Opening year blog-See Facebook for updated entries!

Had a beautiful opening day and the best helpers anyone could ask for.   Today, the short run took a little over an hour, the medium run about 2 hours and 20 min., and the long run about 4 hours so think about how long you might like to relax on the river and come on out.  We are open on Sundays after church (1-5).

Wow!  What a great day it has been.  I can't lie, yesterday was slow and seemed to last forever, but today things were hopping.  Eva (the owner of the closed Adventure Mendota) told me that I will know that things are going well when strangers start to show up.  For me, that was definitely today!  I had people (strangers to me but now friends I hope) from Johnson City, Piney Flats, and Emory that chose to drive out and spend Father's Day with their families and us.  What a blessing!  In this photo we have a lovely couple who bungee tied together completed the medium run.  They also saw the eagle that was seen a couple of days ago.   Don't get me wrong-it is also great to see people I know such as my first customers today who were my JSB classmates several years ago.   Thank you old friends for showing up too!  

 It was really fun to see moms with their children (as seen in this photo) or whole families out on the river this past weekend.  We bungee tied together whole  families that traveled down the river as a group; one family had 3 generations traveling the long run together.  Also, we had a couple of different visitors from Florida and a family from Michigan that were in Bristol visiting their grandparents and came out to tube with us.  I am glad that the word is spreading thanks to our customers that we are a family friendly business.  There were also three ladies who came out to have some "girl" time relaxing away from the kids.  No matter what, unplugging is good for the soul at least for a little while. 

This past weekend we were not able to operate Fri. and Sat. due to such muddy water, but we were busy with families both Sunday afternoon and Monday.  For me, the 4th is a remembrance of my grandmother who owned the land where my business operates.  Her birthday was the 4th and we would normally picnic and celebrate.  I miss all my grandparents a lot, and I know that is why I finally established roots where they lived and this business.  They were true entrepreneurs farming and selling everything from crops such as tobacco, cattle, and even homemade butter.  I know they even operated a little country store for a while out here in the boonies.   Although river tubing wasn't even in their thoughts, I can't help but think they smile down as their entrepreneural spirit is still alive in me.

He floated the whole way like this is what he told me.  If you look at him up close, he is peering into the water trying to see all that he can see.  While some people prefer the view along the river and up top, I think some of the true adventurers are also trying to see what is living and thriving below the river's surface like this little guy.  He is a keen observer because he also told me about all the many colored dragonflies that he saw during his float including a purple one which he had never seen before!  We do have floats without the headrest if you prefer to float this way.

This photo was taken from the river bank which is where you will find me or my daughter greeting our medium run tubers when they arrive back to our location.  This was just part of the group that braved the crazy clouds on Sunday and completed the medium run.  While I was awaiting their arrival I did some birdwatching and saw a Kingfisher diving for fish, a white crane, and a momma duck with two babies.  It was a great day!

I love this bridge, and its closing has led to many bus ride discussions.  The repair of this bridge is one of the things that I will continue to work on as many of you have told me about the times that you have been across it and enjoyed the view.  It is a valuable part of our community and an experience that everyone misses.  

I really thought I would be open this Labor Day Weekend as I believed it would be a good finale, but honestly, I went down and checked the river this morning, and it was still muddy and brisk from the rain to the North.  I think many of you who know me well realize that I prefer to be cautious when it comes to river safety.  I contacted customers this morning and told them that I decided to not open because of this.  I also tend to go with my gut instincts and that Voice (God) when He tells me to rest.

I just want to thank everyone who has come out this summer.  There are some people who have been out here multiple times supporting this woman run business.   Many of you know that I'm a teacher and have been in full swing at school for a few weeks now and trying to work 7 days a week has me worn out to say the least.  Teachers know what I'm talking about, and teachers have been truly some of my biggest supporters.    It is my prayer that Mendota Expeditions will open up with a longer and even better season next year with new opportunities for customers.   I do have a shuttle and will continue year round coverage so if someone needs that service please feel free to contact me.  

For now, I will leave you with some heart warming words that came from a four year old as she was getting ready to get on her tube for the first time and go down the river with her family this summer.  She simply said, "This is going to be the best day ever."  May we all feel like her, be open to adventure, and enjoy the great outdoors as much as possible!  See you next spring at Mendota Expeditions!