No canoe trip in the history of Boy Scouting could have been more enjoyable than the one Troop 1131 took on October 24, 1999.  The weather was perfect, the trees were beautiful, and our spirits were high as we arrived at James River Canoe Livery. The owner of the place gave us a very informative briefing, explaining the different techniques of canoeing, what to do and what not to do in an emergency, and how to avoid problems. After about an hour or so, we drove over to the James River, where we picked partners and boarded our canoes. No one capsized or fell into the water while pushing off, so as soon as everyone was ready we started, with Mr. Bill B. in the lead and Mr. Alan D. in the rear.

       There were quite a few rapids, but all except one were class 1, so no one capsized, though a few people got stuck on the class two rapids. Everyone who came also left in one piece, so the canoe trip was declared a success. We covered about eleven miles in five hours on the river. Though the rapids were certainly not terribly difficult, it was definitely good experience for those who are thinking about going on the Maine canoe trip next July.