Whitewater on the Susquehanna River

Spent some of Saturday afternoon being escorted down the Susquehanna River from Bainbridge to Marietta by two members of the Lancaster Canoe Club, Sally Gajecki and Nancy Peterson.  Both are veterans of whitewater throughout the eastern US, and know their way around, over and through whitewater. Me? I can think of better ways to die.

Both of them were bored, I'm sure, with the little ripples along the way. But there was some urgency to the trip, since thunderstorms lurked behind us the whole way and we wanted to finish before they hit. Sally played in the water with her little kayak with Brunner Island's belching steam in the background. Nancy, who hadn't been in her whitewater canoe for a while, tried to scrape off some rust. Strong winds were whipping across the river, and Nancy's high, banana-shaped canoe that is so good for maneuvering in whitewater became a water toy and was pushed all over the river.

The two finished the quick trip with Sally keeping the nose of the canoe straight with a tow rope.

Looked rather comical to us rookies who didn't understand the problems Nancy's boat was having.

Where was I? Alongside, smiling at the scene and thankful that I barged through the ripples without drowning.