought he would.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\u201cMike, do you know how to use the J stroke\u2026to steer?”<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
So much noise\u2026too much speed\u2026not sure even a J stroke could rescue us.<\/div>\n
We failed to get control.  Immediately we began to spin… to cart wheel down<\/div>\n
the Don.  Horizontally. Best seen by a helicopter.  Dizzying to me… my thwart  was dead<\/div>\n
centre of the cart wheel.  We came around  a  sharp bend  and there before us was another<\/div>\n
canoe\u2026green as I remember.  It was hung up on some rocks in the middle of the River. No<\/div>\n
sign of a crew.  Then again no bodies piled on shore.  <\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
As  we spun down the foaming flow there were other canoes in trouble.   Some beached.  Of  course<\/div>\n
veterans of white water were whizzing buy in complete control.  Not us.  We were doomed . Spinning<\/div>\n
Destined to pile up somewhere.  Hopefully on shore.  But that was not to be.  A huge roller<\/div>\n
hit us broadside.  Then hung up on a rock. Tipped the canoe.  Water rushed in and over we  went.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Suddenly I was head  down in the  Don River.   I remember my head  bouncing on<\/div>\n
the bottom stones.   It happened  so fast I had no time for fear or action.  The canoe<\/div>\n
was still moving. Air trapped kept it afloat.  Sort of.  But I was looking through a haze<\/div>\n
of fast moving water.  Odd  sensation.  It may  surprise you to know that I was not afraid.  I had no fear<\/div>\n
of drowning as long as I could  get my body clear of the goddamn thwart.  Last man<\/div>\n
aboard.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Underwater.  How long?  Not very long.  Suddenly a muscled arm grabbed me by the back<\/div>\n
of the neck  and hauled  me clear of the canoe and back to an oxygen supply.  it was Mike.<\/div>\n
A little embarrassed but relieved he had  not lost me.   My broken wrist was still in <\/div>\n
a sling.  And in the other hand I held  my pocket camera.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
So all three of  us survived.  We even  waved as  other canoes  road  the white water<\/div>\n
southward towards the Keating channel.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\u201cWhat about the sound equipment\u2026the recorder, microphones, cables..gear?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cGone\u2026who the hell knows where.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cWe will have to figure out an explanation\u2026that stuff cost CBC money.\u201d<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\u201cWhat do we do now?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cMay as well continue\u2026we held  onto the paddles\u2026just need to pull the canoe<\/div>\n
ashore  and drain it.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cAre you up to finishing the trip, Alan?\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cNo choice.\u201d<\/div>\n
\u201cThere is a portage a little way from here\u2026mustn\u2019t miss it or we\u2019ll<\/div>\n
be caught in a patch of  rocks.\u201d<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
That portage point worried me but we pointed the canoe to the landing<\/div>\n
point.   Mike and his friend carried the canoe while I followed\u2026shivering.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
The rest of the ride down to the catchpoint called the Keating Channel <\/div>\n
was uneventful.  The white water calmed itself down.   Maybe this is  a good<\/div>\n
point for observations.    If we had our equipment the story would have<\/div>\n
been delivered something like this.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
THE LIVE RADIO BROADCAST THAT NEVER HAPPENED<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
1)  Good morning listeners,  today we are going to ride down the<\/div>\n
white river rapids of the Don River.  PADDLE THE DON DAY. <\/div>\n
Only one  day each year does<\/div>\n
the Don  River have enough water for canoe  racing.   Only  today<\/div>\n
May 3, 2015.   Why?  Because today  the Conservation people will<\/div>\n
open the upriver dam and  create a  sluiceway. <\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
 We are picking up<\/div>\n
speed.  Keeping the  canoe straight.  To do otherwise would be<\/div>\n
a disaster.  Exhilarating.  Smooth J stroking\u2026heading where we want<\/div>\n
to go.  Missing the big rocks that appear now and then.  Some other are<\/div>\n
not so fortunate.  Beached.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
2) Whups, looks like one canoe are in trouble, we just passed<\/div>\n
a green fibreglass canoe that will never make the Keating channel.<\/div>\n
Seems to be hung up on a  rock\u2026maybe pierced.  No sign of<\/div>\n
the owners.  No other debris.   No dead  bodies.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
3) Some veterans  of rapids are rocketing past us.  No fear of speed and deadfalls.<\/div>\n
Veterans of the river.  We are slower.  Being very careful.  What a grand day!<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
4) We beached  at the portage site perfectly.  To fail  would  have been<\/div>\n
a disaster as  the Don River tumbles over a jumble of Ordovecian slabs.<\/div>\n
Broad patch of shallow  water.  No deep water.   Had we missed the portage we would have<\/div>\n
been smashed  up a  bit.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
5) We are now in the water of the lower Don River once again.  Much<\/div>\n
better\u2026slower\u2026restful.  Easy paddling.  Slight changes in the back paddle<\/div>\n
and we change direction.  Easy.   <\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
6)  We  are paddling the full 10.5 km through the heart of  Toronto.  Amazing<\/div>\n
wilderness only visible  by canoe on this day.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
7) Not really that pretty on close inspection.  There are 872 storm sewer outlets on the River.  Some hidden<\/div>\n
in greenery.  Others blatantly obvious.  Add to that the 30 sewer outfalls and  the Don does not<\/div>\n
seem  so pretty.  The water colour is brown now.  What makes the water so brown?   Smells a bit.<\/div>\n
Some say the Don River had  so much bundle fluid was that it would catch  fire in places.<\/div>\n
Overflow tanks fail more often than not.  When that happens  all kinds  of guck<\/div>\n
gets in the river.  We have been using the Don River as  a sewer for 150 years  and just<\/div>\n
now starting to clean it up.  The money raised  by this PADDLE THE DON experience<\/div>\n
will provide $100,000 to help clean the river.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n

