July 16, 2010 - Locust Grove, Virginia - The Great Germanna Canoe Adventure made history with cool waters, bright sun and lots of fun on the Rapidan River.

Steve Fishback did a phenomenal job getting the canoe adventure organized and the outfitter, Virginia Outdoor Center, provided all the equipment with the energetic paddlers providing the power, helped along by the flow of the river.

All know the tune and the words to the famous song, "Row, row, row your boat":

Row, row, row your boat,
Gently down the stream.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
Life is but a dream.

And row we did!  Using the Germanna Visitor Center boat launch on the Rapidan as our starting point, armed with instructions from our guides, food loaded in the canoes, life jackets securely fastened, we splashed into the river at 10:00 a.m. bathed in the bright morning sun.

Most adventurers were in canoes	There was also a kayak

The start of the journey was filled with anticipation waiting to see what adventures lay ahead down the Rapidan River where our ancestors undoubtedly first fished, hunted and otherwise enjoyed this ancient waterway.

In the middle of the river taking it easy	Or paddling close to the bank

The sun accompanied us for the entire trip unless you could paddle close to the banks and steal a little shade from the beautful trees that lined the course of the river.

Idyllic tree-lined banks beckoned us on	Lush vegetation added to the beauty

 
We were not alone on this adventure.  Nature offered up her bounty not only in stunning vistas but also in a varied wildlife, from majestic eagles, darting fish, peaceful blue heron, meandering ducks, and many other denizens of the Rapidan.  We weren't able to capture it all in photos but some we did.

Not your everyday views	Some wildlife tried to get into the canoe!

Paddling around rocks, avoiding the shallow areas that might grab your canoe, and keeping the canoe going in the right direction, built up an appetite.  All the adventurers were happy to pull ashore, rest, savor the delicious Honeybaked Ham boxed lunch with beverage, and just wallow in the cool waters.

Lunch was great, the water was great, the scenery was great, the company was great, well, it was just a great stop!

Mermaids in the river	Mom and tadpole in the river

With batteries recharged, our intrepid crew cleaned up, loaded up, and geared up for the remainder of our canoe adventure.

We had been rolling, rolling, rolling on the river (credit to Creedence Clearwater Revival) and we knew we experienced a memorable adventure. We were immersed in a wondrous cornucopia of nature's beauty, we became part of the river, we tasted nature at its finest.  And we were tired.

Our crew, like horses to the barn, charged home, memory banks full, landed our canoes, helped load them up, sat down just pleased to be riding in an air-conditioned vehicle back to the Visitor Center.

Here is the tired but happy group of river rats, ready for that shower and some rest:

So, start making your plans to be a part of the 2011 Great Germanna Canoe Adventure!

Mark your calendars for the July 15 - 17, 2011 Germanna Conference and Reunion, where a new adventure is around every bend.

See you next year!