1. The largest smallmouth I ever caught - Jan. 28, 1999,
canoed below Violettes lock, set up shop on an island and a minnow caught this huge smallie.
2. A father was canoeing in BeaverDam Reservoir, near Ashburn, my friend knew him.
No PFD. The dog and the kid (PFD) swam to shore. Father drowned.
Outside temp was 70 degrees - water was about 45.
3. The lady last year jumping in the canoe to get a ball during super windy conditions off of South River (?) last year.
4. If you were that lady, in high winds, alone in a canoe, -
MOVE UP. Move the weight forward, the wind whips your
stern around a bit, but that is how to do it. Weight forward, bow into wind, you will be switching paddling sides alot.
5. Oct.9 like 1992 or so. Friend and I paddled from Brunswick to Point of Rocks and listened to a Redskins game on a portable radio.
When we got out there was a family who had tipped over and were soaking wet and
really cold. I can't remember helping them.
6. 1996 ish -I pulled my canoe out at Harper's Ferry and a FAMILY is soaking wet, in the rain, at the pullout. September time frame - getting toward night -
young children with BLUE LIPS - they LOST THEIR KEYS!!
They were Wet and Freezing. The parents said "No" to my pushing the kids in the car - until they realized they were screwed over, freezing and I was the lifeline. I fired up my car and the heat and piled them all in there..
tied the canoe to the top, and drove them home.
5. Don't Be the Hero -
Once young and almost dumb I came to the bottom of the Shenandoah Staircase and I asked other boaters "How is the Potomac?"
You see, I parked near that gas station/ fireworks place river right.
They said the Potomac was running high. I was worried.
Carrying and walking all that way was not happening - so
I got down to the bottom of the Staircase, the end of the Shenandoah as it meets the Potomac, indeed, was running super fast -
I was freaked out, did the proper thing, Front Ferry to the Maryland Shore, then front ferry back over the river again over to the bridge area where my car was parked.
I was solo, alone, and chose the correct, safe way to GTFO.
You see, the shorter way was simply to sneak on river right, after all, my car was on that side - HOWEVER -
my experience was on the far side, been through all the whitewater, surfed Whitehorse Rapid, etc., on that side. So I know that side.
River right is usually shallow, so I have no idea of that side.
6. Wear your PFD. Wear your PFD.
7. Wear your PFD.
canoed below Violettes lock, set up shop on an island and a minnow caught this huge smallie.
2. A father was canoeing in BeaverDam Reservoir, near Ashburn, my friend knew him.
No PFD. The dog and the kid (PFD) swam to shore. Father drowned.
Outside temp was 70 degrees - water was about 45.
3. The lady last year jumping in the canoe to get a ball during super windy conditions off of South River (?) last year.
4. If you were that lady, in high winds, alone in a canoe, -
MOVE UP. Move the weight forward, the wind whips your
stern around a bit, but that is how to do it. Weight forward, bow into wind, you will be switching paddling sides alot.
5. Oct.9 like 1992 or so. Friend and I paddled from Brunswick to Point of Rocks and listened to a Redskins game on a portable radio.
When we got out there was a family who had tipped over and were soaking wet and
really cold. I can't remember helping them.
6. 1996 ish -I pulled my canoe out at Harper's Ferry and a FAMILY is soaking wet, in the rain, at the pullout. September time frame - getting toward night -
young children with BLUE LIPS - they LOST THEIR KEYS!!
They were Wet and Freezing. The parents said "No" to my pushing the kids in the car - until they realized they were screwed over, freezing and I was the lifeline. I fired up my car and the heat and piled them all in there..
tied the canoe to the top, and drove them home.
5. Don't Be the Hero -
Once young and almost dumb I came to the bottom of the Shenandoah Staircase and I asked other boaters "How is the Potomac?"
You see, I parked near that gas station/ fireworks place river right.
They said the Potomac was running high. I was worried.
Carrying and walking all that way was not happening - so
I got down to the bottom of the Staircase, the end of the Shenandoah as it meets the Potomac, indeed, was running super fast -
I was freaked out, did the proper thing, Front Ferry to the Maryland Shore, then front ferry back over the river again over to the bridge area where my car was parked.
I was solo, alone, and chose the correct, safe way to GTFO.
You see, the shorter way was simply to sneak on river right, after all, my car was on that side - HOWEVER -
my experience was on the far side, been through all the whitewater, surfed Whitehorse Rapid, etc., on that side. So I know that side.
River right is usually shallow, so I have no idea of that side.
6. Wear your PFD. Wear your PFD.
7. Wear your PFD.