VIDEO

Thanks to Dominic and Jeanne for filming the awesome video. Music cred: Empire of the Sun “Standing on the Shore.”

————————————————————————————————————————————–

After leaving Willow Creek by inflatable mattress around 2 p.m., eight brave souls made it to Hoopa.

We floated down the Trinity River for about 11 miles. Warm water. Tree speckled hills. Nudists. We saw it all. Our group thought we would be floating down white water rapids and calm streams for a mere two hours or so. When the sun started going down, we realized we were wrong.

I’m beginning to think we may have made  better time if we had walked. But, that wasn’t the point. The plan was to tube and enjoy the scenery and scorching weather. Deep breathes in, deep breathes out. Silly stresses and worries melted away.

Dominic and I missed the boat (pun intended!) on buying tubes. Apparently Humboldt County stops stocking them EVERYWHERE after July. So, we decided to get air mattresses. Why not?

Well floating was fun, until we got to the rapids. The mattresses had a way of getting sucked in and flipped. I think I flipped at least four times. The possible fifth time was avoided by walking along a shore.

It started to get dark. The sun was going down and shadows covered the warm river waters. I was worried. I tend to be sort of a cautious adventuress despite the many adventures I attempt. Being out of my element and not being able to stop or say no really scares me sometimes. I like to be in control. I was not in control. I depended on the river and the strength and knowledge of others to pull through.

I slapped ‘squitos off my arms waiting in the parking lot. I loaded my mattress and hopped in the car. Coldplay sung sweetly to me on the ride home as I looked up at the full moon. It was a beautiful day and night.