Whitewater ( #AtoZChallenge )

        Whitewater presents a thrilling challenge to some while to others it might be the threat of danger or even death.   I mean, seriously--after watching a film like Deliverance do you really want to go down a treacherous whitewater river?

Whitewater

Scene from "Deliverance"  (Metrospirit)

       After watching the movie Deliverance with my friends in 1972, we were psyched up to find our own whitewater adventure.  Well, they were--maybe not so much wimpy me.  Floating down a river was one thing, but I wasn't sure that I was ready to risk life and limb going through torrential waters.  It looks fun, but living a long life seemed more important to me.  Bottom line is that I never tried shooting any whitewater rapids and now at this stage of my life it is unlikely that I ever will.

        But if I did try whitewater rafting where would I go?   In earlier posts I mentioned the Ocooee, Tellico, Snake, and James Rivers.  They all offer whitewater opportunities along with outfitters who will rent you the necessary gear to shoot the rapids those rivers offer.  Then for an ultimate thrill I might go to the Grand Canyon for a teeth-on-edge trip down the iconic whitewater stretch of the Colorado River.  That one sounds heart-stopping indeed!

        However, since this post is for "Day W" of the A to Z Challenge, let me stay within the parameters of this letter.  One place where I would not go is the Wood River of Illinois.  At only 2.4 miles long running though urban areas near St. Louis MO, the Wood River sloughs along until dumping into the Mississippi River.  This is probably a river not even conducive to a quiet downstream float, but I wouldn't know since I've only crossed this river in a car while driving and didn't pay any attention that a river was there.

        The nearly 300 mile long Washita River passing through Texas and Oklahoma looks like a wonderful waterway for a peaceful float and for a short distance there is even a respectable stretch of rapids through a canyon.   Likewise the over 500 miles long Wabash River of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois allows for a lot of calm drifting upon the waters though in Indiana there is a decent stretch of whitewater that draws many enthusiasts of the sport.

         For the truest whitewater experience one might be better off going to the state of Washington to tackle the Wenatchee River.  Many tourists and serious whitewater fans visit the Wenatchee River region every year for thrilling river experiences.  This river is only 53 miles long but it has more whitewater than many rivers of a far greater length.

        I'll leave the whitewater adventures for those with more daring than I have.  I'm sure it's a lot of fun, but I'll take their word for it.

        Have you ever gone whitewater rafting, kayaking, or canoeing?    What is your favorite film that features whitewater adventures?   Is there something that other people do that you would never try?

 

Time To Open My Christmas Presents

         The world didn't end but 2012 is about to quietly fade into the past and welcome another year.  What will 2013 bring us?   Over all the past year has been a good year, but odd in many ways.  For me there was so much left undone in a year that seemed to fly so swiftly by.  But it was a good year.  If every year were as good as 2012 has been then I'd be okay with that.

         Normally I wouldn't be acknowledging any awards on this blog.  But it's Christmas and I'm going to recognize a couple that came my way recently.  It's time to have fun.  Time to open presents.

THE LIEBSTER AWARD




          From Jeffrey Beesler at World of the Scribe I was bestowed another one of these Liebster Blog awards.   I'm not only not going to follow the "rules", I'm not even going to list them. You can click on the link to Jeffrey's blog if you really want to know about this award.  Besides you should click on the link anyway and go visit Jeffrey.

         Since Jeffrey's a friend and former A to Z Team mate, and I kind of like answering questions, I'll play along with the part where he asked eleven questions.  After all, it's Christmas and we don't want to get too heavy-laden with deep thinking.

My Questions from Jeffrey:

1. What kind of food do you enjoy most?  Do you want the long or short answer?  I love just about all food.  Of course, it depends on what I'm in the mood for, but I can almost always go for Thai.  Pizza is a definite all-around favorite.  Let's phrase this question in a better way:  What kind of food don't I like?  Let's head to the buffet!

2. What is your favorite color?  Blue,  kind of like the font in the question.

3. What drove you to first write?  School--they made me learn.  But I was trying even before that.  I've always been fascinated by books and wanted to write them.

4. What genre do you like to read most?  Probably whatever I'm enjoying at the present time.  I'm an eclectic reader with an inclination towards speculative, Southern, or spiritual/philosophic literature.  I like books that get me to think, but not by weighing down my thoughts.

5. What genre do you like to read least?   If we're talking fiction, then I'll say romance and fantasy are my least favorite genres.  I want to read things that I can believe or that make me think.  Wait! I think I already said that. 

6. If you could have a super power, which one would you most like to have?   Ability to fly would be very nice.   Invisibility might be even better since I could sneak onto aircraft and fly places, but also be able to do other very cool things.   Hmmm--that makes me sound kind of sneaky.

7. If you could challenge one fictional character to a duel, which one would you choose?  Dueling is not something I want to be doing.  If I absolutely had to I guess I'll go with the weird kid in the movie Deliverance.   If you saw the movie you'll remember the kid that plays the banjo.  Since it's a fictional scene I'd be playing the banjo too and we'd be doing the "Dueling Banjos".    That way no one gets hurt unless I decide to go rafting down that river.  Great movie by the way.

8. Will you ever stop writing?   Assuming that one day I'll no longer be living I think I'd have to say that I'll stop writing when that day comes.  

9. What’s more fun, watching paint dry or watching grass grow?  Watching the grass grow is much more fun if it's the kind you can smoke later. 

10. Print or E-Books: What’s your favorite, and why?  So far for me it's definitely print books because I still don't have an e-reader and reading on my computer is tedious.   Also, I love the feel and all of the sensory experiences that accompany a real book.

11.What was the number one song playing the year you completed high school?   "Aquarius/Let the Sun Shine" by the Fifth Dimension was a big hit at the time of my graduation.  This was a song from the cutting edge hippie musical Hair.    "In the Year 2525" was also climbing the charts.  This song was an interesting look at what the future might hold for for the human race if they survive--the predictions aren't so far-fetched, but perhaps projected a bit far into the future.

         I thank you Jeffrey for thinking of your old buddy.   Have a Merry Christmas and much success in the year to come.

2012 BLOG OF THE YEAR

           I was very honored to be named as a 2012 Blog of the Year by the incomparable Ninja Captain and master blogger Alex J. Cavanaugh.   What an honor to be passed this award by the man who is a friend to most of you and my A to Z co-hort from the beginning.  Thank you, Alex.

          Another wonderful blogger also passed this award to me and I in my abhorrent state of disarray cannot find who that other blogger is.   I offer my profuse apologies.  I will continue to try to find this source so I can acknowledge her on this post.  I humbly apologize and just want to crawl into a place to hide.

      So that's what I'll do.  It's late as I write this and I'm getting blurry eyed.

      My thanks to all of my readers and especially those who leave comments.  You are all Bloggers of the Year in my book.

        HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!

          

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