June 3, nineteen people shoved off for a river adventure. The sojourn was cosponsored by Eastern Virginia Bank, Twin Rivers Realty and W.F. Parker Oil Company. Thanks to Binford Trice, Betty and John Jensen, Jerry Walker and the Campbell family for sharing their river homes for the event.

Paddlers traveled by kayak and canoe more than eleven miles from Aylett to below Walkerton, camping at Locust Grove. Holly Walker from the Dept. of Conservation and Recreation, Lou Verner of the Dept. of Game and Inland Fisheries and Garrie Rouse helped the group identify birds, insects and plants along the way. At dinner Saturday night, 20 others joined the sojourners for a presentation about Locust Grove given by Jerry Walker of Walkerton. Locust Grove has been in Walker’s family since 1665.

"It was interesting reading the grave stones at the Fort Mattaponi cemetery," said sojourner Paul Maloney of King and Queen. Sherry Underwood, Alyssa Henicheck and Garrison Rouse enjoyed toasting marshmallows over the campfire. It was a reunion of sorts for former sojourners, one traveling from Pennsylvania to join the group.

Sunday morning paddlers enjoyed a hearty breakfast and an inspirational program before returning to the river. At one stop, sojourners watched a dragonfly hatch and examined shell fossils in the riverbank.

Thanks to chair Marybeth Hawn, the sojourn committee, Garrie Rouse (river logistics), Rod Tatum, Randy Shank, Chris Henicheck, Robert Stephens and Bobby McGuire, (land crew) and especially Phil and Betty Rose for the great food.

Click here for many great photos provided by Garrie Rouse.  (Thanks, Garrie!)