The ropeswing at the river (A what did you do this weekend thread)

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Tell you what. This weekend was great.

It started off with my daughter and me biking at the local skatepark. Admittedly, I am not as radical as I was in the 1980's, but in reality, I was probably not that radical even then. Didn't matter though- we had a blast and I survived with no broken bones.

After- we went to a local river park. I had re-geared her bike for a faster top end and she made full use of it. Her higher speed let us go further- MUCH further- than usual. We cruised up the river path (still early in the morning) to a local swimming hole with a humongo rope swing. The humidity and dog days of August left this weekend, and we arrived early enough to have the river to ourselves, with fog rising off the water in the crisp air.

Ordinarily timid, she immediately wanted in, and with no mom to object, in no time we were flying out over the river on the rope swing. The water was cold, but not too bad, and for the first time in a while, I was more chickensh#$ than her (she's 8 btw /I'm 50).

I made a few runs into the water to make sure there were no hidden rocks, etc, but it the area seemed okay.

Within minutes, we were both having the times of our lives. On the shore was a nice thick hole of mud so porous it was essentially quicksand, where we sunk ourselves to our knees and got into a huge mudfight.

For me- with a failing hip replacement, thoughts of a skatepark, quarterpipe ramps and sailing 15 feet over the water are silly stupid fantasy. It's a fine line between safe and reckless, and this took a considerable amount of guts. It's a fine line between safety and missing out on life, so I pushed it a bit. I rolled the dice a bit, but came out okay.

Afterwards, we jumped back on our bmx bikes and rode another several miles in our continuing adventure.

Complete and utter joy. I haven't had that much fun since I was 8. We are both covered in poison oak. Mom wasn't impressed, but we're okay with that.

That completely kicked ass. I do NOT want to go into work tomorrow

edit- later that day, she noticed some people innertubing with a "treasure chest" I told her it was more than likely a beer cooler, but what the heck... Next week, we go tubing (no beer cooler though!)

[Sooner or later]

Nice

[Steve Carlton]

Not the Hacienda Bridge at the Russian River, by chance? We used to go there just down the hill from a place my grandparents bought. That rope was fun. I once saw a guy swing out, then all the way with his back hitting the rocks. I couldn't believe it.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

No but it felt that high/ kind of like that.. I think it was about as high as that dude in the middle of the rocks as a launch and if you pulled in real tight through the arch of the swing you could get almost as far as the guy on the rope.

Ours was a mud shore! - which was good because for the first several swings I was to scared to let go, and swung right back into the shore Rocks wouldn't have felt to good! Im' going to show her this pic!

[A930Rocket]

Sounds like a great day!

We used swing out on a rope at Nash’s Pond in Westport. Lots of fun after school. We’d skivvy down to our tighty whiteys and swim for an hour.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Tell you what, everyone needs to get their arses down to a river and go rope swing!

[Tobra]

River is running a little low for a rope swing or jumping off a cliff into it. Probably a ton of e coli in it too. I don't think I would swim in it, and have not been fishing for 40 years, and I can walk to it from my parent's house in 10 minutes.

We used to tie a rope to a tree that was stout enough not to break, but small enough to bend over. You tie your rope to a piece of plywood, and sort of surf on the current. Lean back and it will dig in, bending the tree, flatten the plywood and you launch forward. It was a hoot. You don't want to do it alone, and do want a good knife, in case you need to to cut the rope so you don't drown.

[look 171]

Fantastic Leak. I can hear you giggling from here. I got a couple years on ya, but they grow up so damn fast. Let your wife yell and scream, who cares. Its just mud and its all worth getting it on the car seat.

I am like you, I was pretty radical back in the 80s too but only in my mind. I think that's because you read too many Skaterborder Mag. I wanted to be like Bert Lamar, you? We had a 1/4 pipe built near by but only used by the kids on our street. Lots of blood and bumps on many heads, including my own, from that damn thing, I tell ya. I m A SIMS guy, how bout' you?

