"We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time." -T.S. Eliot


Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Chapter 2 - Dam It All

Sparky and Mad Dog awoke to a calm sunny morning. They figured it was gonna be a nice easy day. They paddled their way along toward the reservoir behind ol' Priest Rapids Dam. They stopped in the nearby town to try and pick up some beer, but not without stoppin to take a quick dip in the river. It was the strangest town, looked like no one had lived there more than 5 years. Everything just seemed as new as could be. 

Mad Dog volunteered to hitchhike up to the store, and got picked up by and old Indian woman. She was as sweet as could be and said she'd help anyone who needed it since it was Labor Day.  


So those boys got their beer and stopped under a tree for lunch. 

It was slow going along the reservoir. The river was still and the wind was blowin' against 'em. It took forever to make it to the dam, and it was hot too. Poor ol' Sparky's pale skin couldn't take it so he turned red all over, but their work had just begun. They loaded the canoe on the cart and started walkin'. And boy is that cart ever heavy. They had to stop every ten minutes to keep from dyin there in the road. 

They were all confused on which way to go too. They didn't want to have to pull that canoe up any hills. While they were sittin' on the road collaboratin' on what to do, the old Indian woman drove up and told them that strait ahead was a spot to put the canoe in the river. Those boys thought it was mighty good luck that the old woman had shown up again. Mad Dog reckoned she was a shaman and was guiding us to our destination. Sparky agreed and the boys kept walkin. 


They finally made it to the water and both swore up and down they'd hoped they'd never see another dam as long as they lived. But they new it wasn't true because there's quite a few more on the way to Portland.

Sparky caught some lunch and they headed down to find a camp spot. 


They found a pretty island on the far side of the river and made out for it. The river is quick on this side of the dam and has a mighty quick current. You don't even have to paddle and you're movin along at quite the pace. 

By and by those boys barely made camp by sundown and were dog tired, but couldn't sleep on account of how much fun they just had. 




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