Paddling in 94 degree heat factor is not pleasant. We had the “lakes” to paddle today. These lakes are the still pools between hydro-electric dams. For a while we thought we had enough tail winds to sail but not really. The attempt distracted us for a bit at least.
That was not our only challenge today. Approaching the dam where we were to exit at the ramp and be picked up by a truck to take us downstream, we ran into an unusual problem. The ramp and the surrounding area was totally jammed up with logs. After much pushing and pulling, we freed ourselves enough to get on the concrete to pull up our gear and our canoe. Fortunately, the staff who drove us hoisted up the canoe for us. It looked like no one had done the job of cleaning the ramps for the spring but we learned that this kind of jam can be caused fast due to dam activity.
Most people wonder why we think heat, tenting, toileting in the woods, storms, cold, wind, sore backs, sunburns, bears, bumps in the night, portages, etc, are someone’s idea of a vacation. It really has to do with feeling alive and finding out what our bodies can still do! It is about problem solving, the hot shower at a discovered state park, the neighbors in the campsite next to ours who offered us each a cooling beer and swapped stories with us. It is about maintaining a lifelong friendship over the years and miles. It is about the beauty of the natural world around us. It is exciting and it is satisfying. That is what makes it a vacation.
And there are always the metaphors to challenge our brains and souls. For instance, where are there log jams in our lives and how do we handle them? What is there for us when we break through? Thoughts?
PS: and we found d a fourth source of power today. Windmills. FYI, windmills date back to 7th century near the Iranian and Afghanistan borders.
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