Took a day trip down to the Ocoee River and did the Upper/Middle Ocoee.

Let’s just say the trip didn’t start as planned. But I hit the highway early Saturday morning thinking I had plenty of time. Even stopped at Target in Cleveland, TN to pick up a waterproof camera (which I still haven’t gotten developed) and a coffee… gotta have my dose of caffeine before something like this.
Well needless to say where I thought Ocoee Rafting was… it wasn’t. So I quickly stopped and asked for directions (yea… when your deposit hinges on getting there on time you’ll stop and get directions). As I was driving up the hill the bus was heading down and off towards the launch point. The management at Ocoee Rafting was awesome… they could have just canceled my trip for being late but they gave me my equipment and said if I can catch the group before they put in then I was good. Let’s just say it comes in handy at times to have a gas guzzling Hemi powered truck. I parked and ran up to the boat just to help put it in the water.
The Ocoee has over 20 continuous Class III and IV Rapids that drops 260 feet from start to finish.
The Ocoee River is dam-controlled, so the water levels stay constant. Though this weekend they were letting out the surge due to water levels and upcoming rains. It took away a couple of rapids where you can paddle back into them and surf a bit, but it added a little kick to the rest of them. Such as Hell’s Hold and Double Suck. Our guide was awesome, he guided us right into the meat of each rapid. While pushing the limits of the raft and giving us one hell of a ride, he also kept us from pushing it too far and getting tangled up with the other boats and rocks. I forget his name, but look for the crazy red headed grizzly bear with his goatee braided in two strands. If I go back, I’m definitely requesting him.
Each section is about 1 1/2 hours long and it flies by. If I didn’t have to get back to Knoxville or the next tour wasn’t sold out I might have done it back to back.
Look for the dam release dates in 2009 and plan your trip… and be sure to check out Ocoee Rafting. They are well worth getting on their trips.

Tailgating was great, weather was wonderful for a football game. And of course, we lost. No surprise.

It was HOT! We didn’t make it through halftime before we had to head back to the tailgate spot to cool off.

Well Homecoming was a beautiful day. Usually this game is already penciled in as a ‘W’. Good thing we had our erasers, because the day ended with another loss for the VOls.

The tailgating was great but the game was another letdown of the season.

Well, the the Tennessee Volunteers managed to beat the Kentucky Wildcats. But that’s not really saying much since they hold the longest winning streak of one opponent over another. Also losing would have made this team the worst team (with 8 loses) ever in UT history. So I’m sure they don’t want to be known as the team that sent Phil out with a loss, ended the ‘THE STREAK‘, and be known as the worst team ever. So on a cold, rainy day in November the Vols showed the sparse crowd how they can really play, especially in the second half. The only highlight of the first half was the last second dive into the end zone for a score. It was the second half that showed what this team could have been. I started this season with the Vols in Pasadena at the Rose Bowl with the UCLA loss. That game crushed me and I figured it crushed the Vols. I just hope next season starts with a bashing of the Bruins here in Neyland and a new era under Kiffin. But Coach Fulmer went out a winner and was carried off the field (that was the way it should have been) where he went 152 - 52, second only to the person the stadium is named after. Not bad Coach. Wish you well.

More importantly, we had our final tailgate of the year. Even though it was rainy, cold and down right freakin miserable; we had the Orange showing and the jello shots flowing. Steve and I also donned our Vol ties for this final moment in Vol history, as well as our victory cigars. Which we smoked early since we were that confident… also we were just too cold to wait and figured some sort of heat, any sort, would help keep hypothermia from settling in. Here’s to the tailgate crew for another fine year of food grubbin, ass smackin’, jello shootin’, beer drinkin, orange wearin’ and awesome tailgatin’!

RIP Sawyer’s … your wings and bathroom will be missed. And till next year… as Mike says…

IT’S GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMMMMMMMMMMMME DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYY!