Events - Week View

We will paddle the George Washington canal this week, a Class I-II trip. We will cross the Potomac to the GW canal on the Virginia side, run the canal, come back across the Potomac and return to Violettes Lock via the flatwater C&O canal, thus avoiding the need for a shuttle. Total trip length is about three miles. If there are ten or more paddlers we will endeavor to divide into groups. In order to facilitate trip planning please be sure to advise trip coordinator Wayne McDaniel at macinmd1@gmail.com or 443 542 8779 if you are planning to join.

We will meet at the Violette's Lock parking lot (13948 Violettes Lock Rd, Poolesville MD) at 9:00. Please be prompt. PFDs are required for all; helmets are highly recommended, especially for kayakers. If you need safety equipment, please advise the trip coordinator. The predicted water level is 2.8' on the Little Falls gauge, a low level for this section of river. Weather forecast is an afternoon high around 80 with a 60% chance of rain.



CCA Tips for Covid-19

Stay in small groups of 10 or less, keep recommended social distancing, on and off the river.
Avoid carpooling except with pandemic-fellows like family members, etc.
Do not attend if you think that you may have been in contact with someone with COVID-19 in the past two weeks, or if you have any of the signs and symptoms of COVID-19, including but not limited to: fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea. Please call your medical provider for any symptoms that are concerning to you.
Wear a proper fitting and functioning face mask covering mouth and nose in parking lots when social distancing cannot be maintained.
Pack a mask in a zip lock bag in your PFD. Carry hand sanitizer.
Stay in everyone’s comfort zone to reduce rescue needs - work harde

We'll be having our Wednesday evening paddle from Anglers down to Lock 10. Meet up at the Lock 10 parking lot at 5:00 and we'll set shuttle from there. Feel free to reach out with any questions if you're interested but not familiar with this stretch of river. It's a great section and beginner friendly. SYOTR ~Kara

CCA and the Anacostia Watershed Society (AWS) have begun to explore ways to share paddling skills and familiarity with the fun and personal growth offered through paddling. We reached out to AWS early in the year to see how we might partner and decided to join already-programmed events to familiarize ourselves with both the staff and their programs. Miki Komlosh, Ginny DeSeau, David “Cotton” Cottingham and Sam Stokes got us started, accompanying new paddlers in DC during the annual Anacostia River Festival, and in PG County (Bladensburg) with 20 grade/middle school students enrolled in AWS’ Spring 2021 Environmental Academy.

We’re now set up to support scheduled ‘canoe tours’ one time per month this summer. There are slots set up just for up to 4 CCA volunteers to help on each trip by helping unload boats, greet registrants and encourage curious newbies with paddling tips and safe practices as we become inspired by their enthusiasm! We’ll use AWS boats, paddles and pfds: feel free to bring your own pfd.

REGISTER on the AWS site (please):
Thursday, August 5: https://anacostiaws.salsalabs.org/8521canoetourbwpcca/index.html

Montgomery County students: volunteers can receive Student Service Learning credits for helping out AWS partnership paddling events, thanks to Miki Komlosh’s insight and effort! Please contact Miki mkomlosh@gmail.com or Risa risa@theshimodagroup.com with SSL questions.

We’ll be in touch a few days before to confirm the logistics. If you have questions about this neat new, evolving partnership with AWS or have suggestions to further our outreach effort to introduce paddling to new communities in the DMV, contact Risa at risa@theshimodagroup.com or Cotton at dcottingham7@icloud.com.

Hope to see you in our CCA/AWS foursome!

If you are interested in participating, contact Bob Maxey at boater3@gmail.com.

These classes, taught by Mark Wray, are open to paddlers of any levels focusing on stroke refinement. Depending on the ability of the folks that show up, and water levels, he may also head over to the GW Canal. Mark is an ACA Level Four Tandem Instructor and a Level Two Solo Instructor. The sessions will also include some river safety training similar to what is offered by the BSA through Paddle Craft Safety. Mark is also a Canoe Instructor for the BSA. This is not SWR. He is not qualified to instruct SWR.

Contact Ginny Quam at ginny.quam@gmail.com.