pictures of the low low tide

here are some photos of the william jewell low tide and we really have not yet recovered.

New Staff Training

New Staff was fantastic. Merle and Jeff instructed and we had newbies, returning Fl. staff, mountain instructors and the new Director of Operations. I think there were some stomach injuries from all the giggling. The weather cooperated for the most part and no one came back with sunburns. Hooray!

Some of the folks are now on Ransom the others are back in Asheville. It is inspiring to be around such amazing humans who jump right in and go for it. I am proud to work for an orginzation that values the staff enough to give them such fantastic opportunities.

The William Jewell course ended while New Staff was out. They missed some great skits. Trish and Tucker drove back to Asheville. Carlie the dog misses her buddy very much!

Here is a snapshot of William Jewell precourse and our first annual SWAMP SWAP!! Precourse was lots of work but it was worth it!

Happy New Year!!!

Thanks to all of you who have told us to get on the ball and tell you what's up! Well, if you have not guessed, we have been super busy. Too busy to update a log. I mean really busy... you get the picture? It is the new year and mother nature is dealing the William Jewell and the Girl Scouts a nasty blow. 30's is the predicted low and 50's the high with high winds and lots of rain. Yuck!
C'est La Vie with Jeff's parents made it out to LuLu. Peanut aka Jo Higgins got a fast boat ride out to with Cam Richardson's uncle and aunt! Small world. A grand party was had with fireworks and tons of champagne. Dean Jackson was working as a private guide and he was there also to ring in the new year. Lots of work week folks populated the island as well as random sea kayakers. It was a good time. I will write tomorrow and add some really fun photos but for now. Good bye to 2007 and hello to 2008!

Shadow Play

Shadow play on Pavilion Key... Always make time for FUN!

Seacrest Course!

Hmm, What about that Seacrest Course? Ari's first course in the 'glades! And judging by this image it gave her food for thought. Ari worked the course with Alan Coulter. Dave Genova paired up with Jo Higgins. For both Dave and Jo this was the second outing of the season. Jenny Reeves teamed up with Mark Wulff and to round out the line-up Chavo and Marya co-instructed. Julie Springsteen held down the home front as CD. While Luiz made a guest appearence as the logistics manager.

Of course we started with some name games... Started at Smallwoods Store, Chavo and Marya busted out some dance moves for their name game.

And there is the classic first night on the boards. This shot of Alan Coulter and crew was taken on a new route, Lockbox Creek. Discovered last season via a google earth recon, Lockbox Creek connects Hwy41 to Faka Union Canal. The first crew to paddle the creek last season found a lock box along the route. The box bore no treasure, but the name stuck.

The expeditions took crews to the Pumpkin River Shell Mound-

And to the beaches of Pavilion Key -

The day before course end

I decided to take a break at 2 pm. Jeff, Steve and Diana are safely in Nassau, Bahamas by now. Hopefully they make it to Georgetown this evening. There is some weather heading their way and hopefully it will be over by course start.
Luiz and I picked up a van which Vanessa drove down. 10 action packers full to the brim from the food huts in N.C. I don't know who packed the van but they did an impeccable job. There was even a full mummy of sleeping bags wedged into the passenger seat. I didn't feel lonely while driving it to the Everglades from Miami. I am sure Vanessa loved having an extra friend along for the ride. But really back to the packing of the van. It was amazing how much was in that vehicle and you could still see out one back window and the use the mirrors. AMAZING. Thanks to all involved with getting this load down to us. It is great to be able to use all this food and not have to buy more. I am set for Pine School!!!
The day is a perfect everglades day. It is hot and sunny, low humidity and a light but sustained wind that is strong enough to blow the bugs away. I am going to have to take my lunch on the dock. I am going to try to add a video to this post. We shall see how it works. I just want to share this perfect day I hope you see a little friend at the end.
cheers!