14 of us met early at Violettes Lock to beat the heat and paddle the GW canal loop. We had a wide variety of water craft and some perturbations on the loop which worked out beautifully. Tim T., Alf and Rita were at Violettes to give us a nice send off. 15 paddlers: G&G Quam, Wayne McD., Barb B., Pam W., Hendrik V. O., Chad D., Kirschner 4 (Jonathan, Brigitte, Jessica, Daphne), Kathleen S., Tim B., Mike B., Mike K. in 4 OC-1s, 1 OC-2, 8 K-1s and one SUP. The Kirschner 4 set a family shuttle and paddled from Rileys Lock to Pennyfield Lock. They somehow caught up with Pam who had stopped in Georgetown to aid an injured hawk, and after having it collected by animal rescue, carried on to Violettes. The five of them caught up to the rest of us at the surfing hole.
Weather was hot, hazy and humid. Water was hot and level was 3.15 ft. The logs are still in Diagonal rapid and at this newest low level it is best run river right. Up river, there is still wood and debris blocking river right at a rapid (not sure if it is named), so you must go left. Again, at this level it is pretty obvious. We made our way back across the river and up the C&O canal, which is getting skinnier with grass and cattail growth, but is still comfortably full of water. Not sure where all the turtles were today. Yet another nice morning on the GW canal.