8) There are other living things watching us.  Rabbits, Herons, ducks, geese…<\/font><\/p>\n

many with young.   Must also be foxes  unless they have been usurped by the new top<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
predators of the Don River\u2026the coyotes.  Never saw any of them.  No doubt they saw us.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
9)  Pictures of the Don River Valley at any time of year are thrilling.  Nature at its best<\/div>\n
you might say .  But don\u2019t say it too  loud.  Snow melts.  Heavy rains and meltwater flow<\/div>\n
where opposition is least.  In other words  into the Don River Valley\u2026into the River.<\/div>\n
So many contaminants come with meltwater and spring rain.  Let me count some of<\/div>\n
them\u2026cigarette butts, de-icing fluid some of  which spills  each time your windshield wiper<\/div>\n
tank is replenishedl,  dog shit left by those who care not, heavy metals that are not seen<\/div>\n
but will be deadly to fish stocks, soapsuds  by the tonne, and as  many or more tonnes of road salt.<\/div>\n
tire rubber, <\/div>\n
It all heads for the river.  Turns the Lower Don into a  stinking mish mash of things that float and<\/div>\n
things that are water soluble.   Not nice.  But there is  hope.  Toronto is more aware of the need<\/div>\n
to clean the Don and  signs  for the future are not as dire as they seem right now.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
ETc. Etc.   THE RADIO BROADCAST THAT WAS NEVER MADE.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
BACK TO REALITY.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\"Trash<\/div>\n
The Keating Channel  catches  everything including the odd dead body.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Not mentioned in my imaginary radio broadcast was the CBC  sound equipment that<\/div>\n
must be tumbling down the Don River with the white water.  Bouncing like my head<\/div>\n
did on the submerged rocks.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Another thing not mentioned was the fact I was soaked to the skin.  Freezing cold<\/div>\n
by the time we  reached the Keating Channel.  We no longer talked to each other<\/div>\n
by then.  When we boarded the shuttle bus to take us  back to our cars, we were<\/div>\n
not talking at all.   Too embarrassed.  Too cold.  Too worried.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Back at the launch site I waited shivering for Marjorie to pick me up.  Soaked to<\/div>\n
the skin.  Goose bumps.   Recovering from falling off  a cliff a few  weeks earlier<\/div>\n
and now recovering  from a near drowning.   Cats have nine lives.  How many<\/div>\n
do humans have?<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
May 3, 2015 had  not been a good day.   <\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
Foolishly I thought the upside of the experience would make a good radio story.  I wrote<\/div>\n
and  submitted a  script.    And waited to hear when we would play the tape for all to hear.<\/div>\n
I have now waited five years or more.    Perhaps you can explain why.<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
alan skeoch<\/div>\n
August 2020<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\n
\n


<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

EPISODE  106   RACING  DOWN  THE DON RIVER…TRAPPED  UNDER THE THWARTS  alan skeoch august 2020 ” Suddenly upside down in foaming white water.?\u201d  \u201cWhat happened?\u201d  That thought flashed through  my brain  \u201cMy head is bouncing off the river bottom rocks.\u201d  Wiggling I made a sudden and sodden discovery, \u201cI am trapped by he thwarts.”  Trapped […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5615","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5615","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5615"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5615\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5615"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5615"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alanskeoch.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5615"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}