My first real downriver trip of 2024 – Dave The Kayaker

#PaddlingFriendShelli invited me to join the Y-NOT Floaters out of Roanoke, VA on the Shenandoah River this past Sunday. I jumped at the chance to reconnect with #PFS after a year of not seeing or paddling with her after the 2023 Nelson Downriver Race and also meet some new people on a section of river I have never paddled.

Plus the allure of a coordinated shuttle with experienced paddlers is just too compelling to pass up.

It was a slightly chilly and windy day, but I was fine in my shorty wet suit while everyone else seemed to be in full dry suits.

I paddled my Prijon Seayak and we stopped at a wonderful spot to eat lunch, as shown in the video below where I walk through the tunnel. My lunch was my new standard river lunch: two packets of white meat StarKist Premium White Chicken with a packet of UltraFat Nut Butter from NSNG Foods, which all easily fits into the pocket of my PFD. I just need to remember to also bring a spoon.

This is the section of The Shenandoah River from Port Republic to Island Ford, and while there were sections of flat water, (a little too much for my liking,) there were several sections of rapids with wave trains to keep it interesting and provide a splash of early-Spring water in my lap.

I now have a funky, shorty wet suit tan on my arms which drew attention in the gym today, but I’m looking forward to more river trips outside of training, as this is where the real love of the sport is derived–meeting new people and sharing our love for paddling while experiencing the peace and solitude that rivers provide for those willing to embrace being one with nature and each other, away from technology and electronic distractions.

And, yes, I know what you are going to say. But I bring the electronics along to share the experience with you. The electronics spend most of the trip in a dry bag in the fore hatch, turned off and unreachable.