A hot, lazy summer weekend meant heading to the Colorado River, squishing down into an oversized inner tube and heading down the river from the North River bridge to the East River bridge. Usually, a group of us would congregate on the river banks and socialize for a while before we would take to our tubes and float the lazy Colorado River.
With an extra inner tube strapped with a cooler of refreshments, we would meander down the way. We might stop off at the sand bar and stretch our legs. The most exciting part of the trip was the rapids, which, compared to levels, would be level -1, was a break in the ride down. Mind you, it was never dull. Not only did you have friends, but if you were keen on sights, the river banks offered plenty of beautiful scenery provided by God.
I didn’t think much about tubing down the river until I hit my freshman year. I heard rumors about the Blue Hole, the low-water bridge and a couple of other swimming spots for kids. Then I heard about floating down the river and how much partying happened. I wasn’t too keen on being on the river, floating in an inner tube for four hours or more. But when I tried it, I was hooked and floated until after my senior year.
Ironically, for me, it wasn’t about partying. Because that usually died down after a couple of hours. It was the “get away from it all" nature of the floating. Just out there with friends, whiling away the hours and enjoying just being.
Now, I can’t even look at an inner tube without thinking about my many trips floatin' the Colorado.
John 14:27 - Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
