River of Love

Romance on the water.

Entering the fifth and final Class V rapid of the day, I watch as the point boat endo-flips, with the raft and all of its passengers disappearing amongst crashing whitewater. I freeze up and stare wide-eyed at the chaos downstream, before Ted snaps me back to the present. He looks me dead in the eye and asks, “Do you trust me?”

Do I have a choice? I think, but instead a measly “yes” quivers out. After a quick pep talk and a rundown of the rapid ahead, we’re smoothly paddling through a 12-foot waterfall drop, my paddlestrokes led half by intuition but confirmed by Ted’s guidance.

We learn a lot about each other’s characters while on the water—we experience anticipation, conflict, fear, and recovery responses, but also thrill, teamwork, and appreciation for the wildness of the natural environment around us.

We eddy out into the pool below, the recent swimmers clambering out on the banks nearby, everyone smiling ear-to-ear. I look over at my paddle partner, with damp curls wrapping around his helmet as he hands me my favorite beer, a box of Cheez-Its, and an extra fleece layer to put on now that the rapids are over. He gives me a big hug and kiss on the cheek as we giddily recap the last eight miles of our river run. My first time in a two-person raft rig wasn’t so bad after all! Of course, it was due to the fact that I stayed securely in the raft among the many waves, holes, and rocks we navigated—but also very much due to my paddling partner.

The sun is warm, there’s not a cloud in the sky, the leaves are in peak fullness, the river is sparkling, and I am in one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. I giggle as Ted friendly-heckles our fellow swimmers, then watch him take in our surroundings and this moment just as much as I am. Our eyes meet and no words are needed. Ah, the romance of the river!

Spending time on the water, whether it’s for a daytrip or multi-day excursion, transports you out of the hustle of everyday life and into a romanticized reality. Between mind-melding while paddling rapids, brushing your teeth under the stars, and nestling under a makeshift tarp during a rainstorm because you forgot to pack a tent, life takes on a mystical and intimate form. We are present and in tune with ourselves, our surroundings, and one another. We aren’t distracted by social media or work emails, or consumed by materialism and consumerism.

Life becomes raw and rugged—even feral at times. We watch daily sunrises and sunsets, explore tributary creeks and waterfalls, and sit atop overlooks of river canyons. But we also experience tiring days of pushing boats to camp, long days in the sun, hangovers, extreme weather conditions, and difficult group dynamics.

They say the first river you run, runs through your veins for the rest of your life.

We learn a lot about each other’s characters while on the water—we experience anticipation, conflict, fear, and recovery responses, but also thrill, teamwork, and appreciation for the wildness of the natural environment around us. River-running can tell you a lot about people—more than you’d initially see on the surface. Do they like to call all the shots? Do they like to play it safe, or take risks? Are they going to explain every run from put-in to take-out in a patronizing manner? Are they knit-picky and intent on re-rigging to their liking every strap you already rigged? Do they like to booze-cruise with friends all day, or take pit-stops to explore the nooks and crannies of the canyon? Good or bad, these experiences can potentially drive a wedge, resulting in a divorce float, or can bring you immensely closer as the river does her matchmaking.

They say the first river you run, runs through your veins for the rest of your life. What you don’t often hear about is how the people who were there alongside will affect you. It’s safe to say, they will very well hold a place in your heart as well. Be warned: you might fall in love with more than just the river.