Chapter 1 - The Adventure Begins

It sure did take Sparky and Mad Dog a long time to get ready, but by mid afternoon they were on their way. Niether one of them had ever gone on any kind of canoe trip before. I'd say they were pretty green on the river, and that first day the wind was a'blowin' just as hard as ever. 

But sho' enough they headed out, they had to make it to Portland. Those boys got learned quick. About two hours into their first day, they had to make a crossing where the wind was blowin' like the devil. Why those boys didn't think they'd ever come across these kind of waves. They were breakin' on the surface and that wind would blow the spray right on your face. As if Mother Nature was spittin' on ya for thinkin' yourself mean enough to conquer such a river. The waves were breakin' over the sides of the canoe, and the outriggers that Sparky made did more bad than good. They paddled and paddled 'til there was no more left in either of 'em. 

By and by those boys made it to a little inlet 'bout 8 miles down the river and set up camp for the first night. They were so glad to be out of that mess, and both prayed they'd never see wind like that again. 

Mad Dog cooked up some rice and beans and them boys were mighty proud of what they had accomplished. They reckoned this river wouldn't get the best of them yet. 

They sipped their whiskey and watched the stars, tryin not to think about the dam they had to cross the next day.