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David Shaw's avatar

You've managed to help me recall a terrifying experience with the dreaded river corkscrew. One moment you're floating along in sunshine and rainbows and the next, a submerged curled root deftly flips your canoe upside down into deep water. My daughter and I survived but she was beyond upset for days at the indignity of it all. Great story you're telling!

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Lori Olson White's avatar

Oh man, @David, terrifying for sure! Glad it all ended well. We have friends who had something similar happen during a kayaking trip yikes. I grew up on the water but nice, calm, Minnesota lakes. White water is not for me 😉

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Barbara at Projectkin's avatar

Geez, Lori! I'm reminded of tow boat pilots in waterways worldwide. Tides combine with varying shallows and massive underwater dangers. You've captured the spirit of every whitewater trip I've ever taken!

Come to think of it, there was that awkward moment the a US aircraft carrier ran aground in San Francisco Bay back in the 1980s. Oops: https://www.19fortyfive.com/2025/04/it-took-6-hours-to-free-a-trapped-u-s-navy-aircraft-carrier-that-ran-aground/

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Paul Chiddicks's avatar

Another great read Lori and it felt like two different stories and almost twin different rivers. Mark Twain’s tranquil and meandering river that’s always depicted in the films and images we see, whereas in reality the Mississippi that George faced was at times a monster. Brave men indeed

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