Spring Paddling on the James

OVERVIEW

With the beuatiful weather we are supposed to have and all the rain we are supposed get next week, it’s time for a kayak trip. I’m going to head down to the James River this coming Saturday (April 2nd) and do the Richmond section. This is an amazing section of river because you get to paddle some fun whitewater with a beautiful city-scape on the horizon the whole way. It’s rated class III-IV, and will likely be at a pretty fun level if we get some rain. I don’t plan on cancelling due to rain unless there are thunderstorms or the like. We’ll get wet anyways, so whats a little rain? In order to sign up you must be able to roll and have had enough experience to be able to paddle class IV rapids. We’ll probably play around a bunch in the rapids, so its a good opportunity to practice ferrying and eddying skills, and maybe even learn some new kayak tricks. If you see the trip is full, sign up anyway, we might be able to get more drivers and take more people. I’ll be at echols at 11:30 to pick up anyone going, then we can go load up boats. The club will provide gear (kayak, paddle, PFD, sprayskirt, helmet), you just need a bathing suit, sunscreen, a towel, change of clothes, maybe a snack, and some sweet kayak moves. Check out http://www.americanwhitewater.org/rivers/id/1952/ if you are unsure what the river is like, there are some pretty good descriptions and pictures for you to look at.