Four hardy kayakers (George F, Jack F, Jim S and Wayne McD) braved high winds, estimated at up to 30 mph blowing downstream, and cool weather to launch the 2025 edition of the Sunday paddles season. Several others expressed interest but withdrew due to the conditions, a prudent decision. Level was 3.34 on the Little Falls gage. A canoer approached in the parking lot and asked if he could join us. I expressed skepticism about crossing the Potomac in a canoe in these conditions but he assured me that he was a Class III-IV paddler and would be fine. That proved to be an optimistic assessment and he was blown down Seneca Breaks never to be seen again. We four kayakers successfully reached the Virginia shore, albeit a bit winded, so to speak. Having already expended so much energy we proceeded down the canal expeditiously with very little dithering or surfing. There is a new log in the middle of Diagonal Rapid but it is easily avoided. Crossing back to the Maryland shore was less difficult due to the shelter provided by numerous rocks but the paddle up the newly-rewatered C&O Canal (thank you, NPS!) was directly into the wind and arduous. Turtle count was one. Arriving back at Violette’s Lock we were relieved to see that the canoer’s vehicle was no longer in the parking lot.