There are lots of things to enjoy about rivers and streams. You can read more in last week’s perspective River Through It or the next week’s Tame the River

Rivers have power to fulfill their purpose of moving massive amounts of water from the land to be collected in larger unmoving bodies. Safe ones. Humans like to play with that power.

White water rafting is exhilarating. When we took our family to Tennessee years ago, one activity everyone wanted to do was rafting. No horror story here, fortunately, but do this activity with some caution.

At a calm part our guide asked if anyone wanted to ride the bull. I looked around the raft to see who might volunteer. There was an older couple, who were probably my age now, that were a definite no. My three young kids and my wife were the other passengers. I said to him, “I guess it will be me.” He instructed me to place my paddle in the raft, then swing my legs over the front and hold the rope. After getting in position, I noticed some wavy water ahead of us.

Then he hollers, “By the way, lean back.”

The front of the raft bent downward over the wave until I was in the standing position. Holding the rope was not going to keep me on the raft, it would put me under it when I slid off the front. I suddenly remembered to lean back hard. That is what kept me in the raft. Riding the bull, he says. A bull tries to throw you off, and that is a pretty accurate statement for how I felt on that ride.

By the way, watch out for those ‘by the way’ instructions. They may be the most important thing that person has to say.

Have a Happy Friday.