Whitewater Tubing on the Potomac in Harpers Ferry - $52
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Are you sick of me dragging you on an arduous hike in the blazing heat and not even getting the good payoff of a scenic view because everything is overgrown? Fine. Then come up to Harpers Ferry, plop your butt in a tube and enjoy the majesty of the Potomac River valley, along with some exciting bumps and splashes. I've planned enough river trips so far this year with Paddle Something, so I'm letting the professionals take care of this one. Just give $52 to River Riders in Harpers Ferry and they will handle the rest.
They stick you on a bus, hand you a tube, send you 3 miles down a river, then scoop you back up. The memories will last a lifetime; the bruised butt will be fine by Wednesday.
Please book the White Water Tubing at River Riders in Harper's Ferry, WV for the 11:00 departure. I recommend the standard tube, not the deluxe or the "tracker" duckie, but to each their own. I find the headrest on the deluxe gets in the way if you want to doggie-paddle through the flats. And the paddle that comes with the tracker tube is super crappy and just gets in the way, really.
There is a hiccup since we are doing the whitewater trip. Apparently they will not let you book a single person online. For safety reasons, you need a partner. So you've got two options if you're flying solo:
1. Call River Riders at 304-535-2663 and book over the phone, telling them that you are joining Matt Abel/Paddle Something.
2. Post in the comments below that you are seeking a sign-up buddy and then one of you books online for two people.
IMPORTANT: You NEED real shoes - no flip-flops or crocs. Trust me on this. You should really also bring a metal or reusable plastic water bottle with a carabiner to hook onto the tube handle. A small dry bag is also a good idea, but not a large one. And as always, you need to WEAR, not just carry your PFD the entire time. Bring your own if you have one, as I presume the rental ones might get musty this late in the season.
And FYI: your butt only gets bruised if you forget to lift it up in the rapid.