Drift in the River

The river is up and there is much drift in the river.  The boat rumbles as the logs and trees roll under the hull.  The engines stop and then reverse to dislodge anything that might be caught in the rudders or wheels.  It's a noisy trip so far.  Most times the engines lull me to sleep.  The sounds are a constant that tell me we are safely navigating the river.  The beauty is marred by the debris that is floating along beside us.....old tires, plastic, styrofoam, coolers....all sorts of things man has made.  Even grafitti....in the form of a message in a bottle fished out of the river by one of the deckhands.  The excitement overshadowed by the "off color" message inside.  This is not the place to be for a "busy person" or one who is not comfortable with solitude.  Little things delight us out here....stories from those who've worked on the river for many years.  It's a life like no other....