My Wanderings along the River

Throughout my life (or at least the part of my life that I have lived in Michigan), I have always had a close tie with large bodies of water. I enjoyed chilly fall afternoons as a child canoeing down the river in Rockford with my family. Fall is the best time to go canoeing, late September and earlier October in particular. The leaves have just started to change but the weather is still relatively warm. The sound of the paddle gently caressing the water, releasing resounding ripples that bounce off nearby stones. The cozy houses nestled along the riverside seem lifeless as they fade into the scenery. Every so often, a dog will come bounding down from one of the houses to greet us.

I have never found anything more peaceful, or exciting, than canoeing or kayaking. The unexpectedness, the unknown, the unpredictability of the ebbing and flowing of the current is what makes the adventure. When I would happen across a fork in the current, I would always chose the course with more rocks and rapids. I love a good challenge.

My abilities as a kayaker were put to the test when I went white water rafting in West Virginia during my senior year of high school. I went with a small group of people, no more than eight including myself. The cliffs, like skyscrapers, towered above me as I paddled along the winding river. Without any cover, the intense heat of the sun beat down on our small band continuously throughout the day. At one point during our voyage, I carelessly dipped my hand into the cooling water, submerging myself within the refreshing coolness. However, my peaceful state was quickly disrupted when I glanced over the side to see what I thought was a large log drifting past me. As I looked closer, I came to realize that this immense log had a head with beady little eyes. My paddle suddenly became a weapon.

 I began frantically swinging and smashing my paddle into the water in self-defense. The other members of my time inquired what had happened. Frantically, in short desperate gasps, I cried, “snake, there was definitely a very large snake in the water”. They dismissed my experience and decided it was a good idea to take a swim. I refused to leave my kayak the remainder of the voyage.

These experiences with water have brought me even closer to nature. I couldn’t even imagine living in a city that didn’t have a lake or river nearby. That’s what I love about Grand Rapids. Could you live somewhere that didn’t have nature nearby?