I’ve missed writing to you! While I do not know everyone who reads this personally, I do know most of the folks and I’ve “met” others through personal emails that you’ve sent. I’ve learned you are like me…struggling to do the right things, making mistakes, doing something right once in a while, and just getting by doing your best. I feel we relate, and when I don’t blog, I feel something missing.

I took a few weeks off to find my camera. Ouch. I have not found it. I will be buying a new one but meanwhile, I’ve found my iphone and ipad take pretty good pictures. I also took some time off because I’m working on the website for Adventure Mendota, and I was tired of looking at the computer. It has also been a fun time at About Face (where I work part time) as we plan our biggest sale of the year for “Early Black Friday” on November 7. And…on top of that, I’ve been considering going back to work full-time…so suffice it to say…it has been busy, busy, busy!

The part of busy this week has been the “work” there is to starting a business. I thought…”we have the shop, we have the land, we have Facebook…we’ll just get some tubes and kayaks and take off.” Maybe that would work for some people, but for us, it’s not going to be that way. There’s liability waivers, insurance, county approvals, VDOT approvals, logos and branding, business plans…all kinds of stuff. Mike does most of it, so I am lucky in that respect. Mike is all about the details which is great when you’re a Big Thinker like me. He keeps me reigned in. Mike and I, or Mike or I, go weekly to the Virginia Small Business Incubator for Lunch ‘n’ Learn sessions. They’re fun, and we’re excited to be 1 of 25 entrepreneurs competing for a $5K grant. Here’s where we go.

Independent from this, I have been working on the website. I’m trying to do as much as I can vs. having someone else do it to save money, although I am seeking some help. It does not have a logo and has several things wrong with it, but if you want to take a look at it as a “gentle, not-too-critical reader,” it’s www.adventuremendota.com      I asked friends on Facebook for pictures, and they have all been great. To date, however, I’ve used DeeDee Taylor’s pictures and Jessica Leonard’s pictures.    Darby the dog has become our Director of PR.  All of the pictures were beautiful but they were more fall than spring or I could not get them positioned just right, etc. I can’t wait to put some tubing pictures up as well as more kayak pictures, but I want them to be “real” so that means…next spring or summer! Let me know what you think of www.adventuremendota.com

One thing that we can check off our list is how to shuttle our tubers and kayakers up and down Swinging Bridge Road. Have you ever wondered who buys the old buses from groups like the Mountain Empire Senior Citizens? Enter..people like us.

We’re calling and tagging the MEOC bus the “Fork Taxi” since it will be running up and down the North Fork on Swinging Bridge Road. We bought the bus from Terri Anne and Brock at Clinch River Adventures and I noticed their license read “RVR TAXI.” I shamelessly copied. We’ll have some decals on it and hope everyone around waves at us as we rattle up and down Swinging Bridge Road with our kayaks and tubes!! Mendota rising? Is that a possibility?

Mike and I have been having a great time although there has been a heated moment or two. He took the Fork Taxi and got it detailed. You know what what I thought? Total waste of money, and why wasn’t my car detailed? He’s trying to make up now, so I believe Cracker, my little white Prius, has a spa day planned for tomorrow and will be looking good by tomorrow night.

Also, for those of you who have “liked” and shared Adventure Mendota’s Facebook page. Thank you so much. This journey is going to be fun but only if you’re with us. Float the Fork in 2015!