Kayaks and the Boda Boda Man

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Another weekend paddling on the White Nile.
Last weekend I did the "easier" D2 section. Today I would be going down the main raft section, with the raft trip. The rafts do 30kms in a day. Luckily we cut out most of the flatwater at the top by putting in at the campsite, just a couple of hundred meters above Bujagalli Falls, a class V. I do get a warmup Class III and II in the water leading up to the falls.

Bujagalli Falls is a long slide with a nasy wave on river right, or it is two drops on river left, and don't go sideways over the middle... bad, bad stuff. The left line is actually easier as long as you know where to go and that is the line we took. Off the first ledge, through the wave, and then through the wave on the second ledge. SWEET AS, BRO!!! Very smooth, I wouldn't call that a class V line at all.

Sitting in the eddie waiting for the rafts to come through I notice that the sky is filled with "birds", Hitchcock style. At closer look they are actually bats. Ebra, my guide, says that they do that every day when the rafts come through and disturb their sleep.

After the rafts we cruise on down through 50/50, a simple big water class III that you pick the weak spot of the hole and punch it.

Next up is Total Gunga, another class V. This rapid has a hole called the G-spot somewhere in the middle of it. This is a pretty sticky hole that is great for flipping rafts. The line description I've given for this rapid makes me think of Insignificant. We are going to start left and go behind this huge breaking wave, then cut right to go right of G-spot, then paddle on down. Ok, no problem.
Of course as I start the run I see loads of breaking waves. But I finally see the one that is massive. Then of course another breaking wave explodes over my head (I was online, just not enough speed) and flips me. I roll up in time just to get smacked over by another wave, (which I think is G-spot, not sure if it is or isn't), but I flush and roll back up.

Next up, surf city... another big wave class III and then my favorite rapid on the river: Silverback. This one is also rated V, but I don't know why. Maybe it is the really shitty, squirelly eddy at the top that you would have to work to get into. Silverback is big fun though. It is a ride the green tongue down, and just go over the top of the massive wave and ride the wave train out. Like Mash Brothers, probably about that size as well... I just remember getting air the first time.

And now......
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The flatwater. I thought there was lots of flatwater on the D2 section.
Uh huh. I don't know how long we paddle before we get to Overtime.
Another Class V. This one actually has consequences and a move. I have only always seen the last drop of this rapid and thought, not to bad. The problem is that halfway up the rapid is an almost river wide hole coming from the left. Of course you must start our run on the left and "ferry" across the front of this hole. I've heard of some people getting some serious windowshade time and downtime if you find this baby. So most everyone other than rafts walk. I walked... always tomorrow.

After this is a rapid called Chop Suey. I'm told we will be going right to left into a wave and through. I hit the wave/hole, and flip. What I don't realize is that you actually are supposed to surf the wave back to river right and then out. After several failed roll attempts... well we know what happens.

Now, more flatwater. There is another class II rapid that we go through. Super hole is down another channel. It is a famous/favorite park and play stop.

Now more flatwater and then Intanda Falls. A gnarly class 6, or so they say. I watched two guys just nail the lines in this. It is just a gnarly, drop, go left, miss one hole and if you miss that hole there is another in the way just waiting to smack you down.

And then the ride back to the campsite. Because I went down with the rafts I got to ride back with them. That means free beer and a BBQ back at camp... good stuff. Wasn't planning on drinking tonight, but I can't turn down free beer. That would just be wrong.

My assestment of the Nile. Not happy about my swim, that was stupid. The run down to Silverback is loads of fun. After that, way to much flatwater for just a couple of rapids, especially since I walked the big ones. But way to much flatwater. I would say more than Section 4 and Tallulah combined.

Sunday, I decide to just do a run down to Silverback. Now that I've been checked out and shown the lines, they will actually just let me rent the boat. So I hook up with some UK and Irish paddlers and we are off.

This time, I am the only one that has been down the river left line at Bujagalli falls. So I decide to tackle the right with everyone else. We all get smacked by the hole at the bottom. I screw my roll up again.

But other than that it is a great run down to Silverback. The only problem is there are no play spots at this level and it takes all of an hour. So the runs are either marathon day or just really, really short.

And now for the Boda Boda: Boda Boda's are the motercyle taxis that get you around everywhere.
We had arranged to be picked up at Silverback by the Boda boda. Yup, just hop on the back of a bike with my kayak in my lap. The ride actually wouldn't be so bad, but I just keep waiting for the driver to forget that he has a boat sticking out from either side and gets too close to someone or something. But it is all good.

Pictures from White Nile

And that was my weekend on the Nile.
This weekend I'm actually going to raft it. I can't deal with all that flatwater and swimming again. At least this time, I'm supposed to swim.
Once again, I think a shredder would be perfect. Lots of big waves, big wholes, squirrely eddies and no rocks.
Like the Zambezi but not as much fun, my thought anyway.

A random thought:
Yesterday in Kampala I saw a billboard it said something like
"Say no to Sugar Daddies" "Stop Cross-generational relationships"


HEY RICH?



"Rock and Roll ain't noise pollution."

OH yeah, the two guys that ran Intanda Falls, were pulling each others spray skirts. Reminded me of being on the Gauley. You know who you are.

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Comments

[jp]

guys shouldn't play with other guys' skirts...
weirdos.