Stitching Your Soul to the Universe

This is one of those adventures where it is nearly impossible to describe the feelings elicited by the overall experience.  I'm going to try, but understand this will in no way be comparable to the experience.  It all starts with a plan to go an overnight canoe/kayak float trip.  None of us had ever done it, but we had exuberance, enthusiasm and the right gear to hop in the car and go!

The two companions are Julie and Mim.  Women I love dearly and count among the many mothers I've been so blessed to have in my life. 

 

We set out with expectations of frightful weather, but again, exuberance and complete freedom in leisure and each other.  The canoe and kayak were loaded with a little more than a whole camp and off we went.  The day was filled with swimming and laughing and more than a few wonderful moments.

The snail that traveled 3 hours from my house, to the river, to crawling up my leg in the kayak, to finally crawling over the kayak edge to oblivion. 

Beautiful scenes were non-stop with crystal clear water.

We totally look like a modern Lewis and Clark, lady-style.  It's the hats and shades.  They bring an air of adventure authority.

 

 

Some additional highlights from the day:

• Seeing a snake "carrying" another snake across the water in it's mouth. 
• Teamwork in traversing baby rapids in canoes full of camping gear. 
• Everyone giving the kayak a try and full integrating with the water.
• Endless swimming holes.
• Bright sun, clouds, a tiny rain storm that we saw coming before it got to us (very cool).
• Bluffs covered in bird nests built of mud.
• Oodles of birds.
• PB&J sandwiches on the beach.

 

The day was divine, but the night was over the top, endlessly better.  We finally picked the right sandbar out of many.  It was quite long and about 100 feet across before hitting dense foliage that was certainly filled with poison ivy...  We made camp and after those chores were done, did what could be best described as an otter float.  Mim was in first and appeared to be having quite a time getting back up stream.  Unbeknownst to us, the current in our site was serenely dramatic!  The trick was to hop in the river upstream about 300 feet and float to the rapids.  The effect is like an otter when you watch someone from shore.  Nothing but toes and heads above water.  Super fun.  Much like the sled hill, it beckoned repeat attempts and resulted in massive joy every time.  We made a delicious dinner of cous-cous and pasta primavera.  Being early evening, we just kicked back on the beach afterwards and took a cat nap. 

 

This is where the title comes into play.  As I was laying there, looking up at a blue cloud filled sky, I got the strangest sensation.  The only way to describe it is simply that the universe was stitching my soul together.  I was in a surreal moment of feeling everything and nothing, completely alive, but nearly ethereal.  There was no sound, no care, just maximum peace and bliss.  I wish I could describe it better, but it was like being a womb, just being prepared for the next part of life, taking a break from everything to heal from daily battles and the chaos of mind that can plague from time to time.  Astounding and impactful.

 

After the minor break, we set to fire building.  The whippoorwills were in full swing.  Sunset was in full glory and we were three women in fellowship with each other, and the Buffalo River.  The next great event was the lightening bugs.  The bluff wall was positively covered in them.  Thousands upon thousands in a frenzy of light and movement and orchestrated activity.  It was beautiful and overwhelming and seemingly almost unreal.  They continued all night and into the dark of morning.  

 

The morning started with a deep fog over the valley containing the river (a gift from the brief rain storm from the night before).  I heard two "otters" swimming in the river, which of course were two mothers laughing and floating in an early morning effort to revive from a night of sleeping on rocks.  Tougher gals than I to ply into cold, wet bathing suits from the day before for a chilly morning swim!

 

We packed after a lengthy breakfast composed of coffee, corn, oatmeal (with all kinds of goodies in to the tune of blueberries, almonds, crasins, granola, etc.) hot cocoa and any other little snacks in our food sack.  A cloudy morning quickly relinquished to blazing sun.  There were many more rapids the second day and all were traversed with the skill of day into river floating savants.  We laughed more and more.  Swam in more swimming holes and crawled over peaceful calm to rushing waters all to the take out point.  We people watched as we waited for our shuttle having a last minute snack of amazing cheese and fruits. 

 

Nothing -- nothing could have been more perfect.  An amazing landscape, with two women I love so dearly and nature singing all around us. 

Day 1 Survival Photo! Lindi and Mim

Day 1 Survival Photo: Lindi and Julie

View Downstream from Campsite

Fully stocked Canoe / Camp

One of the Calm Moments - Placid Waters and Exceptional Canoe Company, Julie

Kayaker Extraordinaire! - Mim

We smell like sunscreen and victory!  End of the line: Julie, Lindi and Mim.

This might be the photo for future adoption papers.  Mom's that kayak and sleep on rocks.  Seriously flawless attributes. 

 

 

A few hilarious highlights:

• The moment you find out that one traveler thinks the poop shovel is used to move poop.  Thankfully we discussed the proper usage, to dig a hole for said function, before any shovels were harmed in the duration of the trip.
• When an early morning journeyer looses track of the mystery critter on the other side of the river and has to stay on watch to make sure it isn't journeying over to the camp side of the river.  Critters have the best camouflage. 
• When you are standing in waist deep water, chatting and reminiscing about the last few days and an ANACONDA, I mean really scary log/stick floats right behind you causing a full body twirl, escape, shout maneuver.  Classy moment.....

I still can't believe the inaugural overnight kayak has occurred.  There will be many, many more.