The Roanoke River Floatilla gives the community a boost

Roanoke, Virginia – These past several days have been quite hot in Roanoke, so what better way to cool off than to float away? Every year, a large number of people attempt to cool off during the Roanoke River Flotilla.

“Nothing beats an excuse to get on the river. And especially this section of the Roanoke River kind of takes you out of the city of Roanoke. It’s very picturesque. It’s very… just… you feel connected in nature,” said Roanoke Mountain Adventures employee Mac Taylor.

At the Roanoke River, people splashed around in inflatable unicorns and tubes.

“Seeing the whole community coming together. I’m seeing everyone gather their friends. Get off of work on time, hopefully. Just coming out to enjoy some sun and that’s what makes Roanoke, Roanoke,” said Stephanie Force.

“It’s a couple of miles down the river. Nice, relaxing flow for the afternoon and a great way to spend it,” said Taylor.

Taylor stated that although it’s good to flow and unwind, safety comes first.

“The biggest thing to be careful of is checking the river levels before you go,” said Taylor. “But if you’re kayaking, everyone should wear a life jacket. And then just be careful where you’re placing your feet in the water. You don’t want your foot getting stuck in a rock.”

Expect the best, but be ready for the worst, according to Taylor.

“Preparedness is the name of the game,” said Taylor. “Drowning can happen in even the tiniest amount of water and so it’s really just making sure that you’ve touched base and you might know how to do CPR.”

Equipment for cruising the river can be rented from Roanoke Mountain Adventures.