High energy rafting and kayaking videos featuring whitewater action, surfing, and carnage as well as guidebooks and tutorials. Follow along endless summers through travel videos and learn frugal travel tips. The Ocoee Guidebook for aspiring raft guides and others wishing to learn the standard raft lines is provided for your enjoyment; the guidebook is not a replacement for proper instruction. Remember whitewater can be dangerous seek proper instruction and swift water rescue training. Intermediate whitewater kayak instructional videos show you how to make the elevator move at Broken Nose and more! POV videos of rafting trips on the Upper and Middle Ocoee River and 1996 Olympic Whitewater Slalom Course. Subscribe for the latest whitewater carnage and kayaking videos! Please like and share videos with your friends.
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Freddie! Nice short and concise video. Thanks for sharing. I don't like commercial lodging either, and besides, I couldn't afford it either in 1976. Lodging and food were my main concerns, which limit traveling around. It's a pity that after 2-3 months in Otavalo in 1976, I have no idea of the surroundings; like, I was living in a tiny bubble.🙏
Everyone on our rafting trip of the middle Ocoee was told by the guides to watch this video. Then they invite you to return and give the upper Ocoee a try. Can't say they don't give you sufficient warning.
Did you sell out your house in USA and bought in Equador, how did you do that? What's the cost of living in Otavalo. I mean just to rent privately a small room or a small apartment with very basic stuff. I was a traveler, in my days in 1976 there, and I lived very basic as cheap as cheap could be because I had no money. I had no money for a analog camera in those days either. I am thinking, just thinking (nothing really serious yet) about coming back but now retired hahahaha. In those youthful days I was not worried about anything but to find a place to sleep and the next meal. Today I worry about almost everything hahahah crazy! Health care - eye specialist, dentist, etc. Do you know if there is a vegetarian restaurant in Otavalo. The last time I saw my English friend there he had a small vege restaurant. I am very curious to know if he is still around. I remember there was also a small pancake restaurant where all the traveler end up and would chit chat away (it was like on the norther side of the Saterday mercado). it's almost 50 yrs ago
I have never paid more than $250/month for a nice apartment in Ecuador. Currently I return to the Blue Ridge Mountains in Tennessee to work rafting season each year. I make enough for another year each season.
@@FastFredRuddock Thanks for the info. Ok. I thought you were already retired and living permanently in Ecuador, BUT that's nice you can work, save and head back. My guess is that you can live with around $500 all in monthly (rent + food and travel) around - no fancy luxurious life...
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That's a drag! Glad you had money to take the other flying-over option. In 1976, I went from Otavalo to Ipiales, entered Columbia and came back over into Ecuador the same day. In those days it was a little easier.
Thanks fro your info and show... I was in Otavalo for 2-3 months in 1976. I got scared of the tremor and left. I had an English friend there. I met him first on the street in Quito and I asked him for some advise and he recommended Otavalo. At the time he was married to an Ecuadorian, his wife was pregnant. Unfortunately, I lost contact with him after I left. I wonder where he is and how they are doing?
@@FastFredRuddock I spent only 1 night in Quito and left for Otavalo after talking to that English friend. Stayed in Otavalo 2-3 months, I think. I can't remember that well... I do remember I had to go to Columbia exit out of Ecuador and come back into Ecuador to extend my visa. I am not sure how that went at the time. I was restricted to Otavalo because I had no money. I rented a little room made out of clay for about 4 US monthly and was like living on 1 US daily for food. I didn't travel around; only in the vicinity. I recall that I went hiking with a few other travelers to Lago Mojando I think, but left after 1 night there. rainy and cold for me.
I like to do 360's on the left side of that bottom hole. Works much better with a short, low volume boat, then slide behind the island and ferry river right to the playful 360 hole.
Thanks for the video. I'm just getting my first kayak so it's really helpful. Is you car an Ioniq? What roof rack are you using? I have an Ioniq so I'm checking out recommendations. Thanks!
I have limited time to gather the goods. I am generally working if the Upper Ocoee is releasing. Film clips are appreciated and can be sent via Facebook messenger.
Oh yeah, gotta keep ahold of that T grip! When I was but a wee lad, my dad guided myself, brother, and mama down the Nantahala and I busted my brother’s lip wide open cuz I let go of the T grip. He cried and bled down the next quarter mile of river, but luckily the water there is so cold that my dad got us to the side and doused his lips with the cold water. Stopped bleeding pretty quick after that. Now that my brother and I are grown with teenagers of our own, I wanted them to know how important that T grip is. So when we took the boys down the Ocoee my brother and I were up front setting the example. I got tossed out backwards, head first going down the “broken nose” rapid, and the raft ran over me and then we got separated because instead of trying hard to swim towards a raft, I kept that darn T grip in my right hand and rafted the remaining portion of that section on my back! Another guide pulled me into their raft and I still had my paddle in hand being held by only the T grip! 😂 I was gassed, but eventually got back on the right raft.
I miss that place so much. I grew up there only lived about 10 minutes away I was always on that river I only got to raft it once but I was there swimming and having a good time almost every day I swam the blue holes a lot and the tunnels. I was always rock climbing and caveing there on the mountain until it was closed but now I live in Athens Georgia. Stay safe bro
