21 April Day 5

Brocks Gap to Timberville
The day begins with some fog and soon the sun breaks through. It is a welcome sight from yesterday's rain. The previous day was filled with fast water and rapids. The water level has dropped a little today but it is still fast. After floating through some nice rapids and the Route 259 bridge at Cootes Store, we approach our first major obstacle, Battle Bluff low water bridge. We pull into a little cove just before the bridge on the right and beach the canoe. I grab my camera, a snack and walk to the bridge for a closer look and a photo.

The water level is high enough that it's flowing over the bridge. After some discussion, we agree on the line we want and get back into the canoe for the ride. We approach the bridge straight on. The front of the canoe slams through the first big wave and water pours all over us. We ride out the next few rapids and look for a place to pull over and do some water bailing. The canoe took on a lot of water but stayed afloat. The canoe has been tough and able to get through fine under some difficult situations and weather. Thanks to Josh Warner at Blue Ridge Mountain Sports in Warrenton for their help in finding me the canoe.

After we get all the water out of the canoe, clouds move in and it begins to rain. Which means I won't be getting my camera out as often as I would like.

This concludes the first part of today's journey. I will include a photo of the low water bridge we rode.