Jewel of the Big Piney River
A favorite destination on the Big Piney River
The River Gods are still smiling as we wake up to a morning sun that invokes a certain promise of fair weather all day.
I’m already jazzed to get on the river, although we don’t move that fast in the morning. After some fire toasted bagels with chive cheese spread and some gravel bar coffee, we pull down our campsite and load up the canoe. It’s just about 11:30am when my paddle hits the water.
The sky is blue with a “poofy” cloud or two, and the sun is pointing our way down stream. This second day excursion will lead us to completing one of our favorite stretches on the Big Piney River.
Big bluffs, tree-lined slopes, and sparkling springs that lose their names as they stream into this river, find me contemplating that collective mystery of identity in oneness. It’s a vital vision and a mighty metaphor that helps me connect to that mystery while it keeps me moving into that realm of “experience to live, live to experience.”
(I’m grateful for the inspiration and insights I’ve gained from one of my favorite Guides on(or off) the river, Joseph Campbell:
http://www.findingjoethemovie.com/)
These spring outlets celebrate their confluence with the river by splashing, whirling, and cascading with a cadence that comforts the soul.
It’s another kind of river dance that you don’t want to miss!
And so we paddled to “Shanghai Spring”…
Shanghai Spring / August 2011
Find a good rock and sit a spell…
Be still, listen to these clear waters wash away your weariness and feel the revival.
These are precious waters.
Peace on the River
(another Piney post proceeds)
October 11th, 2011 saat: 7:24 pm
Such inspiring words! Even in this cynical, sterilized age, it makes a whole lot more sense to talk about the River Gods than not to — these truly look like magical places! I envy that you’re so in touch with the elemental forces of Nature. And what beautiful photos! Any chance we could get larger versions of them posted to another page? One could fall right into them, especially if they were higher resolution.
October 24th, 2011 saat: 5:19 pm
Great stuff Bill. Glad to see you are still living it up!
January 29th, 2013 saat: 5:26 am
Hi! I’ve been following your blog for a long time now and finally got the bravery to go ahead and give you a shout out from Kingwood Tx! Just wanted to mention keep up the excellent work!
January 29th, 2013 saat: 9:48 pm
Thanks! In what part of Texas is Kingwood?