Published: March 28, 2008 11:50 am      

Scouts Outing

Scouts following up 184-mile canal bike trek with canoe trip

RIDGELEY, W.Va. - Ridgeley Boy Scout Troop 29 is gearing up for another big activity this summer. Not content to rest on its laurels, plans are under way for a canoe trip.

The water adventure will follow last June's 184-mile bike trek along the C&O Canal.

Troop members rode mountain bikes from Georgetown to Cumberland, stopping to camp overnight along the way. Alek Detrick was one Scout who made the journey, which he said he loved. Detrick said two of the highlights of the trip included stopping for lunch at Great Falls and camping at Harper's Ferry.

It took troop members five days to reach Cumberland, and other than "a big storm" that carried rain with it from Oldtown until the group concluded the trip, Detrick said the trip was uneventful.

The Braddock Middle School seventh-grader is a First Class Scout, but said he hopes to reach the next level of Star soon.

Along with Detrick, other troop members and chaperones who made the trip include Gregory Mathews, Nathan Turley, David Wagus, Billy Conroy, Kevin Turley, John Mathews, Michael Dwyer, Dr. Mike Dwyer and Dr. Tom Hartsuch.

Eston "Press" Presnell Jr. of Wiley Ford is Scout leader for Troop 29.