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Why sleep when I can abuse caffeine? Laundry - I seem to have just bought enough clothes that I don't ever have to do it, but it does get done.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kalidurga
And I've made sure not to get pets. My plants don't always get water when they should, though.
And, again, that makes me feel nostalgic. Brings to mind the days when breakfast was a stop at 7-11 for Jolt cola and a package of mini Hostess donuts... after I'd had no sleep the night before because I'd driven all the way to who-knows-where to go hiking and exploring the countryside. Those were the days :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Catriona
Let's hope the rivers recede a tad between now and the end of August...
From the Charlestown Gazette: 12 rescued from Shenandoah River during float trip. I drove across both rivers on Sunday and they were waaaay up. I was surprised to see anyone on the water, but there were a few kayaks and tubes. Crazy people, especially taking kids that small.
I've no problems with people who know what they're doing & want to risk themselves... but why the heck would you bring a 4 year old & 9 other children on that???
I read an article about 10 kayakers being rescued on the patnuxent the other day - the start of some 4 day float trip with beginner & intermediate kayakers from age 9 to 60... It sounded like the water levels rose, they got stuck in tree branches and then panicked.
Actually, my mom forced me to read the article, cause she was all worried when I went out on the potomac at Mason Neck. Water was high there, but then it was high tide, and no more choppy than it normally is down there.
I saw the thing about the Patuxent River. It was a group of 32 or so people doing a sojourn paddle, and the trip leaders had apparently been warned by multiple sources that the river levels were too high.
There's also a new story about 2 men who're thought to have drowned on the Potomac near DC. They and some friends decided to go swimming in the river during a picnic or something. The friends were rescued but two are still missing.
I'll admit I did worry a bit about you down at Mason Neck. I'm sticking to reservoirs &/or the C&O until the levels come down.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kalidurga
When I used to row crew in highschool, we used to do some races on the Potomac along the Georgetown waterfront - the current used to be vicious there, so I've always avoided that part of the potomac for paddling. I can't imagine deciding that it would be a good place to swim.
At Mason neck, I had my friend with a sit on top with me - I was more worried about her. Her boat's kinda slow & fat, so I didn't want to take her somewhere where we had to do a lot of paddling to see something pretty - which the Occoquan reservoir is... At Mason neck, to get up the creek we went to, you pretty much maybe paddle about a half mile up the Potomac which you can do next to the shore, and then turn up into the creek and the creek's literally like 2 feet deep in a lot of spots - so if it's high water & 4 feet deep that didn't seem too threatening. I posted the pics on facebook if you didn't see 'em - just generally a pretty day & calm water. Mason neck's also pretty much instantly gratifying - you don't have to go far and you're almost guaranteed to see bald eagles, herons, & a ton of other wild life.
I do enough seashore paddling in waves & rough water, open water crossings, and just jumping out of my boat & practicing self rescues & rolls that I know I'm at least not going to lose my head if something goes wrong (and whether or not not losing my head is enough to help me, probably depends on the circumstances). And I usually have just in case stuff with me... spare paddle (if not 2), dry bag, bilge pumps, emergency blankets, ropes, throw bags, lights, matches, water & food, knife on pfd for in case I get tangled in lines, etc.... All of which is normally ridiculous overkill on a normal paddling trip, but they just live in my kayak (my biking backpack is similarly ridiculous overkill). However, I avoid rivers like the Potomac or ones with whitewater when they're high.
I made sure to stick close to my friend, and had a throw rope handy and some rope in case I needed to tow her... But that sit on top of hers is probably wide enough that I didn't really have to worry about her flipping.
I might bike over to the Monocacy this evening to see if I think it's safe to paddle on one evening this week, otherwise I'll probably head out to triadelphia reservoir or brighton dam one evening.
Awww . . . you guys are going again this year? I've been MIA from TE all season. Someone was asking about tubing on another board I frequent and this thread came up in the Google. :D I so would love to join you ladies this year but am 8 months pregnant with my first. Hope you ladies have fun!
Hurry up and get that kid out. Then you can join us in August;)
LOL She's not due till Labor Day weekend. No pun intended. . . ok, maybe pun intended but she really is due that Saturday. :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Zen
Congratulations!Quote:
Originally Posted by F8th637
Have we chosen a day yet?
We were talking about the last weekend of August but hadn't decided between Saturday or Sunday. I'd prefer Saturday.
At this point I can do either.
If there's gonna be a show here, lets get it on the road.
I'm just sayin' :rolleyes:
Are you volunteering to organize?Quote:
Originally Posted by Zen
Without having to go back through the whole thread, someone mentioned an outfitter where the tubing ends at the outfitter, without need for a bus back. Which one is this? Sounds like it could be nice.
Last I heard we were planning to do this the last weekend of August. I'd prefer it to be that Saturday.
