We had 20 paddlers report to Violette’s Lock today at 8:30 am! The Little Falls gauge was 2.55 so many of the rapids were subdued, but we made use of the circumstances to practice difficult moves on easy water. Because of the large turnout we divided into two groups. The first group, shepherded by Ginny, Gary and Wayne included Alena V., Toni B., Lisa L., Bob H., Paul E., Joe C., George M., and a new friend befriended by Gary and Ginny in the parking lot, J. Robbins of the Shenandoah. Ginny, Gary, George, and J. Robbins all paddled OC-1s, while the remainder of their group paddled kayaks. While Joe, George, and J. had all paddled the GW before, it had been many years since they had been on it. Welcome back!
In our second group we had Pam W., Sammy C., Jenna K., John S., Mikey B., Barb B., Barb R., Natalie H., and Kathleen. We practiced surfing, attaining, ferrying, and catching eddies. We also saw a couple of bald eagles and a little water snake.
Snitzer's Botanical Report: We are now in mid-summer botanically speaking. The late spring Dames rocket is gone and the purple summer phlox are in bloom in their place on the banks of the canal. Six foot tall Joe Pye weed is putting out its dusty purple flower clusters. The vine with bright orange trumpets is orange trumpet creeper. They will bloom til frost. On the muddy river's edges the big creamy white hibiscus with the red centers are full out, common name marsh rose mallow.
Everyone was thrilled with the water level in the C&O Canal which was at a level comfortable for attaining back to the Violette’s Lock parking lot and allowed us to skip paddling through river grass down to Pennyfield. Special thanks to Alf for his persistence with the Parks Dept. and to Ginny for the watermelon!