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Mendota Expeditions LLC
Home
Safety
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Local Attractions
Manager's 2021 Blog
Educational Opportunities
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  • Home
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  • Manager's 2021 Blog
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Opening year blog-See Facebook for updated entries!

  • As many of you know the owners of Adventure Mendota decided to retire in early 2021; they paved the way for Mendota Expeditions to open upriver.  As the manager of Mendota Expeditions, I am looking forward to meeting you and growing this business with other new opportunities in Mendota.  I truly want you and your family or group to come relax, have fun, and just enjoy God's marvelous beauty in and around the Holston River.  I hope to fill this page with lots of wonderful pictures of smiling faces.

Our New Logo

Thanks to Ms. Jan Black for a great logo!

I think Jan captured my feelings as she created this.  I am super excited to open business in approximately 1 month so I think that's me in the middle.  Hope to capture your image in a tube.

Last Minute Preparations

Opening day is almost here!

We will be opening on June 5, and it looks like it is going to be beautiful weather for our first day.  The last week of school combined with last minute preparations for our opening have made this a tiring week, but super excited to see everyone having fun tubing on the river.

Opening Day/June 5, 2021

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).

Off to a good beginning

First repeat customer

It did my heart good to see someone back today who was just here yesterday.  She brought someone else and wanted to try a different run.  I think that is success.  Hoping that everyone else feels the same way when they come out and give tubing a try!   

June 18, 2021

Medium run eagle watchers

Medium run eagle watchers

Medium run eagle watchers

When the Hamptons headed out on their medium run tubing trip today, they had no idea that they would encounter an eagle up close.  

Medium run eagle watchers

Medium run eagle watchers

They were able to take this great picture while floating the river. 

Father's Day

Strangers at first

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!  

First Big Group June 22

Smiling faces ready to go

Smiling faces ready to go

Smiling faces ready to go

This is about half of the big group from VMS on the river bank.

Getting in

Smiling faces ready to go

Smiling faces ready to go

Mrs. Meyers leading her group to the middle of the river to launch.

Another wonderful group from VMS visits on June 23

Eager for the arrival

Eager for the arrival

Eager for the arrival

Mendota Expeditions couldn't operate without the help of these two young ladies.

Ready to go tubing!

Eager for the arrival

Eager for the arrival

Such great students who listen well.  They stayed on their tubes and cleaned up nicely after all of their snacks.  Way to go!!!

Dedicated chaperones

Eager for the arrival

Dedicated chaperones

Great to see several teachers and the assistant principal on the river today relaxing a little.   The faculty and staff at VMS are the best!

Parents with mostly but also without children, June 25-27

Unplugging and spending time together

 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. 

July 4th

A True Firecracker, My Grandmother

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.

A Belly's View on July 7

The Little Guy up Front

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.

July 11 From the River Bank

Returning from the medium run

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!

July 17 Clouds don't keep friends away.

A missionary heart

I love this high school friend and admire all that she does to serve others here in the US and abroad.  Thanks for bringing your family to tube with us!!!

Troublemaker in the river!

You would think it was one of Stacey's teenagers causing this ruckus in the river-but no, it was her dad.

July 21 Transition

Ready for the big group

Getting the life jackets on

Getting the life jackets on

This is my smiling concessions manager.

Getting the life jackets on

Getting the life jackets on

Getting the life jackets on

Everyone does this well and quickly with just a little help.

About 40 tubes launched

About 40 tubes launched

About 40 tubes launched

The excitement can be heard from this group of rising 6th graders!

Near the end

About 40 tubes launched

About 40 tubes launched

The VMS teachers are pros at guiding students down the river and getting them transitioned to the adventures of middle school!


7/25 A busy weekend!

Out of town visitors

Tubing alone is relaxing!

Tubing alone is relaxing!

This very nice family was from Alabama.  We love having people who are in town visiting family and include us in their visit.  Thanks so much!

Tubing alone is relaxing!

Tubing alone is relaxing!

Tubing alone is relaxing!

This is our first person who tubed alone, nothing but nature around.  She was our last customer today, and we were even able to retrieve something special she lost in the river.  A great ending to the weekend.

July 28, 2021 Final Transition Camp Visitors

A picnic before tubing

A picnic before tubing

A picnic before tubing

Students have a picnic lunch and anticipate their fun float on the river.

A hot day for a float

A picnic before tubing

A picnic before tubing

About 40 teachers and rising 6th graders begin their float.

Dried off and almost ready to go

Dried off and almost ready to go

Dried off and almost ready to go

Towels help in a couple of ways-picnic seat and then to dry off after the float.

Buses are ready to pull out

Dried off and almost ready to go

Dried off and almost ready to go

This is the 4th time we've seen these buses from Bristol City Schools this summer, and we are so thankful for their confidence in us to come out with students and enjoy a float together.

Reopened after rainfall, Aug. 22

Parked and awaiting tubers

It has been so shallow so we happily reopened this weekend and had a few customers.  It was a beautiful weekend and smooth floating.

My right hand

Couldn't have done this business without my daughters.  We are waiting for our customers to finish their float!

Closing after Labor Day

Closing after Labor Day

Don't miss out.  Only a few more weekends of tubing left in this season.

August 28

My little gal cooling off

Look at that huge bird above tubers

Look at that huge bird above tubers

It was so hot today that my little gal and I had to get in a bit.  We had some repeat customers-even a couple who asked for a season pass next year.  That is cool and really a compliment!  Someone from Denver, Colorado visited, and my best friend from college also enjoyed a float today.

Look at that huge bird above tubers

Look at that huge bird above tubers

Look at that huge bird above tubers

I didn't notice the bird until looking at my pics tonight.  Maybe it is a hawk.  The hawks will be migrating soon and Mr. Harrington and others will be counting them in Sept. as they pass over the fire tower.  

Closing for the Season

I'm borrowing the sign.

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!

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