Mike Ein and his Permanent Grin!One of the most satisfying things in my life is turning people on to the outdoor sports that I love. Over the years this has mostly been alpine skiing with a bit of backpacking and mountaineering and now includes whitewater paddling. My last post described how I got two of my friends gear up for their first whitewater experiences. All they needed was for some water to fill up the gorge and take them to the next level.
On May 30th Mike, Keith, and I all met at the Rockport put-in. It was the first time when we all arrived separately at the put-in - interesting how everyone starts finding new reasons to be near the river on their own. The weather was absolutely perfect: bluebird, temps in the low 80s, water approaching 60 degrees, and only a handful of rafting groups to clog the lines.
I've been on the river a lot lately, but many of my runs have been below the Glen, so this was only my second gorge run of the season and my fourth overall. The hours of practice paid off. I didn't have the butterflies that often occur when I first glimpse the swift water at Rockport. Of course I avoid letting others know that I have any misgivings, unwilling to show any cracks in my "river guide" facade, especially with my protege Mike on the scene. By the time we got to White Falls, the first class III rapid of the trip, I was feeling very comfortable. I realized mid-rapid that I was very mellow, my body loose, absorbing the rock-n-roll of the river, smooth and languid paddle strokes replacing the old "paddle or else" fury of last year.
I'm really going to have to get a waterproof camera because it's getting to be such a nuisance protecting the device from the water that I just leave it in the case. I also have to review the manual because the slow shutter speeds make for a lot of blurry pics. Ironically, two of my paddle buddies, Mike and Mike, are both professional photographers. Note to Mikes: take more pictures and email them to me!
Keith getting his Moment in the Sun!I know that this blog is mostly my private diary, but if one person is motivated by it to get out and try some whitewater, even if it's only a rafting trip, it will have been worth the while.
The river is a powerful metaphor for life and the lessons we learn there, and the feelings we have for it, are not left behind. Rather, they accompany us on the journey home and sustain us through all the ups-and-downs of this life, slowly building up to levels that make our lives deeper and richer whether we are on the water or not.
Until next time, amigos!
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