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Trip Reports

Sun, 21 July - VL Loop - 3.4'
Alford Cooley
     We were eight on this hot day, advertised as peaking at 99 degrees.  Our 8:30 start lowered some of the pain level.  Wayne, Peter Ryan, Barb, Alf, Tim Brown (whom we'd met on the Loop last week), John Snitzer, Adam Issenberg & son Mickey on a 9.4' SUP - Is this a first for this trip?  What was a first was the 3.4 foot level - the river's been considerably above that all year.   So, more features to play with. and challenge.  In that sense, Surfing Ledge knocked over a couple of us as we pushed the limit.  Back up the C&O and out.  Met three other boaters on the way.

    John & I went to inspect what had happened to our Sandy Beach Steps project after the Monday, 8 July downpour and found to our relief no major damage.  Because of today's well advertised heat we found that there were only a fifth as many people in the park as usual.  Along the way we discovered that the C&O had restored three gates: Lock 19, 18, and 17.- not cheap - so we're wondering if they intend to lock the Charles F Mercer barge down there and back.
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