I didn't realize it until the day was basically over, but I took no pictures today, for the first time since day one. I normally build my daily entries around the pictures I take, so this one will probably be short.

We had a lazy morning after we realized the place we had reserved for camping was only 8 miles downstream. We built the fire back up and all sat around it heating our various breakfasts–oatmeal for some, frozen burritos for others, and Pop Tarts for me. We packed up our stuff and put it all in huge black bags, loaded up the boats, and weighed anchor at 11.

The sun was out and the river was mostly slow and calm. Pretty quickly, two groups developed, with two boats paddling ahead and the rest of us mostly drifting in the current. Then the two canoes at the back pulled off for a bathroom break, and it was just me. I got out the ukulele and floated down and sang for much of the day. With my hands this occupied, I didn't take pictures of the birds and turtles as I passed, but I noticed them and enjoyed taking it all in as I sang with the backdrop of the water’s gentle sounds. I finished one song and heard clapping from unseen campers on either side of the broad stream.

I made it to the campground around 2:15. It's a popular private campground with showers and electricity. There's also a camp store where I got sodas and a large milkshake. I took a shower and ate the large can of beef stew I'd brought, then almost immediately joined in the preparations for dinner. I had two hamburgers with cheese and two hotdogs.

We sat around the fire and talked for a couple hours, and now I'm finally laying down in my tent, on level, grassy ground. I do like camping in more remote places, and I do feel some desire to be back on the trail. But I have to say, this has been pretty nice.

Tomorrow we finish the aqua-blaze. We have farther to go than either the previous two days, but it's still a manageable distance. We plan to leave earlier and should have no trouble getting to Front Royal, VA, where we'll get back on the trail, by 3.