Lower Gauley Monster Day Trip

It seems that every time a great trip presents itself I end up flying most of or all of the weekend. I haven't been to the Gauley for the last couple of years because of it so I decided that no matter what I would make at least one trip this year. The opportunity presented itself last weekend. After getting home from a four day trip Sat. evening I loaded up the strider and my paddling gear. Why the strider? Since I would be going to the takeout and hitching a ride to the put in I figured the stider would be easier to transport than a kayak. I slept until 3 AM and then got up and headed south. Six hours later I arrived at the takeout and was able to catch a ride shortly thereafter. Pumping up a strider to the correct inflation level is always a guessing game because the air and water temperature affect it a great deal within the first 10 minutes on the river. Well on Sunday I guessed wrong and overinflated the boat. Consequently the boat was very unstable going thru koontz flume and I flipped. The good Lord was with me and I hit my roll on the second try. After eddying out on river left I adjusted the inflation pressure and continued down the river. Overall I had a great day and hit most of the lines fairly well until attempting Pure Sreaming Hell. My plan was to eddy out above Hell Hole on river left just below a ledge and then go thru Hell Hole on the left side due to an undercut on river right. Unfortunately a group of kayaks blew by me at the worst possible moment and forced me to go through the meat of the rapid. I didn't have enough speed so I was unable to punch through the wave. After getting trashed in the hole for what seemed forever I flushed out and hit my roll. Then the long flat water paddle to the takeout. I'm not as young as I used to be and my legs started cramping just prior to the takeout. I got home at 1 AM. Was it worth it. Definately! Unfortunately I am getting to old for these marathons.