[mcdude]

From the Citizen

A wet and wild river run

A KAYAKER negotiates his way along a stretch of the Winnipesaukee River during the 31st Annual Winnipesaukee River Run, which took place New Year's Day.

FRANKLIN — Spectators crowded the bridge at the base of Willow Hill on Sunday to watch dozens of kayakers test their skills against a stretch of Class 4 whitewater, as they celebrated the 31st Annual Winnipesaukee River Run.
Local Ron Noyes, an avid kayaker in his day, was among the throngs that turned out to enjoy weather in the 50s and watch members of the Merrimack Valley Paddlers and Friends of the Winnipesaukee River maneuver the rapids.
“You don’t want to be paddling that unless you can do the Eskimo roll,” Noyes said, as he watched bobbing kayaks skillfully steer around the piers of the railroad trestle that spans the Winnipesaukee River alongside Central Street, despite the rushing water.
Jeff Swett of Goffstown, President of the Merrimack Valley Paddlers said the club hosts regular pool sessions to hone the self-rescue skills of its membership.
“We try to be responsible about it but still have fun,” he said.
On Sunday, Joe Wild of Nashua, a software engineer, said the water was a little higher than he was used to, causing him to capsize.
“I’m lucky to have friends who pulled me out,” he said, while standing on dry land in Trestle View Park, where volunteers had pitched a heated tent to allow paddlers to warm up.
Wild said he was attracted to the sport after going on a rafting trip and observing kayakers.
“It looked like they were having more fun,” he said. He likened the sport to skiing on water.
“The rivers are beautiful, and you can be more isolated than on a ski hill,” he said.
Lydia Carlton of Candia, a pharmacist, said she started paddling eight years ago, after her husband, Tim, a mechanical engineer for General Electric, bought her a kayak.
“There is nothing like the perspective you get from the river. You can hike it, but it’s different. The solitude, peace and quiet is very enjoyable and I like the aspect of it that you can go where you want,” she said.
Swett, who is in customer service for Blue Cross/Blue Shield, recounted that he picked up the sport in college, but dropped it. About 10 years ago he resumed kayaking, and said he enjoys the challenge as well as the special camaraderie among paddlers.
He said he goes downhill skiing with his wife and she, in turn, lets him go kayaking.
“It’s a similar sport, but with kayaking, you don’t have to pay $80 a day for a ticket,” he said. Sunday marked the fifth or sixth time Swett has participated in the New Year’s Day river run, explaining the only time he’s recently missed the event is when he was serving in Iraq with the New Hampshire National Guard.
Spectators gathered to secure a prime viewing spot at several locations, including at Tilton Island Park, along the Winnipesaukee River Trail, at Trestle View Park and at the bridge on Cross Mill Road on the Franklin/Northfield town line. Many onlookers brought cameras to photograph the action, while others took advantage of the balmy temperatures to enjoy a family outing.