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Published: August 28th 2008
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Today we’re going to go for a float on the river. We’ve brought two kayaks and two inner tubes. The lady at the front desk told me yesterday that the river was “very, very low” and there was only one 3-mile section of the river (#16-#19) that was “even runnable”. She warned, “you wouldn’t even want to attempt to do any of the other parts”. Coincidentally (or not) this also just happened to be the section they were offering transportation to that weekend. For $60.00 they would drop us off and pick us up. Sixty bucks? We didn’t even need our boats transferred. All we needed was a ride from the end back to the start. We saw numerous people on the river yesterday. It couldn’t possibly be as bad as she described. After yesterday’s experiences with this lady, we agreed it was best to search out a second opinion. Back at the campground, a kid with long dread-locks was loading up tubes and boats onto huge trailers. He informed me that the whole river was indeed “runnable”, and that there were just a few low sections where we might drag a bit. This sounds more like it.
I’m pretty
sure I’m alone in this in our family, but I really do enjoy the thrill of the unknown. I love reading about a place or looking at a map, forming an image of the place in my own mind, and then heading out to see what it really looks like. We picked out a relatively easy looking section from the map (#8 to #11), scouted out the put-in and take-out areas, and loaded up the Jeep. I am stoked. Having only one vehicle presented a bit of problem, however, as I would have no transportation for the 2 miles back to the put-in spot. No problem, I will run it. I regret not having my running shoes, but figure I will be fine in my creek shoes as long as I wore socks; and if someone happened to drive along and was willing to pick me up along the way, even better. The first half mile was straight up a mountain and was the steepest hill I have ever run. I managed to make it the whole way up the hill without breaking stride, although, as I somewhat jokingly told Karin later, if I would have been going any slower
at some points I would have been running in place.
As I rounded the final corner, Karin was standing there with her stopwatch. “Twenty-seven minutes” she announces. Not too bad considering I had to stop at the campground and get the camera along the way. I hopped into the river for a quick cool down and we loaded the girls into the boats. It was a picture perfect day, sunny, mid-80’s. We paddled, relaxed, swam. I love seeing the girls enjoying the water like this. Rylee asks to wear my “fish spotting glasses” and proceeds to point out the biggest fish of the day. Karin teaches Paige how to paddle the kayak, and we’re amazed at how quickly she picks it up. We all switch places several times throughout the trip, and I even sit in the tube behind my kayak as Paige paddles us down river by herself. It’s great fun.
The Shenandoah is just an unbelievably beautiful river to float on. For me, it combines the size and breadth of the Susquehanna with water that is as clean and clear as the Yellow Breeches. You also get the added benefit of being in a valley surrounded
by enormous mountains. What a spectacular site it is to come around the bend of the river and see a 300ft sheer rock cliff in front of you! We saw many of the usual suspects on the river including turtles, blue heron, fish, and a snake. We also were lucky enough to have two gigantic bald eagles soar right over us scanning the water for prey. All told, the float took about 3 hours and we saw very few people; just a gorgeous day all around.
When we get back to camp, we partake in one of the girl’s favorite family camping traditions - the treasure hunt. It all started last year when we camped on an island in the Susquehanna. I informed them that I had come across a map on the Internet with directions to a “hidden treasure” that it had been placed there many years ago by a pirate. Needless to say, they were beyond thrilled. Now every time we go camping, the girls excitedly ask if there is a “hidden treasure” at this campsite too. Of course there is! Unfortunately, this year’s hidden treasure turns out to be very easy to find; too easy in fact, according to Rylee. She suddenly seems skeptical. “How has this been here all summer long and no one has been able to find it?” she asks quizzically. She also wonders why she didn’t spot it yesterday when she explored down this very same path. The final straw occurs when she spots a piece of the candy on the floor of my car that is the exact same as what was in the treasure box. Whoops. She is getting too smart for me, time to step up my game.
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