Observational Essay on Cedar River

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As these thoughts went through my head many people had stopped on the numerous sandbars to gather their wits, apply more sunscreen, or to just simply stretch their legs. Someone was constantly swimming alongside their canoe, whether it was the excruciating heat of the golden sun that was now high above us, or accidently tipping over their canoe, hoping that no one had witnessed the embarrassment. Conversation, as the trip slowly went along, started to become less and less common as we made our way down the long winding river.

The smells were constantly changing, as we ventured down the Cedar River trying to reach our destination. The smell of manure from the farmers’ cattle along the bank seemed to follow us downstream. As soon as the wind would pick up, it would bring great amounts of fresh air. The fishy smell of the water was another aroma that could not be ridded of, from dead fish floating in the brown water to the actual fish swimming below us the smell was always there. There were areas of the bank where I could tell the water had been a few days before; it was a dark black goop that smelt of decay. This goop at times was hard to avoid and once your fingernails or toenails were covered with this mud it was hard to be rid of, leaving a distinct smell on your skin, which at times made many people’s nostrils flare. This experience for me was just an average summer day for me; living alongside the river through childhood is something I took for granted. Not everyone had the privilege to experience this kind of adventure in his or her day-to-day lives, yet I felt I was the only one who looked at the experience of Mother Nature as being a privilege. Taking the time to think about the reason why things happen in nature can also be a way to help understand that humans are not the highest on the food chain.

After six and a half hours of floating, vigorous paddling, swimming or resting on sandbars we had finally reached our destination. Tan skin was now red; laughter was now just a slight giggle; conversation turned into only a few words. The river had us crawling up the bankside to our campsite with not much strength left. Many did not even attempt to pull their vessels up onto the top of the bank. The adults left the work to their kids or to the younger members of the group. The aroma of the campfire seemed to attract the group into a circle, as the smoke danced into the red horizon where the sun was finishing its last hours of the day little conversation was had. The river had gotten the best of us all; many did not stop to think of the experience they had just had. Mother nature was at its finest on that day, showing her beauty and power, yet at the same time nature revealed to us that if you are not prepared she can be very dangerous. To me, Mother Nature helped me reach a little deeper into the ways of life, my own life and others.