News Briefs

• White's Ferry Closure: As reported in the Washington Post, this fixture of life along the river out past Poolesville closed Dec. 28 "after a legal dispute with a former wedding venue that argued the service trespassed on its land." (But does Google Maps have inside info? It calls the ferry only "temporarily" closed.) See the article (subscription possibly required).

• COVID and shuttling—good news: A study using computer simulations, according to the New York Times, suggests that "opening certain windows can create air currents that could help keep both riders and drivers safe from infectious diseases like Covid-19." See the New York Times article (subscription possibly required); the study itself, published in Science Magazine; and this Q&A posted on theconversation.com by the physicist who conducted the study.

• The New River Gorge, American Whitewater reports, is set to become a national park, thanks to designating language in year-end funding legislation passed by Congress this past December. Read more at American Whitewater, or in the Washington Post Travel Section (subscription possibly required).

• Calling all gauge geeks—new data site: The U.S. Geological Survey has posted a website, still labeled "experimental," that aims to provide "real-time information on water levels, weather and flood forecasts all in one place on a computer, smartphone or other mobile device," according to a USGS announcement. CCA gauge mavens are avidly clicking away to evaluate whether it is actually better than existing USGS tools, and whether it really lends itself to mobile use. But we can say this already: it sure does have lots of dots and colors. Look for a full assessment in the next Cruiser.

• Proposed Footbridge over Difficult Run: In a local area close to our hearts, a study has been completed to assess the feasibility of constructing a footpath in the Georgetown Pike corridor, from the Difficult Run Trail in Great Falls Park to the Madeira School frontage along Georgetown Pike in McLean. Such a footpath would provide an opportunity to complete a connection within the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail network, while also providing a connection to surrounding local trails and to neighborhoods in the McLean and Great Falls areas of Fairfax County. Building segments of this footpath within the park and along Georgetown Pike, including building a foot bridge over Difficult Run, would benefit the many people who want to travel by foot, bicycle, or horse within this popular trail network. Read the CCA report, which includes a link to the study.

• Happy 50^th! Celebrating 50^th anniversaries of late are the Keelhaulers Canoe Club (Northeast Ohio) and Paddle Canada, and coming up this year, Madawaska Kanu Centre. See the Keelhaulers account of its history, and the first in Paddle Canada's 50 Years, 50 People series. Madawaska was founded in 1972, and its latest email update sports a new 50th logo with the apt tagline, "Celebrating 50 years of getting bums in boats." Of course, the venerable CCA celebrated its 50th a long time ago (founded in 1956, the club is old enough for Medicare--and many of its members need it).

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