The Muskingum

If you guessed that the current volume of writing indicates pre-trip displacement activity, you’re correct. Tomorrow I’ll leave for a multi-day kayaking trip on the Muskingum River.

The genesis of this goes back years, when I spent a long weekend at an inn on the river. We went for a walk and came upon some women with canoes, camping on the river. They were retracing a trip one of their father’s took decades before that encompassed the length of the river. That planted a seed.

I ruminated about the rustic countryside and manually operated locks on the serene waterway. But, the seed didn’t germinate for a couple years. I finally planned a trip and opened it up to anyone in our paddling club.

A relatively new whitewater canoeist signed up. She asked to borrow a kayak. I had my doubts, but she was very athletic. And, would be a lot of fun to have along.

The day before departure, she showed up on my doorstep. She had second thoughts about the kayak and wanted me to canoe with her. The only tandem we had between us was my whitewater canoe and that was slow and didn’t like to go straight. I wanted her to come along and told myself she was a strong paddler.

It was a mistake. We were a turtle among cheetahs. And, worked our butts off. I could hardly wait for sundown to cram my tired bones into a sleeping bag. The subsequent days weren’t any better.

The surroundings were great and I envied the kayakers effortlessly cutting through the glassy waters. I vowed that I would return in a more suitable craft to fully enjoy it. Somehow, years passed without that coming to pass.

Until tomorrow. Can’t wait.