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My experience on the Schuylkill
River sojourn 2001
By Alice M. Lang of Royersford PA
 his
was my second year on the Schuylkill River sojourn. My
skills had improved this year so I was much more relaxed.
I took a different friend along this time, but we had
never had the chance to get out and practice our skills.
The night before we left we had a strong lightening and
thunderstorm, dropping about an inch and a half of much
needed rain, bringing the river up to a good springtime
level.
 ome
people camped out that night but I was glad to have checked
into a local hotel. We met up with the group early for
breakfast, and after a safety briefing we shoved off in
the fast current with about 70 canoes and kayaks. Since
I was a lot more relaxed having done this the year before,
I got to enjoy the beauty of the flora and fauna of the
mountain area. My friend and I are avid birders, and we
were kept busy at each bend of the river as we pointed
out hawks and vultures flying high above us. Ducks with
their young swam away from our group and birds were flitting
past us diving for insects, we had so much to see, we
hardly noticed by lunchtime that a group of boy scouts
joined us for the afternoon.
 veryone
in the large group was so patient waiting for those with
fewer skills that got hung upon a few rocks. Last year
I was the one that need the extra help, but this year
I was able to maneuver through a dam that was breached
during a storm, while the safety boat scheered and congratulated
us for making it over the large wave.
 e
were able to go for four of the six days of the sojourn.
The last day we had three dams to portage and 20 miles
to paddle in flat water, the day was long and tiring,
but we said our good byes and sadly ended our trip the
night before the remaining group would enter Philadelphia
and the Women's Dragon Boat team would be escorting the
Schuylkill River sojourn from the Philadelphia Canoe club
to Lloyd Hall at Boathouse Row.
For more information on the Schuylkill Sojourn visit http://www.greenworks.tv/sojourn/spotlight.htm
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