Stormy_Adventure

A Stormy Adventure By: Jenny Morehouse [pic] [pic] [pic] It was a clear, blue-sky day as my cabin group and our counselors set off from Squam Lake for a canoe trip on the Androscoggin River in New Hampshire. The plan was that we were going to paddle around two smaller islands and stop at a third island for a late lunch and an overnight camping trip. Every one was excited as we packed our duffels and piled them high into the back of the van while the counselors made sure that the canoes, paddles and food was stored safely on the trailer. On the road to the river, we were happy to leave Camp for the overnight trip. It had been over two weeks since our last trip away from the camp for a hiking trip to the top of Mt. Washington and we were happy to see the mountains and wide open roads again. As Camp tradition calls for, each time we pass another camp, we would sing the required Camp songs and insert the rival camp into the verses. Before we knew it, we were at the drop off point on the riverbank. Seeing the clear water rushing past us, energized our group after a long van ride and we quickly organized, unpacked our gear, and partnered up with the canoes as we hurried to enter the river. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh was the sound their sleek paddles made as they worked against the currents and navigated the shallow rock beds. Some girls saw huge fish swimming along side of their canoes and they quickly moved their paddles as if to shoo them away from their canoes. Other girls heard the beautiful call of the loons in the small eddies on the side of the river. The sun was starting to heat up and we were happy to feel the warmth of the sun on our heads and shoulders with the coolness of the water splashing up the side of our paddles and spraying our legs. Our group made it to the first island in what seemed like no time at all. We quickly got out and pulled the canoes up on the rocky beach. There was a small trail heading up a hill where we ran up to look in wonder at the beauty of the river and the mountains in the distance. When the counselors reached the top, they pointed to the route we would take to the second and third islands. On such a clear day, it did not look far, and we were anxious to get back on the water. By the time we reached the second island, we were exhausted. However, we did not stop and the counselors kept encouraging us to make it all the way across the wide river to get to the third island. “It doesn’t look like we were close at all,” whined Alexa. “No Alexa,” replied Miss Liz, “that is not what we said, we said, that it would take a couple of hours to get to the last island.” “Miss Lily, Miss Liz, can we take a break yet'” pleaded Mary Stuart Everyone was complaining about the hard work that it took to move against the currents either very loudly or silently to themselves. We all had had enough of the constant paddling, and working against the strong undercurrent in the river. The currents were very strong that day, as the paddling was a lot tougher than we trained and were used to in practice on the calm waters of Newfound Lake. The counselors realized that the current was strong and decided to give be lenient and let us have more breaks than they had had originally planned. However, even after resting, some of the girls were still having a hard time making it to the third island and their long anticipated lunch. “Miss Lily, can we switch boats'” Alexa asked, “Isn’t there a shortcut that we can take'” Miss. Lily answered her with a very firm “No, we assigned you to each boat and a partner.” “This is going to end now,” said Miss Liz as she decided that a longer break and lunch was now a necessity if they were ever going to make it to the third island. “LUNCH! Everyone pass it on”! yelled Miss Lily to everyone in the canoes. Eventually the word spread boat by boat that lunch would be on the water! The campers were so excited to eat lunch after such a long morning, but also to be able to take a longer break from the paddling. So each canoe worked extra hard against the water to catch up to the group and form a flotilla on the river for lunch. After the feasting on sandwiches, fruit, cookies and lemonade, the campers started to sing all their favorite camp songs. “Miss. Liz, Miss. Lily, I think it is starting to rain,” screamed Michelle “Yes, let’s hurry up and finish lunch so we can make it to the campsite” said Miss. Liz. So after cleaning up and storing the rest of the food, we started canoeing as fast as we could towards the island in the distance. Suddenly, we saw a huge streak of lightning over the mountain on our left. Then, BOOM! A few seconds later, flash, a few seconds later another Boom! “Keep close to shore girls” said the counselors repeatedly. “Do we have to' Because then it will take longer to get to the island and there is no place to get off the river. There is no beach near over there, just rocks” screamed Mary Stuart. “Yes Mary Stuart we all have to, it is safer along the shore than out in the middle of the river with the lightning, because you we are still going to the same place we just want to be closer to shore, ” said Miss Liz trying to be reassuring. “Let’s think about having a party when we get there” said Miss Lily. “Miss. Lily, are we going to make it'” asked Alexa. “Alexa, that is five pushups when we get to the campsite,” said Miss Liz “Five push – ups every time someone complains about something!” So, we all kept on paddling as hard and as quickly as we could towards the side of the river. We watched and cringed every time we heard the lightning crack and the thunder roar. We all kept singing to chase our fears away and to try to forget that we were soaked and our gear and tents were wet. As the dark clouds moved in over the river, they looked like a tornado was coming. “Paddle, paddle, paddle!” screamed Mary Stuart, my canoe partner. “Ok, I got it! I am paddling as hard as I can! It is hard to paddle in this wind.” I yelled back over my shoulder. Crash! We hit a rock under the canoe from the waves and wind pushing our canoe around! “Oh shoot” We both screamed as we tried to get away from the shallow rapids and move the canoe towards the bank. Just then, something caught my eye and it didn’t look right. I saw my duffel bag floating in the water beside me and not in the canoe where it was just a minute ago. “Hey! Why is my duffle over there' Grab it with your paddle!” I yelled to Alexa in the canoe next to us. “Miss Liz! Help us!” I heard Mary Stuart cry, “We’re sinking!” I turned around and saw that there was a hole in the side of the canoe from the rocks and the boat was filling up fast. “Okay, don’t panic” I said way too calmly, “let’s figure out a good place to head towards where it isn’t too deep or too shallow or rocky while we wait for someone to help us.” So, we paddled as hard as we could, but it was hopeless. The water was rushing in faster than we could bail it out and try to stay afloat. All our gear was somewhere down river, it was raining, thundering and lightning so hard that we couldn’t see anyone close enough to help us. We had no idea of how close we were to shore or to any of our group. “What are we going to do!” screamed Mary Stuart over a loud crack of thunder, and just as she said that, I heard a loon call towards my left. “Hey! Let’s swim this way, I heard the loon!” “What about our gear' Should we try and float down and get it'” Mary Stuart asked. “No, Miss Liz was heading for the shore when the storm started, I think they will be over there” as I pointed to my left. So, we swam as best as we could against the currents and rocks towards the sound of the loon call. We were soaked, inside and out, half-swimming, half-pushed downriver by the current and calling out for help from Miss Liz or anybody else close by. Miraculously, the rain let up a little and we saw Miss Liz appear where our canoe sank, and we saw that the girls in the other canoes were frantically helping catch our paddles and gear as Miss Liz and Miss Lilly were trying to figure out what to do. “Get into my canoe! directed Miss Liz, as Mary Stuart and I pulled ourselves over the side of her canoe. “Whew! That was close!” exclaimed Mary Stuart as we flopped on the bottom of the canoe like two prize trophy fish hooked from the river. “We are not out of this yet! We have to get to the island and to shelter before this storm really kicks up. “Grab your paddles from Alexa and let’s go!” she yelled. So, like the many times we watched the war canoe races at Pasquaney, Miss Liz, Mary Stuart, and I paddled as hard and fast as we could through the rain towards the shoreline. Within minutes, we were at the shore, and the others were waiting for us with our gear in their boats. After the screaming and excitement died down, we all heard another call from the loon on the lake as the storm passed over.