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Being blind no obstacle during rafting adventure

Rafters from the Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired paddle down the Little Miami River, Friday, July 9 as guests of Morgan's Canoe Livery.

Apryl Pilolli/Staff Photographer Rafters from the Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired paddle down the Little Miami River, Friday, July 9 as guests of Morgan's Canoe Livery.

ENLARGE PHOTO

Photos: Blind group takes rafting trip

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By Sara Dorn, Staff Writer Updated 1:36 AM Saturday, July 10, 2010

LEBANON — Joseph Maximetz couldn’t see the Little Miami River, Friday, July 9, as he paddled through it in an oversized inflatable raft, but he braved the current without a second thought.

“I enjoyed it immensely,” Maximetz said back on dry land. “I love going out on boats; there’s a certain freedom to being out on the water.”

Maximetz was on the rafting venture as part of the Cincinnati Blind Association’s annual trip to Morgan’s Canoe Rental. Around 100 people — equal numbers blind and sighted companions — took on the challenge, braving earlier rainstorms for a chance to set sail on the calm river.

Maximetz’s “freedom” was the reason Gary Morgan, owner of Morgan’s Canoe Rentals, began the trip 18 years ago. Morgan guided the rafters on the three mile float and gave a brief history of the surrounding area and education on the fossils found in the river.

“We do this to stretch their perimeters and one of the things we learn is just because they can’t see doesn’t mean they can’t have a good time,” Morgan said.

The excitement shared by the rafters of all ages seemed to show that Morgan had accomplished his goal.

“It’s fun, fun, fun with a capital F,” John Brickweg said.

Brickweg has been attending the association’s trip to Morgan’s since it began and said he looks forward to it all year. Participants continually sang, giggled, and splashed one another as they floated down the River, before enjoying a picnic at the Morgan campground following the trip.

“Being visually impaired, you don’t have a lot of opportunity to socialize, so just being able to get out and have the opportunity to meet new people was really great,” Shirley Ham said.

It was Ham’s second time rafting at Morgan’s. She said that last year she was slightly nervous, but the enthusiastic staff at Morgan’s and the many aides who came with the blind made Ham and the others feel at ease.

“I feel really lucky that [the Morgans] would go out of their way to make individuals like me feel really special,” Ham said.

Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4500 or sdorn@coxohio.com.

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