Come join your neighbors this Sunday, July 21, for the annual Cabin John Canoe Trip down the Potomac River. The five-hour, family-friendly adventure includes expert guides and canoe paddling instruction. There is a good chance paddlers will see herons, ospreys, ducks and maybe even an eagle.
The trip, sponsored and arranged by the Cabin John Citizen’s Association, will start at 10 a.m. at Old Anglers Inn. Take out will be at Lockhouse 10 in Cabin John in the mid-afternoon, roughly between 3:00 – 3:30 p.m. The lunch stop will probably be on the Virginia side by Scott’s Run Creek, which has a nice waterfall that has been a draw for intrepid participants on previous trips.
Expect to get wet in some fashion during the day. Canoes do tip over on occasion, usually without much warning. The trip route will avoid Yellow Falls, which can be somewhat difficult. But expect to have fun going through Stubblefield Falls, just upstream of the Beltway Bridge. It’s wavy and bouncy but no rocks. CJCA plans to get pictures of paddlers as they go through the falls, so it’s an opportunity of a lifetime for a nice action photo.
Fees are $15 per person or a maximum of $30 per canoe. These fees, along with the CJCA subsidy, pay for paddling instructors from Calleva Outdoor Adventures and associated costs. The trip is limited to Cabin John residents and friends. Canoes and kayaks are available for a $30 rental fee, which includes life jackets. Canoe paddling instruction is strongly recommended for all and begins at the River’s edge about 10:00 a.m.
Bring your own lunch, beverages and sunscreen. As always, the mystery dessert is provided by CJCA and past participants are sworn to secrecy so that the dessert remains a mystery to all first-timers. Bring your own canoe/kayak or let us know that you will need to rent one from Calleva.
If you are planning to participate, it is very important that you notify Burr Gray (burrgray@aol.com) as soon as you know you will be coming so that we can arrange for the appropriate number of guides. In your email, please include the following:
(1) Number of people in your group, plus the ages of any children
(2) Whether you will be renting or bringing your own canoes or kayaks
(If you are supplying your own, please let us know the number of canoes and/or kayaks you will have for your group.)
(3) Level of paddling expertise for each participant
(4) Whether you will rent or bring your own canoe/kayak
(5) Phone number where you can be reached the morning of the trip and an e-mail address.
Detailed information will be sent out as the trip is finalized.