"That is that hit water rises,” George explained. "Peter

"That is that hit water rises,” George explained. "Peter discovered it.”

"I did not,” Peter'shot back. “It’s an age-old principal.”

“We can supply wood heaters for our tubs,” George continued, “but gas heaters are simpler. The thermostat can be set, you can go out to dinner and when you come back, it’s ready.” He added that some tubs in California were heated with solar panels but suggested that Virginians interested in an alternate energy source for their tubs stick with wood. “We have more wood in Virginia than sunshine,” he maintained.

George has tried Peter’s hot tub many times and swears by the experience. “I’ve used his when it’s snowing. It’s great to get into it when it’s real hot with the water temperature around 105 degrees or 110 degrees and it’s 30 degrees outside. Then, climb out and sit. The cold feels great. It’s like the people in Sweden who use their saunas and then run out and jump into a snow bank.”

The partnership began almost by chance. Both men have other professions—Peter as an independent contractor and George as an apple and peach farmer. But George explained that the new joint venture promised something out of the ordinary; a little different, a little risky and a little exciting.

Peter actually founded the enterprise. “Let’s make redwood tubs,” he suggested.

“Let’s make redwood tubs,” he suggested.

“All right. You build them. I’ll sell them,” agreed George.

That’s about as far as the company went until the Washington Star carried a little blurb about Rappahannock Hot Tubs. The phone at George’s Follow Run Farm outside of Washington almost rang off the wall. After about 40 inquiries and two definite orders, the partnership got busy.

“We’re still in the formative stages,” George emphasized, but to date, they have built and sold several tubs and completed