Having gotten lost on the Violettes/GW loop last week and paddling home by moonlight, exploration seemed appropriate tonight. At the record breaking Sunday trip this past weekend (T Tilson 9/16), Ashley described what we have always considered the left channel option around the multiyear log jam on the regular route (a.k.a. the Jacuzzi route) as "the middle channel." Hmmm. This implies yet another option further to the north.
So tonight, Barb, Miki, and I went exploring. We paddled across the river almost to the entrance adjacent to what's-his-name's golf course then ran down through the dam and into the old GW Canal. That joins with the traditional route just below Surfers Ledge. Almost immediately, we stayed far left and found ourselves in a delightful little stream, slightly larger than the right and middle channels. It is reasonably continuous and dumps into the Potomac about 150 yards upstream from the regular junction. We had enough water (LF > 2.7 feet). I think the sweet spot would be between 2.85 and 3.5'. This seems like a fine alternative to the other options. I'm amazed to find it now after paddling the Loop a bazillion times.
Natural history sidebar: the two eagles were back in their trees just below the dam, looking fierce. We saw two flavors of heron and white egrets fishing rather than gathering in their evening tree down at the bottom. Cormorants were mistrustful of us and paddled away trying to look unconcerned. I heard but did not see a kingfisher. The golds of fall are full out, masses of goldenrod and wingstem. Much nicer looking than the cultivated azaleas we plant. Barb reported that the persimmons are in.