My second surprise on this vacation came while canoeing the Wood River. It is a gorgeous stretch of water, in the Klamath Basin, not very deep but with enough current to be different than anything we had canoed to date. It runs through ranch land and forests, is full of interesting things to see, nice places to pull a canoe out and have a lunch. It starts at a spring that forms a full river, not unusual in the volcanic Cascades.
Our daughter and her family had canoed this stretch (about 5 miles) several times before and talked of how beautiful it was. We knew it was too long for the smallest grandkids but our son's family had to leave a day earlier which left us a day to give it a try.
I am not an adventurous person, nor am I one who likes to have thrills; so I had some reservations about the current they said was in the river. It also is a river of many oxbows where you nearly turn back onto yourself along with that current. They told me I'd have to keep my camera in a waterproof bag most of the time, only taking photos when stopping. That was definitely a drawback.
Being a canoe novice, I was nervous but willing to give it a try. There were some new tricks to learn with the paddle, ways to help the canoe make the turns, avoid downed trees, and avoid killing each other (that is Farm Boss and me). There is something about canoeing that can lead to spats as theoretically the back paddler tells the front paddler what to do. Strongest paddler is in the back. This can lead to disagreements especially if the canoe appears to be heading straight for a snag.
The stretch we canoed took about 5 hours, allowing for several stops and a nice lunch break (our daughter knows how to fix a picnic gourmet lunch). Although the river was constantly in current, it was a lot of work because the current doesn't take the canoe automatically where you want it to go. There is also one easy portage over an earthen dam.
We got a lot of good instruction, but there is no real way for anybody to tell someone else what to do in all situations in a river like the Wood. The currents and curves change with downed branches and trees. What worked one time might not another. You can be told the tools, learn how to use them, watch what the other canoe did, but each situation will vary. It will also vary from canoe to canoe.
Almost at the end of it, I got the surprise when we did something wrong (which we kind of think we know but still aren't totally sure exactly what). I felt the canoe starting to go over and knew there'd be no saving it. Being dumped into the river had not been on my agenda although I knew it was possible.
When a canoe tips in current, it reminds me of the sensation of being thrown from a horse (which has also happened to me). Basically, you are physically projected out and have to hope for the best. Even under water and looking up, I knew I was at no physical risk (we had passed the brush hanging into the stream, the stream was relatively shallow, and I was wearing my life jacket not to mention am a very strong swimmer), but still it's a strange feeling. Our son-in-law beached their canoe and came back to help us right the canoe and get everything back together.
It's one of those things that becomes more pleasant to think about after the fact than during it. My biggest concern had been my precious camera; but when we had started hitting more current, I had secured its bag to the canoe and it stayed dry.
I must admit that at nearly 66, I kind of like the idea of having been canoeing on a river, in some current, and being thrown from the canoe. A lot better at my age than sitting somewhere watching television or playing solitaire,
not that I don't also do those things. However, I think I prefer the lakes where the only thing I have to worry about rocking the canoe is wind and a person at the back who keeps shifting position because of being uncomfortable.
All photos are from along the upper Wood River. Yes, I have one of me looking like a drowned rat. No, I am not sharing it here!
