Tuesday, 21 June 2011, Pottenstein, Frankischer Schweiztal, Bayern.
Practice at Camp Heritage.
After a 0630 breakfast at the Grafenwöhr Dining Facility, Company A travels to Pottenstein in the beautiful Franconian Swiss Valley. Most cadets take advantage of the almost hour long trip to grab a quick nap. The weather forecast includes rain, but we keep our fingers crossed. On arrival in Pottenstein, cadets are quickly outfitted with life vests and paddles . . . following that the canoeing instructors from Heidelberg's Outdoor Recreation remind cadets on proper procedures in the canoe. Some of this is a repeat from yesterday's practice at Camp Heritage. Finally canoes are launched and the adventure begins. The river isn't especially fast today, but there are some rapids. There are rocks, ducks and a lot of bugs on the river. The weather holds out . . . mostly sunny with a little bit of rain . . . but no showers and no storm. There are a couple scrapes and bruises . . . and many wet bodies . . . but everyone makes it to the end after a trip of over 12 kilometers. Cadets sleep on the bus back to Graf and arrive in time for dinner.
Wednesday, 22 June 2011, Pottenstein, Frankischer Schweiztal, Bayern.
This morning Company B travels to Pottenstein for the trip on the River Wiesent. Like yesterday, the weather threatens to be bad . . . cold with rain and a possible thunder storm. However, the sun shines and the cadets enjoy a beautiful day on the river. Like yesterday, lunch is an MRE supplemented by hot dogs. The cadets are tired by the end of the trip . . . and wouldn't you know . . . as the last canoers came in . . . it began to rain.