Date: 2004-06-03
From: Port Republic

To: Elkton
Miles today: 0.0

"All decisions are made on insufficient evidence"Day 2 of River TripWell, what an interesting turn of events last night provided.The guys didn't get back from Harper's Ferry until it was nearly dark. Now, in hindsight, the logical and sensible thing would have been to set up camp where we were and head out first thing this morning. If only we had been logical and sensible.We didn't actually get on the water until nearly 11:30pm. First set of rapids, tame. Then we come to a dead end in the river with a harder rapid to the right: the one we need to go through. The first two canoes in the fleet made it through, lots of yelling and shouting, but hard to hear over the noise of the rapids. The third canoe went before us as we had decided to hang back until the moon came out from behind the cloud.All of a sudden there were yells and screams and thuds that didn't sound very good. People calling out to Trey and him not answering. Candy Boy and I hightailed it into the rapids and found out very quickly what the problem was - and soon joined in the problem when we broadsided Trey's canoe and were tipped out! We had Trey's dog Cleo in the boat with us the first priority was to make sure she was safe. Then onto Trey. He was trapped with a rope around his leg. Once he was freed, we then had to do a head count. Wilson, who had been in the canoe with Trey, had made his way to the far shore - after disentangling himself from the rope that had been wrapped around his neck. No, canoeing the river at night was not a good idea!The problem was caused by a tree stuck in the middle of the rapid. This tree had already claimed one victim - there was a canoe already wrapped around it. Seeing the rapid in the daylight today, it didn't look quite as nasty as it did the previous night.Casualties for the evening's trip: one sneaker, one esky (cooler - found this morning), one Croc, one hat, one headlamp and one canoe.Needless to say, we were all a little shaken up when we got to shore. We had to end up setting up our tents in a dry river bed - not too comfortable but we were not in any frame of mind to care. Most of us were a little sore when we woke up this morning, possibly the residue of the adrenaline that was coursing through our veins last night. All bar two people ended up in the water, either by accident or with rescue and gear retreival.This morning, we had five people bail out of the canoe trip (plus Cleo). Trey, Uncle Ben, Grass, Wilson and WAD have decided not to continue, but will meet us in Harper's Ferry. As we were one canoe short, it would have meant putting extra people and gear in the remaining canoes...we may be careless but we are not idiots. Today, what a gorgeous day to start a river trip! Sunshine, clear skies...you could not ask for better.We didn't end up pushing off until after midday today with all the faffing about, switching gear in canoes, people deciding not to continue, re-organising seating in canoes etc. Our fleet is now down to 3 - the 'SS Side Track Cafe' is still the lead ship in the flotilla with 'The Tank That Sank' (later to be renamed 'The Wet Dream') and the 'Hinden-Tanic'. The latter two canoes are the borrowed ones that have to go back to Harper's Ferry. The 'Red Rocket' was left on the shore, to be picked up by Trey when he gets his Jeep back from there.Today's sailing was great. A couple of rapids but nothing too serious. I think it frustrates Candy Boy that I am a novice, but he is being patient and giving advice and tips as we go along. Also, the fact that for some reason I mix up my left and right under pressure, may have something to do with the frustration...hmmm.Our crews for the boats are thus: Candy Boy and I in the 'SS Side Track Cafe', Dig Dug and Backdraft in' The Tank That Sank' and Wonder Boy in the 'Hinden-Tanic'.We paddled until nearly 6pm tonight. The area we were in for most of the day belongs to Merck - of Merck, Sharpe and Dome Pharmaceuticals - and had 'No Trespassing' signs posted all along both sides of the river. Finally we found a public park area which also had a covered pavillion. Dinner tonight was quesadillas, courtesy of Dig Dug - and they were good. As Trey has closed up the shop, we have a lot of supplies from the shop which needed to be used, as they would have been thrown out otherwise.The covered pavillion proved very beneficial during the night when it started to rain...those that opted to sleep under the stars ended up joining us on the picnic tables before the night was through.Some local teens pulled up while we were unloading - they gave us strange looks when we asked them where we were. We were told 'Elkton' and they replied 'yes' to Candy Boy's question of "Does Elkton have a McDonalds?". He managed to score a lift into town from the kids and brought us all cheese-burgers back - this was of course in addition to our quesadillas! The hiker appetite has kicked in and we haven't even begun hiking again yet!