I have no credit card.Quote:
Originally Posted by divingbiker
That's just the last step. You could figure out the trip details (outfitter, trip cost, tubing vs whitewater, etc), figure out the number going, gather the $ from everyone who is going, and someone else (with a credit card) could make the final reservation.Quote:
Originally Posted by Zen
I just know I'm not doing it this time!:) It was very hard to get the final count nailed down, and I'm not up to it.
I volunteer you to set up a western maryland rail trail ride sometime in the fall when the leaves are changing colors.Quote:
Originally Posted by Zen
no credit card needed for that one.
I volunteer to make the final reservation if someone else is willing to gather the options.
I had a note on my calendar to revive this thread when I get back from vacation mid-August. Based on Nicole's comment above, how about we at least set the date for Saturday, August 29th?
So, here we go...
When/Who: Saturday, 8/29- MDHillSlug, KD
Outfitter: To be determined. Who wants to do some research on where they drop off/pickup and what they cost?
Add me to the list, and I'll do some research. I was looking at two outfitters today (left the info at work, sorry....) and will research some more this week.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kalidurga
Sarah
Butt's-
$30.00 plus 6% tax plus $2.00 river usage fee
same section as last year
River Riders-
Full day trip (both rivers)-
$39 for our flat-water / white-water combination trip
( add a $4 per person user fee ($2.00 per trip) and 6% sales tax to all trip prices.)
$27 for Flat Water Only
or $27 for "whitewater" only
Same tax and $2.00 fee
The one Nicole is probably thinking about is River and Trail outfitters but they only take groups of 15 or more.
Butt's
Price is now $32 per person for the pvc tube, + 6% tax and $2 river fee. They mention a 10% discount for AAA but I don't know if everyone needs to individually show membership or if my membership would get everyone the discount
River Riders
Standard PVC tube is $27 ($25 w/online reservation), deluxe tube with backrest is $32 ($30 w/online reservation). $3 discount per person for groups of 10-19 people. all + 6% tax and $2 river fee.
We've been talking about doing this on Saturday August 29. Can we get a head count?
HillSlug, Slug daughter, maybe Slug partner
HillSlug,Quote:
Originally Posted by MDHillSlug
Slug daughter,
maybe Slug partner,
KD
I think I can join you guys for this. I haven't been tubing in ages!
If I'm reading this right, the location is either Harpers Ferry or Purcellville, with a mid-morning start time. Is this correct?
Sorry. Can't make this one.Quote:
Originally Posted by MDHillSlug
Take lots of pictures!
Harpers Ferry I believe. I'm not sure we ever talked start time but mid-late morning sounds good for me.Quote:
Originally Posted by ny biker
I was looking at the web sites for Butt's and River Riders for the info and I saw something that started at 10:00. But I didn't look too closely, so I might have gotten it wrong.Quote:
Originally Posted by MDHillSlug
Butt's says:
9am – 4pm *Shuttle leaves approximately every half hour
River Riders says:
departures every half hour on the :45 and :15 from 10:45-2:45
HillSlug,
Slug daughter,
maybe Slug partner,
KD
DB
The time of day depends on which outfitter we choose and whether we do the Shenandoah, the Potomac, or both (which some of us were considering).
So we're doing this in two weeks and there are five of us going? That will certainly make collecting $$ for the reservation much easier :D
So, do we want to stick with the same outfitter as last year, or try one of the others?
Who did we use last year?
Would someone like to state a preference for start time?
Last year we used River Riders out of Harpers Ferry. They and Butts both offer a choice of Potomac (whitewater) or Shenandoah (mostly flatwater, some very small rapids), but it looks as if only River Riders has a package for both rivers.
Let's figure out what everyone's river preferences are so we can figure out a time:
HillSlug, Slug daughter, maybe Slug partner --
KD -- Either river is fine with me. I was considering doing both, but if the weather's like today the heat will wipe me out after the first run.
DB --
nybiker, sfa, Zen, are any of you ladies (yes, I know you're not all "ladies") still planning on this? If so, please add your name and preference to the list so we can settle the details and make a reservation.
Regina, it won't be the same without you!
Daughter and I would prefer the white water + maybe the other in additionQuote:
Originally Posted by Kalidurga
I'd like to do both, but of the two I'd pass on whitewater.
OK, if we're going to do both we'll need a pretty early start, right?
River Riders requires a 10:00am arrival for the full-day, two-river trip. They begin with the Shenandoah at 11:00am, then you go back for lunch, then you do the Potomac at 2:15pm.
I would suggest we get commitments from everyone by the end of this week, then I'd be happy to call and make the arrangements.
So, this is what we have so far:
Saturday, August 29th
HillSlug, Slug daughter, maybe Slug partner -- Potomac, maybe Shenandoah
KD -- Shenandoah & Potomac (depending on the weather forecast)
DB -- Shenandoah, maybe Potomac
nybiker -- ??
sfa -- ??
Zen -- ??
Count me in still! I'd prefer just the Shenandoah, but if the majority wants to do both, I'll probably find the backbone to give the Potomac a try.
Sarah