On Tuesday, July 5, 2001, the remnants of the Tuesday Group who were not attending the Appalachian Trail Club biannual meeting decided to take it out on those in attendance and put on their most favorite paddle. We had a total of eight paddlers: Bob Hosang, Bob Mooney, Dick and Joann McGrew, John Gillikin, Brian, and a new couple, Don and Kathy Adam. The weather forecast from the prior day was terrible, calling for a 50% chance of rain. So once again, the skies were clear in the morning and we set off.
Cheryl Shortell helped shuttle cars to Brickyard Landing on the Chickahominy River. It is always a treat to see Bob Hosang curl up into the fetal position to get in and out of a VW Golf! Where was Bill Billings and his camera when we needed him? The start was uneventful, and the current was strong--going the same way we were headed. The first hour as we maneuvered the upper end of Diascund Creek, we could just steer and we would move at a good clip. John Gillikin had his Garmin along and he calculated a 1.7 to 2.0 mile current. Not bad. Brian had his heart rate monitor on and he didn't get above 80 while paddling. For the first hour and a half we meandered among lillypads, well-kneed cedars, alternating close creek banks and wide marshes. Then the houses started and we could see how the other half lives.
Dick McGrew and his wife arranged with a friend from Chickahominy Haven to take out at the mouth of Diascund Creek before entering the Chickahominy River. We all know Dick is dealing with an energy sapping condition but he paddled most of the way. He is keeping up his strength before taking on a new treatment regimen next month. He has been accepted to a program in Florida that has a very high success rate. The rest of the party paddled on and admired the heron, osprey, and eagle population on the Chickahominy as we paddled to River's Rest Marina and the Blue Heron Restaurant. We escaped the many bass boats plying the river (up and down, up and down, at top speed). They were looking for the fishing holes on the river in preparation for a fishing tournament starting on Friday. John Gillikin commented this was a great paddle--we get to eat real food! After lounging for lunch, we took off again. John and Brian took the long route around the Big Marsh Point--why? because we have never done it. It is a good paddle through the Marsh and lillypad fields. Bob and Bob and the Adams took the cut-through and got a head start back to Brickyard Landing. Unlike last week, we were not chased by lightning or thunder. Just sore bones harried a few. We took out to a nice breeze and a still bright sun. Bob H was nice enough to shuttle the Adam boats back to the put in, and we went our way. A good day.
Postscript: Last Saturday, Laurie Behm and Brian paddled around Jamestown Island again. The James River was placid, more placid than either had ever seen. What was new was the departure from Jamestown Beach. It is convenient for a put-in, has a wide sandy beach area, with good parking, a Porta John, and it is free. We have always put in before at the Marina. The Beach is the last right turn before the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry. Literally, the turn-in to the park is about 10 feet before the Ferry Guard Shack. A good place to put in if the James River whitecaps are under control.
Brian
P.S. With the weatherman making awful predictions and the Tuesday Group beating the odds with consistency, today I ignored the weatherman again and embarked on an abbreviated bike ride--abbreviated by the weather. And I turned around and biked 10 miles in the rain. This will improve our chances with the law-of-averages on good weather in the future. Unless Phyllis leads the trip.