The Sunday paddle saw a record 27 boats. Cotton had invited recent graduates of the Soul Trakkers and so our numbers were plussed up with lots of enthusiastic young folks. We had only two OCs: Hendrik vO and yours truly. In K1s we had Barb B, Bob B, Mikey B, David C (aka Cotton) Alf C, Carrie C, (in town from Jackson Hole, WY) Dmitry D, Jack and Katelin F, Dominique F, Alpha G, Amina G, Diane H, Natalie H, Cheri L, Lynn M, Ashley McE, Wayne McD, Kathleen S, Risa S, John S, Ayomide T, Helen McD, Biki, Junko T.
CCA paddlers met largely at Pennyfield parking to set shuttle up to Riley's Lock, whence the trip started at about 10:30. CCA'ers ended by going back down to Pennyfield while Soul Trakkers and some CCA'ers came back up the C&O Canal from Blockhouse Point, traversed into the Potomac at Violettes Lock and returned to Rileys Lock. Several of us avoided the two big power boats launching side by side down the concrete ramp - by trying out the fancy aluminum exit dock for antique paddlers. It works!
To avoid the wood that has been in the GW Canal since Aug 25, we used the slanting side channel that brought us right below Surfing Ledge. Here we divided into three smaller groups. Thanks to Alf C and Wayne M for stepping up to lead these sections. A special thanks to Cotton, John Snitzer, and Ashley McE who helped a rank beginner who had only pool rolling sessions. So paddling in moving water was a real step up. The new paddlers all did exceptionally well and no exceptional carnage to report. The turtle count on the C&O Canal was 9 along with green herons diving, great blue herons and white egrets ambush fishing, masses of gold wingstem and white snakeroot on the river banks with purple ironweed along the canal. Also an abundance of persimmons was reported. Afterwards, there was a wonderful picnic with the food prepared by Lynn Miller. Many thanks to her for the fine repast.