Blue Hole Summer 2023 Roadtrip Diary

Here's a final update for my 2023 journeys up to Tennessee and to Blue Hole Ocoee. The Ocoee Whitewater Center ruins had been cleaned up, but there was little or no active repair work going on. Due to work "stuff," I was only able to visit on Tuesdays and not Wednesdays, and accordingly I didn't make any overnight trips all summer. Even now, there has still been no definitive cause for the fire released.

Dates Plans Comments

May 23-24, 2023 Tuesday-only roadtrip made! This was primarily a recon mission since the water was a VERY chilly 71F due to cool overnight and daytime temps and cloud cover.
There are basically no changes from last year; the ruins have been cleaned up a bit and most of the structural ironwork has been removed. The fencing still blocks off the trail between the building and the river, so you'll have to go up and around, like last year. Photos and two videos of the OWC ruins and the paths as of May 2023 are now posted here on Facebook. Underwater videos from this visit are now posted in this YouTube playlist for 2023!
I had a RenFaire event in Atlanta on Wednesday, so no overnight trip this time.

June 6, 2023 Tuesday roadtrip made! Wednesday visit cancelled What a difference 12 degrees Fahrenheit makes! Bright sunshine all day and a high of around 85F made for water temps of 78F when I arrived and 82F when I left...a far cry from last visit's 70-72F. Great to see some old friends and make some new ones, including Landon, Peyton, Avery and Morgan. Videos from this visit are now posted in this YouTube playlist for 2023!

June 20, 2023 Tuesday-only roadtrip cancelled Showers and thunderstorms are forecast for Tuesday...and much of the rest of the week. Here's hoping the rainfall isn't so excessive that it forces TVA to release extra flow.

June 27, 2023 Tuesday-only roadtrip scrapped This was only one day after I returned from The Event Formerly Known As La Plata Rail Days, and I opted to give my car a break and get things done. I was pretty tired after that drive, too!

June 29, 2023 Thursday-only roadtrip scrapped Had to cancel due to work and illness reasons.

July 3 and 4, 2023 Separate Monday and Tuesday roadtrips made! On Monday the river was unusually high and cold and the Sun only came out for a few hours, but I met some awesome people. Tuesday was warmer, sunnier and quite crowded, but I got nicely toasted and saw more awesome people including Jesus, Saul, Kaden, Hugo, Cole, Jackson, Isaiah, Damian, Memphis, Landon, Sydney, Ryan and Ivy...and others whose names I didn't capture on video. Videos and photos from both days are now posted here on Facebook. Videos from this visit and a later one have been added to this YouTube playlist for 2023!

July 18 and 20, 2023 Tuesday and Thursday roadtrips made! Great weather and warm, if slightly cloudier than normal water made these great trips. My friend "Hippie" Chris came along this time. I wish I had unlimbered my GoPro earlier in the day, as I missed some really awesome folks and I only got a couple of videos. Great to meet Darren and Tristan from an Oklahoma-based tribal band of Native Americans as well as your compadres, plus Ivan, Drew, Savannah and others. Y'all's photo and the two videos are now posted in this Facebook album (will cover the remainder of July). The videos have been added to the 2023 playlist on YouTube.

July 25, 2023 Tuesday-only roadtrip made! Great visit with plentiful sunshine, warm water and cool people including Jackson, Kyle, Kinzer, TC, Jake, Kyle #2, Logan, Connor, Chloe and Bella. Photos and videos are being added to this FB album and all videos have been added to the 2023 playlist on YouTube. Good times for what could have been my last visit for 2023...but wasn't.

August, 2023 Unscheduled trip made Videos from this trip are now posted in my 2023 playlist on YouTube! Great to meet Anthony, Hannah, Dylan, Joey, Michael, Leanna and Sadie up there!

Dates	Plans	Comments
May 23-24, 2023	Tuesday-only roadtrip made!	This was primarily a recon mission since the water was a VERY chilly 71F due to cool overnight and daytime temps and cloud cover. There are basically no changes from last year; the ruins have been cleaned up a bit and most of the structural ironwork has been removed. The fencing still blocks off the trail between the building and the river, so you'll have to go up and around, like last year. Photos and two videos of the OWC ruins and the paths as of May 2023 are now posted here on Facebook. Underwater videos from this visit are now posted in this YouTube playlist for 2023! I had a RenFaire event in Atlanta on Wednesday, so no overnight trip this time.
June 6, 2023	Tuesday roadtrip made! Wednesday visit cancelled	What a difference 12 degrees Fahrenheit makes! Bright sunshine all day and a high of around 85F made for water temps of 78F when I arrived and 82F when I left...a far cry from last visit's 70-72F. Great to see some old friends and make some new ones, including Landon, Peyton, Avery and Morgan. Videos from this visit are now posted in this YouTube playlist for 2023!
June 20, 2023	Tuesday-only roadtrip cancelled	Showers and thunderstorms are forecast for Tuesday...and much of the rest of the week. Here's hoping the rainfall isn't so excessive that it forces TVA to release extra flow.
June 27, 2023	Tuesday-only roadtrip scrapped	This was only one day after I returned from The Event Formerly Known As La Plata Rail Days, and I opted to give my car a break and get things done. I was pretty tired after that drive, too!
June 29, 2023	Thursday-only roadtrip scrapped	Had to cancel due to work and illness reasons.
July 3 and 4, 2023	Separate Monday and Tuesday roadtrips made!	On Monday the river was unusually high and cold and the Sun only came out for a few hours, but I met some awesome people. Tuesday was warmer, sunnier and quite crowded, but I got nicely toasted and saw more awesome people including Jesus, Saul, Kaden, Hugo, Cole, Jackson, Isaiah, Damian, Memphis, Landon, Sydney, Ryan and Ivy...and others whose names I didn't capture on video. Videos and photos from both days are now posted here on Facebook. Videos from this visit and a later one have been added to this YouTube playlist for 2023!
July 18 and 20, 2023	Tuesday and Thursday roadtrips made!	Great weather and warm, if slightly cloudier than normal water made these great trips. My friend "Hippie" Chris came along this time. I wish I had unlimbered my GoPro earlier in the day, as I missed some really awesome folks and I only got a couple of videos. Great to meet Darren and Tristan from an Oklahoma-based tribal band of Native Americans as well as your compadres, plus Ivan, Drew, Savannah and others. Y'all's photo and the two videos are now posted in this Facebook album (will cover the remainder of July). The videos have been added to the 2023 playlist on YouTube.
July 25, 2023	Tuesday-only roadtrip made!	Great visit with plentiful sunshine, warm water and cool people including Jackson, Kyle, Kinzer, TC, Jake, Kyle #2, Logan, Connor, Chloe and Bella. Photos and videos are being added to this FB album and all videos have been added to the 2023 playlist on YouTube. Good times for what could have been my last visit for 2023...but wasn't.
August, 2023	Unscheduled trip made	Videos from this trip are now posted in my 2023 playlist on YouTube! Great to meet Anthony, Hannah, Dylan, Joey, Michael, Leanna and Sadie up there!

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