"There is no rushing a river. When you go there, you are at the pace of the water and that pace ties you into a flow that is older than life on this planet. Acceptance of that pace, even for a day, changes us, reminds us of other rhythms beyond the sound of our own heartbeats." ~ Jeff Rennicke

The pace of a roiling rapid as one approaches, seemingly draws you in slowly to its rhythm, as the sound of the cascade begins to mute your quickening heartbeat of anticipation; then with a mighty crescendo your heartbeat drowns in surging violence. When you emerge on the other side with chilling unabashed joy, the heart is born again to a new world; the world of the river's rhythm, and it is now forever a part of you.

In speaking of those who run the river regularly -- those who ran it once and come back over and over again as river guides -- they are like great maestros in river's orchestra, for their rhythm on the river takes on great heights as they not only feel the river's music for themselves, but then also rise to great deeds keeping the rest of us in tune. Pictured here are Mac and Maggie. Mac watches only the river and negotiates the best course, while Maggie watches over the rest of us -- and both are flawlessly in tune