A Perfect Day
The day was perfect day for the end of a week long paddle along the Yukon River. The August sun still just circling high in the sky was finally providing the long needed heat we desired following three days of rain. The light breeze that you can usually find near any running water was a bit more intense on the mighty Yukon but well appreciated as it kept the annoying flies and mosquitoes at bay. The only audible sounds that had been appreciated for days were that of the silty water sliding along the underside of the plastic canoe, the rain falling onto our high-tech fabrics, and the occasional wood on gunwale sound made from a “J” stroke that strays just slightly off course. And on this perfect day at the end of a perfect trip we would trade all these simple sounds, and more important to me, this simple and comfortable lifestyle for the sounds of man. With each stroke we moved closer to the satisfaction of a trip complete and already dreaming about trips of tomorrow. It was indeed the perfect day.
2 comments:
I enjoyed reading your story and could picture it from your description. I particularly enjoyed the way you started and ended with the same words.
Your story reminded me of how the "perfect days" of Alaska entice outdoor enthusiasts. I'm not sure if there's a set ratio, but I'm pretty sure in a person's Alaskan life it's about a 5:1 ratio of soggy to sunny. The photograph you chose shows the great day in sunglasses. In your writing, the description of the sounds as you paddled showed you enjoyed even the rainy parts of your journey.
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