Something old...that'd be us! :) And the River. And our canoe. Which is also, technically, something borrowed, although we've been storing it indefinitely for someone who never ever uses it or comes around or lives in our county...for at least 15 years.
Something new...Well, for starters....
Our journey began from a new location, a few twisting river miles north of our usual spot. The setting was lovely, but it wasn't your typical canoe access... (possibly a not-access?) We managed to launch, but it was memorable, surrounded as we were by the head high, lovely but deadly poison hemlock plant. | Our canoe drifted through early fog; chill vapor settled deep in the river valley, wrapping our view in a misty blanket. I was thankful for my warm jacket and the soft cover I had wrapped around my feet and legs and the warm mug of coffee in my hands as we floated, waiting, waiting for the sun to burn through the hazy chill and get the day started. (New: in canoe coffee, jacket, blanket) | The great blue herons, however, were already in place, stalking breakfast and occasionally squawking irritably at us when our float-by disrupted their meal. (Oh,something blue!) This was the first of about fifteen of these oddly graceful creatures which we sighted throughout the day. (New record!) |
And along the way, we enjoyed the same old wonderful vistas. Nothing we hadn't seen and experienced a dozen times before, and yet, still breath taking, made more lovely by it's steady presence year after year after year.
Our river trip was all down stream, but life is not like that. There have been seasons of quiet floating, some long stretches of rapids, and a few patches that have seemed to be upstream in a strong current. And in the rapids, in days of strong upstream paddling, I am thankful for this old relationship, this secure and settled place where the things that matter most do not change. On tranquil days, it's important to take a deep breath and experience the wonder and beauty of the same old (awe inspiring!) reality of thirty three years of old and new, together. |
Hummin' B.