Somewhere in America exists a town that is truly unique. The
town is comprised of one café, a couple raft guide companies, and one of these
best rivers in the United States. The river is what brings people here and the
community is what makes people stay. The majority of the working population of
this town is comprised of raft guides in their early adulthood. The center of
town is the café where everybody will lazily congregate when not working or
kayaking. Time moves differently here. There is no cell phone reception here
and therefore little need for technologies’ distractions.
It is a town of extremes. The down
time spent in the café is contrasted by the thrill and fear of kayaking one of
the most deadly sections of whitewater in America. The friendships formed here
are also extreme in their own way. This is a place that fosters strong and deep
connections with people you may never see again when the season on the river
comes to a close. The town is a temporary home for those misfits of society
that choose to spend their summers living broke, dirty, and happy.
The river is the lifeblood of this
town. When the river is in season people flock from around the world to
experience it. When it gets cold most people will leave. Friendships blossom
from sharing the river together. People from all skill levels will kayak
together and no one is excluded. At night people will camp together, share
stories, and get wild. Memories are made that will last a lifetime.
From a surface level the town is
pleasant, but doesn’t look like much. If you commit yourself to the lifestyle
of wandering in pursuit of good people and fun water you will likely stumble
upon this paradise. The few amount of people here is what makes this community
special and why I will leave it unnamed. Like most wild and beautiful parts of
the country it may fall victim to population growth. For now its luster
remains.
This town has given me a lot. For
the moment it felt like home. I’m grateful to have found it and to have been so
generously included in the community. I will think back to my experiences here
often as a guide of how I’d like to live my life in the future.
The Town
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