Ten of Washington's Adventuring Club members, mostly Paw Paw Virgins, participated in this year's visit to the Paw Paw Tunnel.

We were rewarded with a pluperfect summer's day, a sharp contrast with the preceding week's stifling heat wave.

We charged through the delightfully-cool tunnel even faster than usual and soon stopped for lunch next to the placid Potomac.

We continued to make good time to our traditional swimming hole, where half of our group (including one skinny-dipper, upholding Traditional Adventuring Values) enjoyed the favors of the Potomac despite its unusually low level.

On our return leg, the advance elements of our party took the high road up and over Tunnel Hill, while the rearguard took the low road back through the tunnel, dodging a horde of flashlight-less families along the way.

Our vanguard and our stragglers reached the end of the tunnel simultaneously, a nice piece of trail magic that was utterly unplanned.

Our day ended with a fine dinner in Hancock at Weaver's, which one again provided friendly and efficient service along with their good American food and reasonable prices.

Adventuring is a not-for-profit, non-membership, all-volunteer organization serving the gay and lesbian community in the Washington, DC area since 1980. Our purpose is to encourage and publicize group outdoor activities. For more information visit there website: http://www.adventuring.org/cgi-bin/main.idc