I was reluctantly planning on going on the river this weekend (Saturday) despite the fact that the weather had turned frightful, temps dropped to -37 C, including windchill. After I woke up I dressed and went out to start the car. The car had not been plugged in and was a major pain to start but I recently installed a new battery so I persevered and got her going. I drove her sluggish frozen bones down to the river valley and even before I got down to the bottom of the hill I could see that the river was not in good condition. When I went to bed the night before, the water where the main current was flowing was open and icy steamy. This morning the open water sections of the previous day had frozen over: the 2008 paddling season had come to an end. My heart felt lighter as I drove back up the hill and out of the valley. And now Charles Leach keeps showing me pictures of that hot spring. Is there a message in all this? Am I truly living in the wrong part of North America or am I just getting older and whinier? Any why did my knee and hip joints start hurting today? They were fine yesterday. Harumph! If anyone has some kind of warm weather kayaking story that they would LOVE (major hint y'all), please do, us North of 49'ers are getting more of this freezing weather for a few more days before it gets warmer again.

Robert N Pruden