I was happy to join the first day of the James River Batteau Festival with some of my favorite river people, #PaddlingFriendSarah and #PaddlingFriendShelli. It was a reunion of 3 or 4 years in the making.
Just a word about paddle friends.
If you paddle with good people over the years, they become your best friends and your most trusted confidants. I am blessed to have these people in my life.
I thank them for their friendship over the years.
I hope we have many more paddling miles together yet to come. Even though we might only see or paddle with each other one or a few times per year (or, sadly, less,) when we do, we pick up right where we left off and continue writing the story.
“The James River Batteau Festival is an eight-day event featuring authentic replicas of the sleek, shallow-draft merchant boats upon which the Old Dominion rode to its first era of economic prosperity. Beginning on the waterfront of Lynchburg the festival moves along a 200-year-old route, stopping each day in the historic towns and communities along the way. Each evening is a celebration of the cultural heritage of this legendary river basin in music, song, dance and storytelling, plus lots of plain old-time Virginia socializing.”
And yes, June 14, Flag Day, is also my parents’ anniversary. 67 years married today. The best people in the world who formed me into existence and also formed me into the man I am. George and Martha, I cannot thank you enough for all you’ve given me in life.
I might be the most blessed person on earth.
Dave The Kayaker | Kayaking & Outdoor Adventures | Health & Fitness 