We had a cast of thousands, well 18 anyway, which divided into three smaller groups: fast, five including Tim and Tony; explorers, two who came with me on the left left channel; and traditionalists, everyone else who did the usual route at a relaxed pace. Something for everyone.
LF gauge was 3.9', a nice level.. After running the shorter steeper route, my group caught a rapid and a half on the main Potomac, the lower end of the Seneca Breaks section.
There was a MD DNR boat roaring around in the flatwater above dam #2 with guys in hoodies and a NRP presence in the Violettes parking lot. Was someone recreating at the golf course after a hard week of presidenting? Paddlers were not approached.
Three thoughts. First, 3.9' is a nice level for this run. Attainment looked reasonable. There were surfing waves on the LL channel an in the rapids on the main stem Potomac. Second, the 8:45 start time gave us ample parking and a few degrees less heat. Nobody had to paddle in pjs so the groans about the early start time were just grumbling. Finally, the paddling thought for the day came from an old piano teacher who said "you can't learn to play Rachmaninoff by playing Rachmaninoff. Translated for paddlers, there is always an opportunity to seek out the most challenging line on any stream. Rather than just floating down and catching a few eddies, you can seek out smaller eddies, harder ferries, and tight carved turns. You can attain back up short sections for a redo. Rather than just running straight through Surfers Ledge, you can catch the small eddy on river R and ferry across just above the drop, practicing a skill you might want to have on a new run someday. Paddling is not just about maneuvering your boat. it is about getting stronger and fitter and reading and interpreting the river. Practicing those skills and working on boat skills at Violettes will make us all better paddlers elsewhere.
Note: Risa Shimoda, who knows how, is running a series of four Sunday sessions for women on skill development and technique on Sundays starting 6 July. Check the calendar. This is an exceptional opportunity.