All listed are middle (lower) Ocoee unless otherwise noted.

• September 12, 1992: Mt. Juliet (no camera; O.A.R.): As I remember, a friend from KY (Stephen Collins) came along on this trip. Not that it matters to the vast majority of you. I thought I’d put it in there for future reference.
• September 25, 1993: Mt. Juliet (waterproof camera; O.A.R.)
• September 12, 1998: Mt. Juliet (no camera; O.A.R.): More or less an adult trip.
• July 15, 2001: Scottsville and Linary Churches of Christ (waterproof camera): Flat tire on one of the Linary vans going up there.
• August 4, 2002: Scottsville Church of Christ (water proof camera): Small group. Probably around 12 people (or less) total.
• August 9, 2003: Mt. Juliet (Upper Ocoee; no camera; O.A.R.): Flat tire on the Pirtle’s van going up there.

It is sorta sad that I have this information reasonably at my fingertips. If you are into saving money, you can get a discount if you go on the Ocoee after Labor Day. When the weather is slightly cooler.
When Joey was Mt. Juliet’s youth minister (’93-’98) we didn’t go down the Ocoee. Something about a previous incident happening earlier at another church where a kid almost drowned. I don’t know the significance of it. You do have life jackets on. And it’s a pretty safe river.
[Update 8/26/03]
I finally figured out why Joey didn’t like the Ocoee River. This bulletin article might explain why:

Echoes from the Basement
with Joey Davis
May 21, 1995
It was on the Ocoee River that I learned a great lesson in life. My wife had talked me into going white-water rafting down the Ocoee. I had never gone white-water rafting before. The idea of taking on deadly rapids in a rubber raft bordered on insanity in my book. However, my manhood had been challenged. So, with of all the bravado I could muster, I embarked on the encounter trying to appear calm.
As we rode in the bus that carries the rafters to the head of the stream, I looked out to see the raging river below. Halfway up that winding road, I became certain that I had lost my mind and the bus was loaded with suicidal maniacs. At the head of the river, I was ready to tell everyone that, “I’ve enjoyed the bus ride, the scenery was wonderful, but you ain’t gettin’ me in one of those boats!”
Just as I was about to give my exit speech, I noticed who was launching the raft in front of us…six (really old) Catholic Nuns. Do you see my predicament? Manhood challenged…scared…about to wimp out on something elderly Nuns aren’t afraid of.
You know the rest of the story! I loaded into the raft with all the other idiots. The ride started out quite calm and with each victory over the rapids, I began to feel more comfortable…that is until we got to the last rapid called “Hell’s Hole.”
“Hell’s Hole was a 12 food drop off that, if you don’t maneuver it properly, would propel your raft directly into a bridge support and capsize the craft. The guide warned us that people had died here. This did wonders for my confidence.
As we approached the rapid I became angry. I wanted to blame Melissa for talking me into this. I wanted to blame those Nuns fo rmaking this look safe. But there was one thing I wanted more than to blame somebody for my predicament…I wanted to survive “Hell’s Hole.” I became determinded that if I died here, nobody was going to put…”died because he wouldn’t paddle“…on my tombstone.
That’s when I learned a great lesson in life…The time to analyze and criticize is in the planning stages, but when you’re in the middle of a challenge…”paddle!” Paddle with all your heart; paddle with all your might; paddle as if your life depended on it (because sometimes it does); but suck it up and paddle!
The Bible calls it “perserverance” (Titus 2:2). When you find yourself in a situation where all the analyzing in the world won’t change anything, stop analyzing and deal with it. If you survive, you can analyze and criticize the situation later.
Don’t fail because you didn’t have the heart to try…paddle!