Contemplating the Stars

The Finans on the river.

As you may already know, some of the best times of Casey's and my life together have happened on the river. The Current River, to be more specific. Casey and I met on a float trip, got engaged on a float trip, and make float trips a part of our monthly endeavors whenever the weather allows. So allow me to give you some sense, an admittedly inadequate substitute for the authentic experience, of what floating is like and why we love it so much. This past weekend, Casey and I did our annual float trip for Casey's birthday, which is coming up on August 7th. This is a float trip that Casey's dad started with him when he was about 10 years old, so it's something he has been doing for over 20 years (yes, his dad was a bit jealous when Casey started taking me on his birthday float trips instead of his father, but don't worry, they still get their float trips in, just the two of them. This year, they have one scheduled for October. Brrr!).

First rule of float trips: We generally try to avoid Saturdays on the river, because of all the crowds. After all, the whole point of a float trip is to get away from everyone, right?

This past weekend, we did a Sunday-Monday float. We float the Current River, which is about two and a half hours away from St. Louis. For the first time since we have been floating together, Casey and I actually got our stuff packed up and ready to go the night before we left, giving us the opportunity to get an early start. However, even leaving before 8 am, we still don't get on the river until after 11, between stopping for the traditional Hardees breakfast, getting gas, packing up the bus to shuttle us to the river...you get the picture.

So bright and early at the crack of 11:30, we are on the river, just the two...err...three of us. Did I mention that Trekker LOVES to swim? He is working on his 7th float trip---more than I've been on with Casey! The greatest part is that he swims by the canoe the entire trip. Well, until we get ahead of him and he starts whining like he's about to drown. Don't believe him though! The minute Casey pulls him into the canoe, he's whining to get back out.

Second rule of float trips: Just because you are out in nature, doesn't mean you have to pack light.

Trek is in the boat, but not for long.

As you can see, we don't skimp on luxuries just because we are sleeping under the stars. We have packing down to an art. Everything has its place in the canoe. We usually find a spot on the river bank around 3 or 4 o'clock, at the latest. Generally, a good camping spot has a sand bar (mostly rocks), a good swimming hole, some fire wood, and if you are lucky, some bluffs to jump off of. We picked a new spot this time around, and it had all that and more...

A cozy sandbar with just enough room for our tent, chairs, and fire.

A beaver dam just down the river with plenty of firewood.

And bluffs across the river for a beautiful view and a fun jumping spot.

Wood collecting comes next. We have to gather plenty for a big fire. After more play, some swimming, and sunbathing, it is time for dinner. We always grill steaks on the river. Yum, yum, food never tastes as good as it does on the river.

Chef Casey prepping the steaks.

Once it gets dark, we use our wood for a great big fire. Then, it’s all about sitting around the fire and just drifting. One of the greatest things about the river is that all of life’s cares and concerns just kinda fade away. Instead of talking about what we have to do tomorrow or how work is going, we talk about the beauty of the stars and our amazement that God knows the history of all the rocks on the beach. We just soak up the glory of God in his creation!

Third rule of the river: Don’t sleep on the ground.

It’s hard! Casey and I got an air mattress as a wedding gift, but unfortunately, it sprung a leak after one of its first uses. For a while, the leak was small enough that when we woke up in the middle of the night on a sinking mattress, we could just pump some air back into it and go to sleep. Not so this time. Casey woke up in the wee hours of the a.m. to the SOUND of air leaking. The leak had never been THAT big! Sure enough, we found the source---the hole turned into a tear…the diameter of my pinky finger. We resigned ourselves to letting the air out completely and found out exactly how hard the rocky ground really is. I woke up with a huge kink in my neck.

Thankfully, spring-fed river water is a great ice-bath in the morning for any aches and pains!

Morning breakfast is another tasty treat: Casey’s special scrambled eggs, complete with green pepper, onion, and sausage. Then we hang around camp for more of the playing, swimming, and sunbathing before it’s time to pack up camp and head down the river.

Sometimes Trekker likes to get in the canoe up front with me, and by the end of the trip, he is tuckered out for at least a couple of days after! And so are we. Life is good on the river. I look forward to many more trips together.

A tuckered out pup!