This Boat is Real: Our First River Trip of the Year

“So can you understand?  Why I want a daughter while I'm still young. I wanna hold her hand and show her some beauty before all this damage is done; but if it's too much to ask, if it's too much to ask, then send me a son” - Arcade Fire, The Suburbs

I can’t tell you how annoying I find it when TV shows start with some quote.  We get it; you read some dead old guy and have taken something he said out of context to try and sound deep  or convince others you’re smart.  So why did I start this post with a quote?  I’m not sure, probably  because I can’t get this part of Arcade Fire’s song out of my head.  The quote is a little bittersweet for me.  It makes me smile; God not only blessed me with a daughter, he gave me twin girls.  But, it also stings a little because my wife and I have been trying to have another child for some time now with no results.  The whole process has been frustrating and painful but it has also helped me to cherish not only my own children but also my beautiful nieces and nephews that and my beautiful family that much more.

Most of my favorite times with my little girls have been in the beauty of the outdoors.  About a month ago took a canoe trip on the Econlockhatchee River.  Good luck with the pronunciation, we usually just call it The Econ.






I’ll be honest, my heart wasn’t in the same place it is today when we took this canoe trip.  I was angry at God and wanting to just get out of the house and away from my thoughts for a while.  The trip wasn’t that much of a distraction and really not particularly satisfying at the time.  In fact, I remember getting frustrated while unloading the canoe and being a jerk to my wife (sorry Ashley, I love you).  But looking back on the trip now my memories have seemed to matured a little; they seem a bit sweeter given my change in perspective.


Here in Orlando we have to make about a forty minute drive to get away from the hustle and the traffic of the city.  As I drive my family in my old pick-up, canoe strapped to the top, it seems as if we are the only vehicle leaving the city.  I love looking in the rear view mirror only to see my girls and the canoe blocking my rear window.  I look to my right to see my wife smile at me as her hair blows in the wind (the truck A/C is out).  Life is good and we haven’t even hit the water yet.  This is my girls first river canoe trip, our first family river trip.

Of course I have to try and screw it all up by getting frustrated while unloading the canoe; but  despite my child-like temper tantrum, my wife graciously continues to help me prep the canoe for launch and get the girls all geared up.  With the precious cargo loaded we begin our trip up stream to a spot I have been to many time and my wife has been to many more times than me.  She grew up camping and canoeing along this stretch of river with her family.  We picked this river because we know it well, and we know there will be easy places to stop and give the kids a chance to get some energy out.  There is a footbridge about two miles upstream, the perfect picnic lunch stop.  We like to paddle upstream for the first leg of the trip so that we can mostly coast on the return leg.

Learning to paddle.

A female Anhinga drying out on the shore.

I’ve mentioned it before, but my wife has an amazing eye for spotting wildlife.  Great blue herons, anhingas, gators, hawks, you name it we saw it and she was the one who pointed it out to us.  You can also see she likes to stretch out and tan a little, those are her red toenails resting on the bow.

Red toe nails, and tea colored water.

 You’ll notice the water is the color of “tea”; that’s because it pretty much is tea.  The rainwater that makes its way into the river is rich in tannic acid from the surrounding forest.  The depth of the river varies, there are some deep pools (where I’m sure the big gators hide) but most of the river was at about 3 feet deep.  Despite the dark colored water it is still possible to see bottom at 3ft.  I spotted plenty of small bream, Florida gar, and plenty of the invasive armored catfish.  During the cooler months we catch ample largemouth bass along this route, but that could be because we do less fishing when it’s melting hot during the summer months.  Sadly, I did not catch a single fish on this trip; but it’s hard to be persistent (and quiet) with two four year olds in the boat.

What a great adventure life is.  Two portages, a few down trees we had to paddle under, the beauty of the great outdoors, and the beauty of my family.  Thank you God for transformations, renewal, and your created beauty!

Forced smiles.