THE LAST RIVER MILE

I went on my first canoe float trip on an Ozark Missouri stream at twelve years old, in 1965. That started a love affair with canoeing and kayaking that has lasted sixty years. That first float covered about 90 miles on the Current River. On my very first day in a canoe on a river our trained paddling group covered thirty-two miles. (I have NEVER canoed that much in one day since!)

Experienced floaters in my region will recognize stream names like the Current, Jack’s Fork, the North Fork of the White River, the Spring River, The Meramec, Huzzah Creek, the Courtois (pronounce “Cut-away” by canoeists, for some reason), the Big Piney, the Little Piney, the Gasconade, and others. I’ve been on them all. Most of my floats have been day trips, with a few overnighters. Generally, my float trips have covered anywhere from five-to-seven miles up to fifteen miles or so in a day. As I age, the length of time on the water leans shorter.

In my experience, the last mile or so of a canoe trip creates an interesting phenomenon. Most paddlers get tired by that point, and they’re ready to call it a day. Simply put, the last mile is the longest. It’s as if time warps and slows, or geographic distance elongates. To be honest, I’m tempted (if I’m REALLY tired) to wonder if we’ve floated into some kind of Twilight Zone on a trip that will never end. And then the takeout landmark comes in sight around the next bend in the river. At that point I feel an odd mix of relief and sadness; relief that I can put down the paddle and rest, but sadness that another great day on a river is over.

I’m approaching the last river mile of my life. The feelings are much the same as the last mile on a stream. The last long mile affords me time to make a lot of observations about things. I have strong opinions on a multiplicity of things involving faith, politics, and just life. And I’m energized by engaging the thoughts of others, whether they concur with mine, challenge mine, or just invite whole new possibilities of thought. That’s what this space will be about.

I invite you to paddle with me. I’ll see you around the next bend in the river.