Float For Independence Trip Report!

The day was perfect, nice and sunny but not sweltering. We had just a couple of last minute changes, and ended up with 14 canoes, 12 ‘kids’ (participants), 10 volunteers, and 4 Park Board staff.

From the first minute on the water, there were squirt gun battles, shouting and laughter. It was so great for all of us to be together again on this epic float trip that we all love. We worked up an appetite and soon came to our lunch spot and settled in for some tasty sandwiches, chips, and a mega cookie. The rest of lunchtime was filled with splashing, squirting, frisbee, wading and back-floating, until it was time to head downstream. 

After just a short time, it started sprinkling unexpectedly. We decided to pull over on a gravel bar very close to the take out and wait to see what it was going to do. We waited away from the water, under a tiny bit of cover and watched a several groups of people hurry to the take out as a squall passed over us. It did not last long ,but dumped a lot of water! Blue skies came next and, after we pumped gallons of water from our canoes, we paddled the short distance to the take out.  

The kids were thankful to change out of their wet clothes and go to the new NRO River Store and get their ice cream. All in all, it was another great Float for Independence, even with the adventure of the pop-up squall!     

Thank you, thank you, thank you, to all the volunteers who help make this a success. 
It couldn’t have happened without you! 

See you all next year!  
~Terri~