A Man of Rubber Book by Gary Harper

Description

This is a true story that in almost every single chapter relates a very important lesson in our age of uncertainty… how learning the FINE ART OF STAYING FLEXIBLE can be the key to surviving our day to day existence while keeping our sanity intact. This narrative starts with the incredible true story of how Gary Harper’s Grandfather Buck survived being run over by a train when he was only 19. His right arm was severed above the elbow & his right leg was cut off above the knee and he thought his life was over. But through sheer strength of will and determination he found a way to create a whole new life for himself first as a Telegraph Operator and later on being elected to serve as the County Court Clerk of Polk County TN four terms from 1918 until 1934. Gary Grandfather Buck lived a full and prosperous life until he passed away in 1956 at the age of 73.

Gary’s narrative also tells the earlier true story of how he along with a handful of others pioneered whitewater rafting on the Middle Ocoee River in southeast Tennessee. In 1977 he was a founding partner in Ocoee Outdoors which was the first outfitter to open a shop near the river in that summer. This book also describes in detail how in the name of safety first, he named over half the rapids on the Middle Ocoee River that same year of 77. He wanted to ensure that if a person or persons needed help there would be no confusion as to exactly where help was needed and that it would arrive in a timely fashion. His rapid names are still in use today

It continues with Gary finding his true love Beth in1978, selling their interest in his outfitting business and them together starting their own company Man of Rubber River Gear in 1983. Today they are a very successful husband and wife business team wholesaling to whitewater outfitters all across the United States, Canada as well as Central and South America. They also have a thriving online retail store at RiverGear.com where private boaters and river enthusiasts can find everything from inflatable boat valves to raft inflation systems to river map bandanas to river jewelry and many other treasures.

Their story also tells of EPIC whitewater adventures in Grand Canyon. Three chapters relate their harrowing exploits during the 1983 the Big Water Year at over 60,000 cubic feet of water per second (almost 4 million pounds of water per second) flowing down the Colorado River through the bottom of Grand Canyon. How they survived the whirlpools, surging eddies, house size waves and holes is a miracle in and of itself.

And in later chapters he goes on to envision a future where the only place in Tennessee and the Southeast United States outside of Georgia to have any Atlanta OLYMPIC HISTORY, the Upper Ocoee River, will never be forgotten. In addition Gary hopes to see in the not too distant future the wonderful and historical Ocoee No. 2 Powerhouse, Flume Line and Caney Creek Village turned into a Historical Park. The Ocoee No. 2 project is a VERY UNIQUE example of early 20th century power generation systems and millions of adults and children will not only enjoy but also greatly benefit by having access to learn how it worked. He also calls on the Forest Service, TVA and the Tennessee State Park folks to come together and jointly create a future in which one day soon the entire Ocoee River Gorge will be not only a classroom featuring its History Park but also a training site for our future Olympic athletes. He envisions a future very soon when they will have their very own Olympic Training Site and Facility in our unique and beautiful Ocoee River Gorge !!!