Joyce Family Swim meet on the Yough

Dad staying in his boat and looking good at Cucumber

Before I headed out west I really wanted my Dad and brother to experience some of the places I have enjoyed over the last year or two. They both enjoy paddling and the occasional rapid, so I wanted to take them down the Lower Yough on duckies. Fortunatly the water levels cooperated with us and we had a great time on the river. I gave them a few brief instructions before the first rapid and we were on our way. I have never paddled a duckie so I was not sure what to tell them as far as manuvering them, but just kept it simple and told them to "follow me."

Gearing up

Half-way through the first rapid, Entrance, I turn around and see my brother on my tail and my Dad in the river in down stream swimmers position. "Oh man, this is gonna be a long long I thought." I pulled my dad to shore while Jeff was rounding up his boat in a nearby eddy. Now dad was glad I persuaded him to wear that extra fleece layer. We regrouped talked about hitting holes straight on rather than sideways, and continued on. Everyone had good lines at the largest rapid, Cucumber.

Jeff demonstrating Dad's style of paddling a duckie through a rapid

Throughout the 7.5 mile float there were a few more swims and butt bashing. I just considered this good practice for this summer. Jeff tended to be a little more self-sufficient than Dad was. Jeff would swim his boat, paddle and himself into an eddy and get back on while Dad would mostly just hold onto his paddle and float downstream hoping that Jeff or I would come to his rescue. You cant blame the ol' man, I'd make my sons do the work too if i was in the same situation.

Nice day on the Lower Yough

On Saturday we enjoyed a mellow 12 mile float down the Middle Yough, the only section of the Yough I haven't paddled. After running the gauntlet of fisherman at the put-in we were pretty much all alone on a beautiful river in a deep gorge. It was a great day for a float down the river, blue skies, a cool breeze and cool water.

Middle Yough

We rounded the day off with a pancake supper at the Ohiopyle Community Center, some fishing in a pond with no fish and a great campfire.


We enjoyed three great nights of camping with varying degrees of wind, rain, thunder and lighting each night. Saturday night's campfire took the cake by far. Thanks in part to Jeff's firewood collecting abilities.

Is that Bigfoot collecting firewood??

Three goofballs

Pennsylvania ridge and valley

The rest of the photos can be found by clicking here