West Virginia Too

Got down to West Virginia for the 4th of July to see the grandparents and the cousins.

Fun trip.

While there, my Dad and I decided to take all the girls paddling down the Greenbrier river. He has a canoe there at the house (though he’d never used it), and I had brought Jen’s and Abigail’s kayaks. The plan was for my dad to take the cousins in his canoe, Abigail in her kayak, Lauren and I in/on Jen’s, then paddle from Fort Spring to Alderson. He described it as taking “about an hour” to do, but as we drove to the put in I quickly realized this was longer than an hour.

It was around 5 hours.

The description from the local outfitter is as follows (we did both sections):
 

Fort Spring to Greenbrier River Campground

Class II water. This section will challenge your paddling skills, make your heart beat faster, and give you a feeling of accomplishment. This is our most popular trip and it will give you a sample of the best rapids on the river.

• Length in River Miles 2.5
• Paddling Time 1.5 hrs.

 

Greenbrier River Campground to Alderson

Class II & III water and during the spring season Class III. This trip during the spring is for the experienced canoeist looking for excitement. Rapids are technical and fast running. This is a very popular trip and gives you something to brag about.

• Length in River Miles 5
• Paddling Time 2 hrs.

First of all, Abigail did awesome. My dad and I not so much. There was a lot to keep track of and get stressed over. After swamping the kayak twice, we decided my dad and I both would man the canoe while pulling the kayak. Abigail made it a while, before her boat was also tied up behind and all the girls were inside the canoe – except for when we’d approach a rapid and she’d hop out to swim to her boat and shoot the rapid before tying up again and climbing back into the canoe.

Definitely a learning experience and an adventure. We all survived and had some decent fun in the end. Unfortunately no pictures, which is probably better considering the mom’s probably aren’t too keen to see what the girls made it through.

Besides some dirt biking in the yard that was about it for this year’s trip.

Except for this…

The annual 4th of July parade got a little weird near the end when some haunted Halloween outfit came strolling by. I was pretty freaked for the kids, but they managed it just fine. I guess after the Gilligan’s Island type trip down the river, this was nothing.

– b