Anticipation

When I first moved here I was delighted by all the water. Back on the east coast water was always the center piece for most outdoor activities. There where rubber rafts, aluminum boats, wooden boats, sail boats, ski boats and cabin cruisers that were all a part of my former life.

For my first few years I only participated in the water as a viewer or as an angler from the shore. It wasn’t enough. One day I ended up kayaking in Nehalem Bay in a rented kayak and I was hooked. At that time, the kayak rental company sold their kayaks off at the end of the season. I added my name to their list in July to purchase two of them.

I felt like a child again anticipating the day when my kayaks would be available for pick-up. I realize now that most adults these days never have to wait for anything. It’s all now is about instant gratification. If you want something, you go get it. If you can’t afford it you put it on credit.

As a child I had to save my money to buy a bicycle and many of the other things my kid money was saved for. You could gage how long it would take my keeping track of your savings rate. You could spend the time pining away in anticipation.

Here I was, and adult pining away with anticipation for my kayaks. I would think of them as I fell asleep every night and they would be my first thought in the morning. I thought about the waters I’d put into and the wondrous things I’d see and the currents I’d feel while drifting. In my mind I could see the paddle dipping into the water leaving water-like foot prints and I paddled forward.

It was early October when I got the call that I could pick them up. I don’t recall much about the drive, or even strapping them down to my utility trailer. However, I do remember there being several hours of day light left when I returned home. I took one kayak to the landing on the Lewis and Clark River by the bridge that is near the Grange. Just as I had fantasized, my launch was perfect. The tide was coming in and I paddled and drifted up stream to view parts of the river I had never seen before. It was truly beautiful.

To seal the deal in my mind that I had made the right purchase, I came around a bend in the river to see the sun shining between gray clouds casting a spot light on several vine maples that were in full autumn color on the bank. The water was still and their reflection doubled the visible color.

At that time the tide went slack, and I was able to float there in the colorful theater for nearly a half hour before the tide started pulling me back to the launch.

When ever I see the maples changing color I am taken back to that day. I consider dusting off a kayak and reliving the experience all over again.