I worked at a summer camp in America and during our mid summer break, a friend and I decided to try ziplining and white water rafting here.
There was a heat warning on the day we began our travels and to get to this place involved walking for 2 hours to the bus stop in 113 degree heat with no water, finding out the local bus doesn't run on a Saturday and hitch-hiking to Washington DC instead, then getting the once a day train to West Virginia. Once we arrived there, we found out that we faced a 10 mile walk to River Riders with a storm rolling in at 8pm. The humidity was intense and we were exhausted from carrying so much stuff, including our tent.
We ended up getting a lift from a Park Ranger but when we arrived, River Riders was shut. We knocked for a member of staff who advised us the campsite was 3 miles away. When we mentioned we didn't have a car, or a phone to call a taxi, she kindly arranged another member of staff to drive us down to the campsite. They also picked us up the next morning and took us back to the meeting point which was a releif as we didn't fancy a 3 mile walk starting at 6am!
The ziplining and white water rafting was so much fun, the tour guides were fab and we had such a laugh with them! Prices were a little high for us travellers on a budget but it was WELL worth it!
Afterwards, we asked if the kitchen was still open so we could get some tea but they advised it was closed. Aware that we did not have transport or phones, and had forgotten to bring food for our 3 day camping trip (stupid we know!!) they ordered us a pizza to River Riders and stayed open late for us to eat before they drove us back to the campsite. They also gave us a couple of muffins complimentary for our breakfast in the morning which was again extremely kind of them!
Not only did they look after us so generously, they also picked us up in the morning and drove us all the way back to the train station for our train back to Washington which they didn't have to do.
The staff here are by far the kindest people we came accross throughout our time in America and we are extremely grateful to them for assisting us throughout our adventure. My friend and I would recommend anybody to go!!! It's a great day out and the staff are incredible!!
P.s. the location of the campsite is idyllic, looking out over the lake is beautiful! In the distance you can see 3 mountains, 1 is Maryland, 1 is Virginia, and the other is West Virginia!
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