The Senior Unit headed out to Bastrop State Park to begin the weekend, where we were entertained by an Attwater's Pocket Gopher, a relaxed Eastern Cottontail, and even a Red Headed Woodpecker. After an afternoon hike and a good dinner, it was time to relax and prepare for the more adventurous part of the weekend. Sabbath morning we had a hearty breakfast, broke camp, and headed over to pick up our canoes to start our two-day journey down the Colorado River.
Our river journey was spread across two days; the first an 8+ mile stretch to Scout's Island, the second a final 6+ run to Fisherman's Park in Bastrop. After safety briefings, the Pathfinders geared up, loaded the canoes, and set off down the river. It was a wonderful Sabbath day, enjoying the natural; world around us. For most of the first day, we were alone on the river, only occasionally spotting a few folks fishing. Great Blue Herons would leap from the riverside and spread their broad wings, flying just ahead of us. Birds sang from the treetops and brush along the river banks. The water moved swiftly after a week of heavy rain. We had one "incident" the first day when one canoe got caught in a current on the outside of a bend and caught in a strainer, they kept their wits and recovered without tipping over. Our training sessions before the trip, and practice at teamwork, helped keep things safe. After a final sharp bend past the Wilbarger Cliffs, we arrived at Scout's island, and scouted for a good place to make camp.
Our island experience (we had the whole island to ourselves) included some time to cool off in the Colorado River, practice recovering from a flipped canoe, an evening campfire, some noisy Barred Owls, and of course the "joy" of having to dig your own poo-hole... Our time alone on the island was perfect for both fellowship and practicing self-reliance. Each Pathfinder brought their own dinner and breakfast, cooked over little stoves, and enjoyed s'mores together around the campfire. Though the owls were a little noisy at night, they went all out in the morning, waking us up well before any alarm clocks went off (or the sun rose). With our nature-inspired early start, we broke camp, hauled the gear back to the canoes, had a breakfast, and got back on the river.
Sunday morning started cal, but around an early bend the river started to pull much faster than it appeared, and one canoe got pulled into a strainer and flipped. Quickly everyone went into rescue mode - the two flipped canoers held on to their canoe and paddles, two canoes went in to take them into shore, another to hold their canoe. Then one team took the flipped canoe to the other shore (the water was moving to fast to bring it back upstream), the other two each ferried one of the flipped canoers across the river to their canoe. We emptied the water) all the gear was still in the canoe - the Pathfinders really proved their knot tying skills), loaded up, and headed back down the river. It was impressive seeing the Pathfinders pull together quickly, avoid panic, and quickly put their training into action. With "The Incident" behind us, it was onwards down the river, passing through a few areas of not quite rapids (but at least a little bumpy), and finally ending up back in Bastrop, mission accomplished. Once we returned the canoes, changed, and loaded our gear, it was off to Sandy's for some well deserved ice cream to finish the weekend.
We did see plenty of wildlife on this trip - a chance to encounter the created world and interact with nature. The pocket gopher was particularly fun to watch, birds flew everywhere, flowers were in bloom, fish jumped in the river, snakes swam through the water, armadillos and squirrels roamed the island, nighthawks soared overhead, damselflies and dragonflies lighted on twigs by shore, mayflies and long-jawed orb-weavers battled (sometimes in the canoes), and our river journey was serenaded by the summer soundtrack of white-eyed vireos and painted buntings. It is when we have a chance to get out of the city that we can appreciate the beauty and complexity of God's creation!
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