Reub's journey

07 September 2012

A morning on the Willamette with Kenneth Grahame





`Believe me, my young friend, there is NOTHING--absolutely nothing--half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats. Simply messing,' he went on dreamily: `messing--about--in--boats; messing----'



`Look ahead, Rat!' cried the Mole suddenly. It was too late.





The boat struck the bank full tilt. The dreamer, the joyous oarsman, lay on his back at the bottom of the boat, his heels in the air.`--about in boats--or WITH boats,' the Rat went on composedly, picking himself up with a pleasant laugh. `In or out of 'em, it doesn't matter. 





 
Nothing seems really to matter, that's the charm of it.



Whether you get away, or whether you don't; whether you arrive at your destination or whether you reach somewhere else, or whether you never get anywhere at all, you're always busy, and you never do anything in particular; and when you've done it there's always something else to do, and you can do it if you like, but you'd much better not.





The osprey has a keeper.
 Look here!




If you've really nothing else on hand this morning, supposing we drop down the river together, and have a long day of it?'




Thank you Kenneth Grahame, author of The Wind in the Willows, for providing the text for this post. It documents a float taken on the Willamette river this week...ahhh...sweet.



16 comments:

  1. It's a beautiful river, and we had it all to ourselves. Lucky day.

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  2. i like the reflections and colors in the water, but the simple oar shots are my favorite!

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    1. Me too, twg. I didn't alter the colors at all. The water just reflects the colors around it, green or blue, and the water drops are a cool surprise.

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  3. Splendid trip and thanks so much for giving me a sigh that I needed today as I am packing and closing up the house for a week!

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    1. I know you & hubbie like to canoe once in awhile, but it doesn't sound like that's what you're about to do. Have a good trip wherever it may be!

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  4. Kerry, you certainly are an artist. These pictures are gorgeous, perfectly framed. I can't find one favorite - they all are. Thanks for the relaxing time floating on the river. Felt good.

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    1. Wow Merry, thank you so much.

      I guess you can tell from the pics that it was indeed very relaxing.

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  5. Thanks for a ride down one of my favorite rivers here in Oregon.

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    1. My pleasure, Stephen. The river runs right through town, so it's not hard to access it.

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  6. Sounds like such a relaxing place to be. I adore the shot with the mountains. Jaw dropping.

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    1. Gail, every once in awhile I look around and remember what a beautiful place this is. It's easy to take it for granted.

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  7. I wish that was how I was going to spend my day! Thanks for taking us along on a virtual ride!

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    1. Come on by for a canoe ride & bring your camera.

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  8. Oh, I so miss my boat and the river, my boat on the river. Finally my boat has made the move. It now sits on the driveway instead of in the backyard of the city house. Now to get it on the river.

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    1. I wonder what river you live near?

      Even with the canoe in our back yard, we rarely take it out more than once or twice a year, but it's always memorable.

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