Today I’ve been reflecting on the river I paddled on yesterday morning. I usually walk my SUP board from my home down to it regularly so yesterday morning I thought I’d get in a paddle before rain moved into the area. I checked the radar to make sure and we were in a wide-enough window of clear skies so I excitedly donned my PFD which is a unique contraption folded at my waist and inflatable when needed by pulling a handle at my right hip. Also, since I started later than normal I grabbed a hat, sunshades and of course my paddle and board.

After the short walk to the river I scouted it prior to unsaddling my board from the wheeled carrier and had some concerns. The river was definitely flowing much higher than normal but it wasn’t unmanageable. Of course I would be paddling against current when I returned so I stood and watched it for a few moments before scampering back to my board and going for it.

The narrow part of the river where I live has a lot of overhanging trees. They were much closer to my head and two unsuccessfully tried to knock me off my board. But the muddy water cleared up when I got to the Cold Hole, not far from my put-in beach so I was happy. Of course, had I really thought about it, I would have realized that the water had just started to rise. That bit of inspiration came later.

A mile and a half down river and marvelous sights to behold filled me with raw joy.  When I arrived at the Devil’s Hole a juvenile great blue heron flew back to the nest with a parental unit who then regurgitated breakfast for said youngster after a full-blown hissy fit was acted out by the hungry bird. I stopped paddling and watched the drama with keen interest and then continued down river.

Both juvenile ospreys had flown away from their nest overlooking Bemis Bay. I was excited to know of their graduation from standing on the edge of the nest and flapping their large wings to being able to soar over the beautiful cypress forest, river and bays.

The skies started to look dark and heavy so I turned back toward home and picked up my pace. It felt great to dig deep and move my Yolo Cruiser speedily upriver.

When I arrived back at the bridge the water level had increased so I couldn’t do my usual hand-exchange with the long paddle. I had to use care not to hit the bottom of the bridge.

The Cold Hole was looking rather interesting by the time I got back. The flow on the narrow part of the river had significantly increased in the hour since I left. I looked around and realized I could take my board out on a neighbor’s dock and walk back home if need be but that would mean leaving an expensive carbon fiber board at the mercy of honest (hopefully) people. I checked out the flow and decided to chance it. My only concern was the small beach still being there when I arrived back at it.

It was a very tough paddle. All manner of debris was floating past but mostly small items so I dodged them. And I knelt down on my board to add a bit of insurance to my safety. Falling into flood water,besides being a health hazard, could cause serious injury and stress. The sphincter factor was definitely there but I made it to the almost-disappeared beach which had evolved into a tiny bit of sand.

Great job, I thought. Whew! That was a rush.

An hour later, after eating breakfast and showering, I walked with my mom to the July 4th parade in Magnolia Springs and we walked along the Cold Hole. I looked up river, to where I had struggled not long ago, and witnessed a raging river. The Cold Hole had become a swirling mass of logs, trees and debris. Just upriver there were muddy, standing waves. I realized how very lucky I had been but also how very reckless I had been with my safety.

Several years ago I did some swift water rescue training in North Carolina and in reflecting on the river and my decision to paddle it, I realize I made serious errors in judgment. First, flash flooding brings water from other areas to streams and rivers. We had very little rain in our area but just east of us they had torrential rainfall. Why did I forget that? And water levels can rise quickly….what was I thinking? It takes less than 6 inches of moving water to knock a person down. Moving water is a powerful force. So what’s with my lapse of judgment yesterday?

I cave dive and scuba dive in the ocean, I’ve rappelled and done other outdoor activities that others might consider high-risk. I have never thought of them as high-risk because I have always trained well and applied my brain power to the safety rules. Yesterday I made a decision that wasn’t smart. Had I gone an hour later I could have gotten seriously stressed and possibly injured. But it was a reminder that sometimes people don’t think about the power of water.

I realize I was careless with my safety yesterday. It wasn’t intentional yet it was reckless. Two other times in my life flood waters have challenged me. In one case my younger brother and I had to free our horses that were trapped in our stable when a flash flood occurred at night. We were terrified yet we donned our PFD’s and held on to each other and helped our horses to safety. The other was when I was fifteen and drove through a flooded dirt road in my dad’s truck. No cell phones, deserted dirt road with an old wooden bridge. Water was up past the door….I didn’t know how dangerous it was and only by the protection of my guardian angels did I make it through that one. I’m still dancing with flood waters and hopefully learning from mistakes. Today, I’m having flashes of insight but yesterday they were no where to be found. I am grateful for my life….so I want to be careful and aware of potential and real dangers. Sometimes its difficult to separate imagined from real dangers…and sometimes it’s not.

Here’s a few precautions to keep in mind when we have heavy rains. First, if water is covering a roadway, turn around…don’t drown. The road could be washed out and what you think is a few inches of water could be several feet. If you have to walk in flood waters, do NOT walk in rushing water. Remember it only takes 6 inches of rushing water to knock a person down. Less than two feet of water can float a large truck or bus. NEVER try to drive through a flooded roadway. And last of all, flood water can contain raw sewage, industrial toxins, pesticide run-off from farms and lawns, and dangerous debris. If you come in contact with it wash immediately with hot water and soap.