Took the family camping (down in San Diego, 2.5 hr drive closer to the equator), my 13 and 15 year old did not move because it was Africa hot. The hottest with many shattered record for southern CA. This is our annual camping trip for us kids who grew up on the same block. Yeah, the same 5 trouble causing 1/4 pipe riders everyone hated. We started this back in college just to see each other during the summer breaks. Lots of stupid siht went on in those early years. It calm down fast from there, then came the girl friends, wives, kids and now some of their kids come with their boy friends and girl friends. Good times. It got up beyond 110 degrees. LA was up near 120 at some places. There's this waterfall near the camp ground. After a short hike we discovered a toilet bowl had more water then this swimming hole and the water fall has very little water flowing over it. Lots of sad faces thinking we all submerge in it while talking some BS from the past like we did many years past. I normally don't drink but did had a couple really cold beers that were damn tasty. The talk of jumping off the boulder into the pool was just a bunch of old farts (53, the oldest being 57)thinking they are still radical. None of us did anything remotely as fun as you. No replacement hips, bad joints just a couple of bald and slightly over weight dudes. Man, I really wanted my little one to jump off that boulder to have some fun. They are both very good swimmers.

[look 171]

Oh, I forgot to mention. One of those guys race and did lots of training miles with me for 5 years before leaving to Colorado Springs to do more racing. We were screwing around trying to swing each other on the track only to crash badly. He didn't get anywhere with racing over there but became a chef at a local hotel. I haven't seen him in years.

[masraum]

Sounds like you both had a great trip/time. She'll probably remember this forever.

[Seahawk]

Just so cool.

Thanks for reminding us what is really important!

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Originally Posted by look 171

Yeah, the same 5 trouble causing 1/4 pipe riders everyone hated. We started this back in college just to see each other during the summer breaks. Lots of stupid siht went on in those early years.

Ha! I was thinking about my own groups wishing they were there. Your story also kind of reminds me of the movie "hot tub time machine", at least in a winter version sense.
There were several swimming holes we went to when young, one that really would have put Tobra's E- coli river on notice. I am convinced that exposure to it must have made me invincible to later ailments such as the covid. My father had a lake in his back yard, which would get so stagnant, fresh water jellyfish would spontaneously spawn. No one believed me, so I got some in a jar, sent it to the state, who confirmed that fresh water jellyfish do exist, and that (if I recall) is NOT a sign of healthy water for swimming.

Speaking of which- My daughter had to get a covid test last week on friday for school. She has had several yucky days this summer coldwise, and I wouldn't have been surprised if she came back as a carrier. would of course knock me out of work for two weeks if it were to come back positive. Fortunately, she came back negative today, so that makes the weekend a total win.

Tired of this mess. Must plan out next weekend adventure!

[Dan J]

Good for you brother Those experiences will stay with her forever
You are officially Dad of the week!!

[Baz]

Leak; Nice post and thread. Enjoying all the posts here.

Nothing like kids to keep you young!

Doesn't have to be fresh water - same thing here at the Atlantic Ocean! Minus the swing of course.

I ride my beach cruiser here and have an oooga horn on the handlebar and the best part always is honking that thing when I go by the little kids and watching the expressions on their faces. I ride down by the water and they're all over the place sitting in little holes they dig, piling sand up around them, while the ocean sends the water in and out. I really get a kick out of it and so do the parents and other kids.

Summer fun......it's out there. Grab it and go!

[Baz]

Oops......forgot the pic I was going to post.......

[RSBob]

What a fantastic post. Really enjoy seeing people making long term memories which are so meaningful.

As a child I grew up about a mile from a river with a covered bridge and right next to it was a rope swing. It is one of my most pleasant memories and hopefully your adventure will be your daughter’s as well.

[Baz]

One of my best friends since the early 70's posted this on FB yesterday from their place in NC. Looking for a new swimming hole. He's a long time cyclist but took that day off. He's a couple years older than me. I'm 66. Starting to see a trend here?

[onewhippedpuppy]

That’s awesome. Nothing beats making memories outside with your kids. Because of the CV nonsense we have basically lived at Lake of the Ozarks and Beaver Lake this summer, made a lot of great family memories. A really great summer actually, until coming back to reality.

[greglepore]

Yo, pm me the location.
On a related note, many of the popular local holes have been locked down all summer.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Baz -Awesome river pics. Keep em' coming! Look at that glorious NC water!
Greg- The swing is right off rivannah river trail. Nothing too huge. Hoping the other holes will open up soon. There are some nice holes near Sugar Hollow. I'm hoping they are reopened/or opening soon.

The dog dayz weather is really starting to break here lately. The humidity is dropping way down, even with afternoon storms. Leaves are already starting to drop. Camping will be on the agenda soon.