2009 TE-DC Harper's Ferry tubing outing

[Cataboo]

Ah, I used to live that way, before I grew up and began to care about whether or not I had sleep, clean laundry, or that the cats were fed on time. I miss it

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.

And I've made sure not to get pets. My plants don't always get water when they should, though.

[Kalidurga]

Why sleep when I can abuse caffeine?

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

[Kalidurga]

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.

[Cataboo]

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.

[Kalidurga]

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.

[Cataboo]

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.

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.

[F8th637]

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. I so would love to join you ladies this year but am 8 months pregnant with my first. Hope you ladies have fun!