11 hardy paddlers (Andrew T, Barb B, Denise C, Dimitri D, Greg L, Joey M, Kathleen S {paddling incognito in a rec kayak}, Mark W, Temmy K, Tim T & Wayne McD) blithely disregarded the oppressive heat for a trip on the George Washington Canal at 3.68’ (7410 CFS) – the river had bumped up a couple of inches due to overnight rain. Remarkably, the Violette’s Lock parking lot was almost empty at 9:00 – the bikers, birders and hikers are apparently more sensible folk and stayed indoors. We began as a single group but it quickly became apparent that some were more interested in chatting and surfing than others so we made the customary division between river runners and eddy hoppers. Happily, the GWC continues to be almost completely free of strainers, a welcome change from earlier in the year. We encountered a couple of great blue herons and, on the C&O, a bald eagle and one, but only one, turtle. No carnage to report.