I did go back to Lower Green yesterday… I had paddled it three or four times this summer. However, for the first time this summer the waters receded, and the river looked almost unrecognizable with all its features revealed… It has been a little more than a year since my very first paddle. I was somewhat anxious until I realized that things had changed for me. I was thinking of what Chuck told me a year ago: “I wish I had a camera to make a collage called 1,000 faces of fear”… After Nantahala, the journey down the river was incredibly low key, relaxing and enjoyable. “Enjoyable” doesn’t do my time on the river justice… I glided on the flat waters… I was catching eddies and would get washed out most of them right away… I got to surf for the first time – intentionally – under watchful eye of Hal… I went through the rapids with ease and confidence… I did make at least one mistake that was priceless – luckily I was able to stay upright (note to myself: don’t try to get out of the eddie through the back door – the in-between the currents space is a void that can suck you in and have you for breakfast, lunch and dinner)… I did jump a ledge without intending to… I smiled, and smiled and smiled throughout the entire going-down-the river… There was (even) a moment when I thought that now I understand why people would say that Nantahala is more exciting, more fun than Lower Green… There is quite a contrast between the two… I thought I did not like it, I thought it was too flat… and then I relaxed… It was with and of itself experience to remember forever… There was no talk about harder rivers to conquer… no projections as to when I would be ready for the trip on class III abroad… It was what it was – finite with and of itself… I got to surf… to stay in the friendly wave still, and watch the waves rushing by, the waves piling up on the bow… And then, leisurely, like a seagull I would peel off and out into the safety of an eddie nearby… Perhaps, I was not as gracious as I imagined myself to be… Doesn’t matter… It was incredible with the Little Corky being the exclamation mark of my journey down the river that day… Thank you and MITAKUYE OYASIN
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