Canoeing Crystal River-Part Two

More white water excitement began as we picked up speed at a narrow bend and sluiced through some more rapids. Pushing off from the rocks and yelling “Whoa!” or “Look out for that one!” we broke clear.

No sooner done when Ruthie warned, “Here come some falls!”

Though dropping only a foot at most, their approaching line looked ominous. Plus, by now we’d stowed our sweaty life jackets beneath the seats. Fat lot of good they’ll do us there--I thought.

Fighting not to tip, over we went and splashed down, the water flying everywhere! Right back to drifting easily again and grinning faces dripping, we high-fived like dare-devils who’d survived Niagara.

 Farther along we passed large boat piers and atop the bluffs stood some very impressive homes. Well-tended flower beds and lawns merged with borders of wild vegetation along the water’s edge. The owners obviously took care to keep landscaping and gardening from intruding on the river’s natural habitat. While considering how to better do this at our place, my thoughts were interrupted.

“Look at all these perch!”

As named, Crystal River clearly displayed the large school of dark-banded perch gliding over the   gravel bottom. Keeping company alongside, they ranged from eight inches to over a foot. No doubt, the homeowners often came down here to hook quick and easy meals.

The river next forked into a Y and we steered into the left branch. Rounding the bend, we sighted the stone bridge with its two arched tunnels. Drawing steadily closer, we obeyed Jake and aimed for the left one.

“Does the top of that tunnel look kind of low to you?”

“Yeah, we’ll have to duck our heads!”

“It’s dark under there, too!”

Too late to turn back, the sped-up current pulled us ever faster to the arch growing ever larger. Crouched down with paddles pulled in, we both yelled, “Hang on!”

We needn’t have ducked, there being at least two feet of headspace. Seconds later and no time to think about it, we came out and bounced over another waterfall! It was lower than our first one but after slowing down we traded more high fives anyway. We were now rapids-riding, waterfalls-plunging, tunnel-shooting river devils!

Grinning like happy idiots, we looked back with the same thought-Want to do it again?

Chickening out, I shook my head, “Better not push our luck!”

Ruthie nodded, “Besides, there’s the portage ahead.”

Rejoining the river after a short carry over the neck of land, we merely steered while cruising through a wooded residential area. Showing how quickly its mood could change, the river suddenly swept us into the closest thing to big time rapids we’d seen yet.

We got through okay, but I looked back. “Whew!  What’ll this river hit us with next?”

She laughed shakily, “Whatever it wants to, dear!”

And it did, switching us from slow parts to whirling us through boulder-filled turns, on and on, until finally emptying us out onto a wide glassy pond. Bordered with broad clusters of dark green lily pads topped with bright yellow flowers. It was a pretty sight. Even prettier on the far shore, a banner read; Ding’s Dock Landing. We’d made it!

When we called in it was Jake who answered. “OK, be there in a few!”

As we waited I bragged, “Sweetie, are we a couple of river devils or what!?”

Completely ignoring me, Ruthie saw Jake’s truck coming. “Good-here he is and I’m starved!” Facing me, she smiled, “Dear, the first restaurant we see, you’re treating us devils to dinner, right?”