Today was a rare occurrence, a rafting trip on the day off and a perfect day for it. Willie’s manager John put the whole thing together, and most of our band and crew went on the trip along with some of Willie’s bunch. Two vans drove us to the starting site on the Rogue River about an hour from Medford, Oregon. There were at least fifteen of us using three rafts, a double kayak, and a single kayak.
This part of the river country had rugged cliffs and crags, steep mountainsides, smooth flat rocks for skipping, deep blue skies, and slightly cold water.
Nearly all my growing up years were around water of some kind. Pools, early on. At seven years old, Deer Creek, the Feather River, the Yuba River, and Englebright Lake near Smartville, California. At eleven or so it was Bear Creek in Auburn, California and the lake at my aunt and uncle’s house in nearby Meadow Vista. After thirteen it was waterskiing at Lake Shasta, Lake Elsinore, and other California lakes, and Lake Havasu in Arizona. I also lived by the ocean from thirteen to twenty-one. I’ve always loved water.
On this ride today none of the rapids were serious, but they got us wet enough to stay cool. One of the guys flipped over a kayak, but other than that everything was fairly peaceful.
We went about maybe halfway and stopped for lunch. Travis, Jeff, and Jeff, the guides, whipped out folding tables and coolers from the rafts and set up a sandwich bar.
After starting again we came to some high rocks where other rafters were jumping. Maldwyn, one of our more adventurous souls, made two spectacular leaps from the cliffs into the water. It was about like jumping off a three-story building, maybe 25-30 feet. Some of our other crew guys made the leap as well.
Later, as we were winding through steep hills on either side, Maldwyn said it reminded him of the Fellowship in Lord of the Rings going down the River Anduin. I concurred.
About four hours later we pulled off the river onto a ramp, thanked our most excellent guides, and got back into the vans to the hotel, wet, sunned, and (for my part) sleepy.
It’s rare on the road but always beautiful to do something together that has nothing to do with work.
We covered about seven miles, all told. There wasn’t much music happening today, just a couple of Deliverance references out on the river. I’m back at the room on the Telecaster banjo.
This part of the river country had rugged cliffs and crags, steep mountainsides, smooth flat rocks for skipping, deep blue skies, and slightly cold water.
Nearly all my growing up years were around water of some kind. Pools, early on. At seven years old, Deer Creek, the Feather River, the Yuba River, and Englebright Lake near Smartville, California. At eleven or so it was Bear Creek in Auburn, California and the lake at my aunt and uncle’s house in nearby Meadow Vista. After thirteen it was waterskiing at Lake Shasta, Lake Elsinore, and other California lakes, and Lake Havasu in Arizona. I also lived by the ocean from thirteen to twenty-one. I’ve always loved water.
On this ride today none of the rapids were serious, but they got us wet enough to stay cool. One of the guys flipped over a kayak, but other than that everything was fairly peaceful.
We went about maybe halfway and stopped for lunch. Travis, Jeff, and Jeff, the guides, whipped out folding tables and coolers from the rafts and set up a sandwich bar.
After starting again we came to some high rocks where other rafters were jumping. Maldwyn, one of our more adventurous souls, made two spectacular leaps from the cliffs into the water. It was about like jumping off a three-story building, maybe 25-30 feet. Some of our other crew guys made the leap as well.
Later, as we were winding through steep hills on either side, Maldwyn said it reminded him of the Fellowship in Lord of the Rings going down the River Anduin. I concurred.
About four hours later we pulled off the river onto a ramp, thanked our most excellent guides, and got back into the vans to the hotel, wet, sunned, and (for my part) sleepy.
It’s rare on the road but always beautiful to do something together that has nothing to do with work.
We covered about seven miles, all told. There wasn’t much music happening today, just a couple of Deliverance references out on the river. I’m back at the room on the Telecaster banjo.