July 12, 2010. Lower Salmon River, Idaho. The Zizumara touches the river for the first time. A-Team eases her into her new watery home.
10 souls. 100,00LBS of gear. Most of which was outfits and champagne.
Dressed to impress... yes, we are still at the put-in.
The Zizumara receives her blessings and hopefully hears our prayers for safe travels.
And a little bubbly for us!
We loaded the boat with the essentials and shoved off.
Perfect day for a maiden voyage.
Dog claws making sure I don't get too attached to the paint job.
We got to our favorite camp early and took full advantage. And a good excuse for a wardrobe change.
The gunwales were dressed in LED for the evening.
She matched her namesake -Delphinius in the sky.
Next day we get our first taste of some whitewater.
We got a little sideways in Wrightway and at 15k it was huge. Good thing I had 2 awesome highsiders. Perhaps I should have put the rubber chines on the boat...
Prepare for launch. 3...2...1...
First rocket ship ride for the ZIZ. Good highsiding Bro!
Kindred souls.
The Ziz takes a break from the whitewater for a little lunch in the sun.
At some point this day I took 1/2" off the Ziz's nose after hitting a meta-limestone wall in cougar canyon. It was about as low impact as you get but still enough to put the first ding in the boat. Glad its over, now I can relax.
There's a little magic in the left side hatch.
Ziz=Party venue.
Ziz=Dance floor.
Ziz=Bed... not tonight!
All ship shape and ready to run China... on the right! woo!
Close up.
Basically, the Zizumara is a floating bar. If only I could bring the bartender on every trip. Yoohoo...Ken!
Beautiful last night in Blue Canyon. View from the perch at Buzzards.
Fine bailing technique after a big run in Eye of the Needle.
Then out to the Snake and finally the take out.
Not bad for a maiden voyage.
July 12, 2010. Lower Salmon River, Idaho. The Zizumara touches the river for the first time. A-Team eases her into her new watery home.
Congrats! Looks amazing on the water. Makes me proud to be a dory builder.
ReplyDeleteI'm real happy for you that you finally got her in the water!! I'm getting real close to paint on mine.
ReplyDeleteThanks. It was a dream come true type of trip.
ReplyDeleteDave, I'm psyched to hear your getting to the paint stage...so close! Is there a specific trip you're getting ready for?
Nice!!
ReplyDeleteGreat to see it named, floating, and appropriately celebrated. And with its first ding. We've got two boats due for their christening at Lee's Ferry at the end of this month. The Euphrates is pretty much there, the Lodore not so much. I'm finally off-river for a few weeks, so I can help with some of the grunt work to get the last blast done.
Are you still doing a trip down here in September? In the Zizu?
Hi Brad
ReplyDeleteYeah, running the Ziz on a Sept 28th trip and if funds permit a private on Oct 26th. Brr! Not sure I'm sold on that trip yet. I've never been in the canyon that late. What do you think. Does one need a masochistic streak for such a trip?
It's exciting to hear about the Euphrates and Lodore! Just seems like these wooden boats have the perfect home in the canyon. Are these boat gonna be used commercially? Hope these big companies are classing up their boat fleets with some fine dories. Can't wait to see the pics.
If you're around flag before or after my sept trip would love to check out the boatworks. Happy floating! -Kelly
I'll be on the river when you come down and launch but will be off river when you return. I may be down in Prescott for a college reunion some of that weekend, and have to be at the warehouse by 9a.m. to rig my last trip of the year. But give a holler when you're off and with luck we can make the rounds of the boatworks. cell 028 853 2007.
ReplyDeleteBoth Lodore and Euphrates will be baptised on a commercial AzRA trip and will likely do occasional privates and commercials from there on out.
I've run every month of the year and enjoyed it all. Just be properly clothed for November. If you can snag one of those cool anti-exposure coveralls that the fishermen wear (without the rubber cuffs--just more of an insulated coverall) those are astonishingly comfy for winter boating. The only trouble is, everyone else on the trip hates you sitting there smugly while they shiver.
Clarification: Looks like you get off Grand Canyon the evening of Oct 15th? Not sure if you'll be heading up to Fredonia then or what, but if you are in town that weekend, I MAY go to Prescott Saturday for a reunion at my college, but will be home that night. How does coffee at the boatworks early Sunday the 17th sound? I have to leave here that morning to rig a trip by 8:40, so about 7:30 - 8 ish would be fine. If not, maybe we can work something else out.
ReplyDelete