Video of The US National WhiteWater Center

Here's a you tube clip I found... enjoy




I've been several times, always had a good time, even swimming once or twice. Hear someone knock it? Ask if they've been there. The knuckle draggers haven't made it out somehow...

White Water Blast!

I took the kids, a couple of "boy-girl friends" and off we went for our 5:00 adventure at the US National White Water Center. The sun was getting low, the temperature about 85 degrees, I enjoyed the look on my son Andrew's face- as I had watched Bobby, Amy and Judy's before him-- the look of awe. You really can't describe this place until you have seen it, and even then words and pictures don't do it justice. There was a gentle breeze and a good crowd filled the waters and viewing decks. We went through the training- I was concerned that the "newbies" didn't get the full training, since we were veterans it was cut a little short-- little did I know I'd have the ride of my life. Surfing in "Biscuits and Gravy" was a great way to work the water and our guide knew how to get us there. Body surfing through the rough stuff was yet to come.

I've decided the only thing that would have made it more fun was if I'd spent a bit more time in the boat-- this just wasn't my day. The first may have been the best, falling in slow motion at one of the first gates on the big run in front of most of the spectators. I may have been sitting too far out, but it really didn't matter as there are no exits, or eddy's for a long way, an no matter what the reason, I wasn't getting back in for a while. Here I am catching a breath before I rolled and tumbled again- --feet first almost the whole way, down the chute and thought it can't last long-- and soon enough I was standing on the side in the big lake, the boat out ahead. Exhausted, scared a bit, and banged up more.

I've thought about it a lot and come up with no good answers. That was the first of three trips in, two quick dips on the other side, our momentum shifted rapidly, the boat went one way and I went another... once in Biscuits and Gravy, once just below, and by then I'd almost had enough. I insisted on another run through the big stuff, we made it perfectly without incident, not even close to leaving the boat and that was that

It's left me tired, bruised and banged up, but none the worse for wear. I'll tighten up the core muscles to give me just a bit more pull, I'll sit a little closer in on the boat edge, and I'm going again in a few weeks. It is just too much fun and too much a challenge to let go.

Getting back to blogging

Sorry its been so long since my last post... a family trip to Europe, a very busy real estate year, a move myself, and a son's graduation here in Charlotte's kept me away. But I return with new confidence and determination to write thoughtful posts here about the many great things happening here in Charlotte--or occasionally from... Greece perhaps? The Acropolis at night was breathtaking.

I'll be introducing several new categories or threads here. I'll be blogging on the important communities and developments in and around Charlotte. At last count we were the 9th largest new home market in the US and we have all the national builders here, plus some excellent regional ones as well. Over time we'll look at the various developments, builders and communities with an eye towards helping you find a happy home for yourself. It's corny and a cliche all in one, but happiness is what we are all looking for- and for most of us we find that in community with one another. (Uni-bomber and other terrorists excluded!)

I'll also be blogging about fun things to do in the greater Charlotte area. Just today I went white water rafting at the U.S. National Whitewater Center here in Charlotte. You may have seen it on the Discovery Channel last week , but it's a man made wonder, just 15 minutes from Uptown Charlotte. I got a 2 hour work out, got dunked in the 80 degree drinking water, and all in all had a great time with my family. What a great addition to the Charlotte area.

I'll also be occasionally posting about local politics here. We need to invest in our future, we need more schools, more roads and transit, and we need more political courage to move this city forward. this fall we need to pass the school bond, and keep the transit tax. It may be time to petition the County and state for a road bond to complete some needed improvements. But we are growing at between 60-80,000 people per year. We've got to build more schools and roads, just to not fall further behind!