Joe Kline / The Bulletin Amy Williams, top, at left in red inflatable, and Tiffany Libby call out to passersby in inner tubes that they’re selling ice cream sandwiches and bars from Libby’s business, The Barge, on the Deschutes River near Riverbend Park on Friday afternoon. Friday was the first day on the river for The Barge, and Libby said she plans to continue selling ice cream on Fridays and Saturdays through Sept. 19.

There’s now good reason to bring along a wallet when floating or paddling on the Deschutes River.

Bend’s first aquatic ice cream shop, The Barge, embarked on its maiden voyage Friday, launching from Riverbend Park to sell organic ice cream bars, ice cream sandwiches and fruit bars from an inflatable floatie anchored near the edge of the river.

The Barge is the creation of Tiffany Libby, a Bend resident who came up with the idea late last spring. She’s spent the last few months refining her plan and meeting with representatives of the Bend Park & Recreation District, Oregon Marine Board and others to be sure there were no legal obstacles to the business. Libby, 30, is looking at the next four weekends as a test period, to determine whether there’s sufficient interest for an expanded operation next year. If so, she hopes to mount a Kickstarter fundraising campaign over the winter to build a more robust craft.

For now, however, The Barge is a four-person floatie, outfitted with items borrowed from friends. The treats are packed on dry ice in ordinary picnic coolers, the anchor off a larger fishing boat keeps the floatie in place, and the rain fly from a tent provides shade.

Friday, Libby and friend Amy Williams got off to a bumpy start. The patches applied to their primary floatie the night before apparently failed to take, forcing them to use an identical backup. Leaches latched on to their ankles, stiff winds threatened to blow them ashore, and stand-up paddleboarders bemoaned their inability to eat ice cream while paddling upstream.

At least two floaters noted the cool weather while drifting by, and inquired whether they’d considered selling hot chocolate.

Libby said she expects business to be a little slow until rivergoers figure out what she’s doing, and remember to bring money — cash or card — when they’re on the river.

A part-time songwriter and “full-time mama” to three young children, Libby said she’s had several business ideas in the past, but until recently, she was reluctant to take the next step toward turning her ideas into reality.

“This is my first rodeo in business, I just want to do it right and be something that blesses the community with fun, and wellness, and those kinds of things,” she said.

Libby plans to operate The Barge from roughly 2 to 5 p.m. every Friday and Saturday though Sept. 19, anchored a short distance upstream from the Columbia Street bridge.

— Reporter: 541-383-0387,

shammers@bendbulletin.com