Life Outside Spring 2019 - 41

When she's not assisting customers in her
kayaking business, or paddling down the
river herself, Adventure Mendota owner Eva
Beaule loves to hike. Here are her three go-to
spots:

Beaule couldn't be happier about her second-act
career choice, especially since it is helping area
residents and tourists gain a fresh perspective
on Mendota.
"I remember when I was 18 or 19, I would tell
my girlfriends, 'I can't wait to see Mendota, Virginia, in my rearview mirror,'" recalls Beaule,
whose college degree is in computer and information systems. "And then by the time I was in
my 30s, I was on my knees praying, 'Please, Lord,
get me back home.'"
Growing up without a television and no radio
reception after 5:30 p.m., Beaule and her friends
spent much of their time outside. "The river where
I put a kayak in today is where I learned to swim,"
she says. "It's where I used to go skinny dipping
with my girlfriends. My sister and I would 'baptize' each other. It's really been a red thread of
my life."
As part of her commitment to bringing her
town back to life, Beaule volunteers with a team
that is building the 12.2-mile Mendota Trail from
Bristol through Benhams and on to Mendota. She
maintains the group's website, helps monitor the
area for downed limbs and other problems, and
talks up the project in press interviews. So far,
only one mile on the Mendota end is open, but
Beaule predicts that five more will be finished on
the Bristol side by this fall.
"So many people get off these kayaks and say,
'I loved it here. What else is there to do?'" she
says. "And I always tell them, 'Just give us a couple more years and we'll have something pretty
cool for you.'"
For now, she is in her element, helping guests
enjoy Mendota and the North Fork. "I'll have folks
come out and they're so wound up," Beaule says.
"But 95 percent of the time, those same people,
after their time out in nature, out on this river
where a cellphone doesn't work, are so happy
and relaxed. It's good for your soul."
Adventure Mendota's 2019 kayaking season
opens May 26. For more info on daytime, sunset
and moonlight tours, see adventuremendota.com
or the outfitter's Facebook page.

DEVIL'S BATHTUB
It's just a four-mile walk, in
and out.

Mendota Fire Tower,
Mendota
The 100-foot steel tower is a popular hiking
and birdwatching destination.
"You can see five states on a clear day,"
Beaule says. "It's nearby, so it's the outdoor
experience of my youth."

Devil's Bathtub, Scott County
Named one of the Weather Channel's
"Hidden Gems," the "Tub" is a popular
swimming hole at the end of a coursing
stream.
"It's just a fun hike. It's really pretty," Beaule
says.

RANDALL SANGER

The Great Channels,
Brumley Gap
A series of deep sandstone crevices form a
walkable maze accessible from the Brumley
Mountain Trail.
"The sandstones are very unique to
southwest Virginia," Beaule points out.
"They're like a million years old, and it's just
absolutely the coolest thing ever."
-NH

HAPPY PADDLERS
Whether relaxing (above left)
or working their way down
the river, Beaule's paddlers
are pleased.

LifeOutsideMag.com // Spring 2019

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Life Outside Spring 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Life Outside Spring 2019