Winni River put-in & H1N1 vaccine

[fatlazyless]

Always looking for ways to save money, am thinking about shooting two birds with one stone, figuratively. Besides offering an excellent launching spot to kayak the Winnipesaukee River in Laconia, the Walgreens also offers $18.99 H1N1 flu vaccinations for New Hampshire residents, 18 years & older. Do not know if the vaccination is by a needle or a liquid swallow, or a pill or whatever?

What's the Forum's medical opinion? Is it safer to kayak the Winni River on January 1st as it is still open water due to the current or to get vaccinated at Walgreen's?:rolleye1:

I plan to ask the Walgreen pharmacist for a 90% discount in exchange for doing a couple eskimo rolls just off-shore their lower parking lot.......lol!

[Slickcraft]

I have kayaked the lower Wini River several New Year's days putting in at Cross Mill Road in Franklin and taking out just after the final rapid and just prior to the dam in Franklin. With playing on a few surfing waves there was always a few occasions to roll; no problem with a dry suit and a neoprene cap under the helmet.

While I have not kayaked whitewater in 10+ years, it was probably less dangerous than my visit to the doctor's office two weeks ago. There was that waiting for the H1N1 flu shot in a room full of sick people. One can hold their breath for only so long.

[jmen24]

Slickcraft, you are my hero, I have always looked at that final rapid section of the Lower Winni River with envy, as I would love to run it. I have only ever seen kayaks run that section and the many times I have looked over the possible lines it just seems to tight for a moderate length open boat, what are your thoughts. Just no room for error in that section to make sure that the bridge piers do not jump out and bite.

The technical natural is not the deterent as I have paddled the Dead in Maine, it just seems to tight for a lower riding open boat. Even poling is out as the rocks are very large (pole grabbers) and the section is very steep to get any kind of up river momentum to correct heading.

[Slickcraft]

J-24;

Prior to kayaking my wife and I paddled solo open whitewater canoes for several year. First I had a Mad River ME and then a Dagger Encore set-up with front and rear air bags, center saddle, foot braces and thigh straps. It was nearly as easy to roll as a kayak.

Anyway, I did paddle the lower Wini many times with both of the open boats but never in the winter and never had to roll on that river. There is a lot more room on that final rapid than what is looks, no problem for an open boat with the proper set-up. Mid way the rapids under an old RR bridge are more difficult to run in high water.

[jmen24]

Slick, thanks for the info, we have access to a Mad River with the same setup as you describe. We did the Dead this year at 2500 which is really low for that river, but still fairly techinical in a canoe, anything above that would have certainly been above mine and my wifes comfort level (III-IV). We also paddled the Dead last year at about 3000 in Duckies, which I must say was an absolute blast. Looks like I will have to make a call to my wifes uncle to bring down the whitewater boats from Maine and we will think about giving the Lower Winni a go, he is our whitewater instructor as he is registered for that. Even looking from above, in the rapids, the lines looked tight, but we will have to investigate further, prior to giving it a shot. I have wanted to run that for many years and now that the whitewater experience is building it is more and more tempting. In due time.

[Slickcraft]

J-24
When we were active WW paddlers we belonged to both the NH AMC canoe chapter http://www.nhamcpaddlers.org/ and the Merrimack Valley Paddles http://www.nhamcpaddlers.org/

Both had trips on the lower Wini with the MVP group being mostly all kayakers and the AMC group being mostly canoeists.

The lower Wini is a short technical class III run where you can't really see what is up next so it is best to hook up with a group for a 1st run. The Wini last rapid is easier than Poplar Falls on the Dead River. Set up on left center, too far left is shallow and right center heads you for RR bridge abutment.

[jmen24]

Slick
Thanks for the links, we were just talking two nights ago about joining a paddle club to get out and meet new folks. My wifes uncle has been hounding us for years to do the same as he is an AMC instructor and has great stories of the fun they have.

Don't worry, we will not be running that rapid until we can watch a few runs at the lines.