Onward Down the River: A Kayaking Story

I shielded my eyes as the sun glanced down on the clear blue lake water ahead of me. I spied the narrow opening in the reeds—the perfect size for me and my kayak. I plunged my paddle into the water and made my way toward the small break in the reed line.

Bright green lily pads covered the surface of the water as I entered the river mouth. A few white lily flowers adorned the lily pads like lovely brides among the guests at a wedding. They swayed in the slight breeze moving across the lake. Underneath the water, entire weedy forests bent in the gentle current of the river mouth. I saw small silvery fish dart in and out of stately pine weeds. Slender birch weeds topped by little flowers twisted toward the sun.

The water began to change its pace below me. I reached a deeper part of the river where the bottom turned to smooth sand. Short brown weeds dotted the sand like small shrubs dot a field of golden grass. My kayak tipped slightly to one side as the current grabbed at the rudder. The low-cropped weeds quickly disappeared from the riverbed as the current pushed me out of the river and into a large pool.

The water lay flat and still and the sediment along the bottom looked like a dust cloud billowing in the desert. I wondered if some small water creature had kicked up the clay lining the bottom of the pool. On the opposite side of the pool I spotted two towering piles of sticks huddled across from each other on a muddy outcrop. In between the piles, water foamed and gurgled.

I guided my kayak to the pass between the two piles of sticks. In a rush of water and quick paddling, I shot over the shallow pebbly area and into a part of the river completely unfamiliar to me. Its path continued in a narrow arc through the forest and beckoned me to follow along. I put my paddle to the water. Onward!