Fun Float
Nature is an endless combination and repetition of a very few laws. She hums the old well-known air through innumerable variations.
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Sunday, July 9, 2000
Two years ago: Love Dogs
Moses and Jim Kling were the only takers when Jack recruited rafters from his buddies around here, mostly from the science fiction club. They showed up at the house at ten. We packed the cooler with drinks, and brought foccacia bread, and the raspberries from yesterday. Hook up the trailer, and we are off!
We got sandwiches at the "Everybody's Store" where we'd stopped yesterday at the Van Zandt crossroads. Unfortunately, the storekeeper told such scary tales of bad happenings at the confluence of the North Fork and South Fork of the Nooksack (our proposed put-in spot) that one of our group got freaked out (not me!). So we had to figure out another plan, since Jack didn't want to go beyond the comfort zone of any of our party.
We drove back through Deming, looking again for roads that headed down near the water that weren't private. We got to the far end of the town, then doubled back. No go. It wasn't looking good for the trip!
Finally we saw a dirt road, overlooked before. Jack parked, and everyone walked down the road to explore except me. I stayed with the car, since we were blocking it a bit. (Come to think of it, what could I have done if someone had come along? I can't drive a stick shift -- how lame!) Jack must have forgotten to set the brake. The truck rolled, creeping forward so slowly that it took a few moments for me to realize that it was really moving. So I dashed around, opened the driver's side door, and got that pedal pushed down.
It took a while before Jack and H--- walked back. But they were successful! There was a way down to the water here. And a lot of rutted dirt roads through the woods, where people have obviously been fourwheeling. There was a large, flat beach of river-rounded rock (say it three times fast) with evidence of fourth of july fireworks, and a firepit. but blessedly little trash.
We unloaded the raft from the trailer and pumped it up to full inflation with the two foot pumps. We folded up the tarp that was covering it. Then we took a break. Everyone drank a beverage, and we ate the sandwiches we'd bought earlier. Good! ham and smoked gouda for me. Jim had lost his sandwich! did he leave it on the roof of the truck? It was never seen again. But we all fed him bits and pieces from our meals, so he didn't go hungry.
Jack drove the truck and trailer back up to the road, and walked back surprisingly quickly. We put on our PFDs (personal floatation devices) and got out on the river.
It was great! The Nooksack is broad and swiftly moving, but no whitewater was in evidence where we were. It was an overcast but mild day. It was quiet, and we had the time to really look at the trees, the wildlife (we saw a bald eagle).
It was easy to see where rock has been dumped to preserve the bank at some places. This isn't as picturesque as a natural river bank, but I can see why people do it. Everyone who wanted to got a turn at the oars and the rowframe, steering the boat. I didn't do it this outing; maybe some other time.
The most interesting landscape feature was a big cliff of shale and clay, carved out at a bend in the river. the swallows had carved holes in the cliff for their nests.
We got out at Nugent's Corners, where we'd left Jim's car. He, Jack, and H-- drove back to our beginning, while Moses and I reposed ourselves on the side of the raft and drank soda. I was intrigued by a woman and two children who rode by on a horse and two ponies. I don't know if they were training the ponies, or teaching the kids to ride, but the woman guided them to walk the ponies into the river, about to the depth of their bellies. Then they walked out again, and disappeared into the trees.
We got the raft back on the trailer without too much difficulty. I think we need more tie-downs and bungee cords, though! Or a more fitted cover that can always be put on in the exact same way.
We all drove back to town, then Jack had to go to the VikingCon committee meeting. H--- and I rested at home, dining on rice and red beans.
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