The Canoe Sometimes garbage doesn't stink. 7/25/18 I remember driving home from work one time, and along the side the road in some ones trash, was a beat up, blue, fiberglass canoe. My ride to work was always two hours each way, and well, living by the river, I pulled right over to check it out. The front was broken out pretty bad. It looked like it hit a rock and shattered. I had patched my old fiberglass bathtub once and it was still holding, so I slid the canoe into my work van and tied the door closed on it. About two feet was sticking out the back. When I got home, the kids were going crazy. Dad bought a canoe they screamed. We had lived near the river a few years now. We rented the house. It was a big bi level, which fit the eight of us just fine. Five bedrooms, three baths, and a good size piece of property bordered by woods for the kids to play and learn. We had taken tubes down the river once already. We were poor. On my way home a different time, I passed a garage sale that had big tractor tire tubes. Two bucks each. I had ten dollars left for the week, hahahaha that got me five tubes. There are still two left, this many years later. Anyway, I pulled the canoe out of the truck and put it in the yard. The kids sat in it and pretended to be riding the rapids in the river. I dug out the old sander, and what I had left of the fiberglass repair kit, which I used on the tub. It was rock solid hard. I promised the kids that I would have if fixed for the weekend, and began sanding the broken area down to bare fiberglass. The old gel coat paint was pretty tough to sand. I put an old wire brush wheel on my drill, and that ate it off much faster. Then I continued with the sandpaper and made it as smooth as possible. The next day on the way home, I stopped at the hardware store and bought another kit. The kids were anxiously waiting in the driveway when I pulled in. I didn't even go inside, instead I went right to work. The children were small at the time, ranging from ages three to ten. Chris the oldest helped me spread the fiberglass cloth over the badly damaged area. When we were happy with how it was covering the hole, we removed it and began to put the gooey liquid resin on with paint brushes. Carefully we coated the entire area. Then we put the cloth back on and into the resin, and we painted it on the entire cloth, until it was completely covered. The resin soaks into the cloth, and bonds it to the canoe. When we were finished, we all went in for dinner and talked about going on the river. After work the following day, I sanded it all smooth and gave it another coat. All I had left to do was paint it the next day. I couldn't afford the marine gel coat paint so I just used some old black spray paint we had in the garage. It worked great. The canoe was ready. I was confident that we did a good job, and it was sea worthy. It was Friday night and we were all set to hit the water in the morning. Delaware River, here we come. The oldest two, Amanda and Chris, had other plans for this Saturday, and the youngest one Ben, was a tad too small. That left Jenn, Zach, and Jonny, and me for the trip. No one slept long that night, not even me. The excitement was incredible. It worked out better to just have the three kids and me. Instead of taking it to the rock beach down the road and taking turns, we had mom drop us off up river, where we could hit the rapids and really have some fun. She even made us some sandwiches and drinks, and filled the small cooler for us to bring along. She drove my van into Port Jervis NY, and up the winding river road, toward the Mongap River fishing access. The day was warm, but overcast. The fishing access was virtually empty. I unloaded the canoe, put the paddles, life jackets, and the cooler inside. The wife and I carried it to the water's edge with our three youngens in toe. Ok mom said, you all be good for daddy. Listen to what he tells you and be safe. She hugged and kissed us all goodbye. I'll meet you at the rock beach at sundown she said. She beeped the horn and waved. We waved back, and off she went. Put on your life jackets guys, I said. They were on in a flash. I put mine on and slid the canoe into the water. All aboard, I bellowed like an old sea captain. The kids jumped right in. I waited until they got seated, and then I gave it a big shove outward, and hopped in. It was already caught in the current and going sideways downstream. I reached for the paddle and almost flipped us over. Jenny screamed. The boys just laughed. It's ok Jenn I said, we won't flip. We are gonna have fun. As I paddled, I could feel the canoe trailing to one side. I must have thrown off the balance with all the fiberglass and resin. But it was floating just fine. I could compensate for the trailing, with my paddle. We saw the first set of waves coming at us in the distance. The rapids looked small, until we got closer that is. They were taller than the canoe and looked kind of like haystacks. The front of the canoe went up high, and then pounded down hard in to the water. Yey yelled Jonny and Zach. This is great. Jenn was quiet and holding on to me tighter than ever. Wave after wave the canoe went up high and splashed back down. When we finally got through that set of rapids, Jenn relaxed. I saw a sigh of relief, then a smile of enthusiastic pleasure come across her face. She was going to be fine. We paddled some, and then we would just drift a little. We watched under the water as we floated downstream. We some some pretty big fish and a lot of eels. Look daddy yelled Jenn, a snake. No baby, I said, that's an eel. They won't bother us at all. They will swim away just like the fish do. She looked up at me, there were tears building in her eyes. It's ok Jenn I assured her, you know I would never let anything happen to you. The next set of rapids was approaching us fast. Jenn grabbed hold of me again but not as tight. These wave were not as big as the first ones were. The canoe lifted and fell over and over. About half way through, Jenn had let go, and was screeching like her brothers, and having fun. I smiled. I was glad she was getting accustomed to the river. It was such a blessing for our family to have a free place to fish, swim, canoe, and tube. The water got much calmer now. We decided to pull to the edge and eat, and maybe even explore a little. I was in no rush. As long as we made the rock beach by sundown, we would be just fine. After lunch we explored the land a bit. There was a train track following the river on the Pennsylvania side. We scouted around for about a half hour and then headed back to the canoe. When we reached the river, Zach dove in and Jonny was right behind him. Jenn looked at me. Go ahead I said, it's fine. What about the snake daddy she said. I promise the eels won't bother you. I climbed into the water with her in my arms. She screamed so hard I had to get right out. She was scared to death. I held her tight and said ok, no swimming for you today and I smiled at her. She calmed right down and played at the edge while the boys swam. Ok fellas, time to get this trip moving again. They climbed out of the water and we all got back into the canoe, and off we went. Jenny was the oldest of the three. She was seven, Zach was six, and little Jonathon was only five. She may have been the oldest, but she was also the smallest. The water began to get shallow and the boys and I got out of the canoe. Jenn wouldn't budge. I waded through the ankle deep water while the two boys pushed the canoe along. Jenn was smiling. Home driver, she said like a rich snobby person. Zach tilted the canoe to one side and Jenny grabbed the side and started to scream. Alright fella's, that's enough of that, I said. Jenn settled back down and we continued through the shallows. The water gradually got deeper. When it was about a foot, we hopped into the canoe and started paddling down stream. It was eerily quiet on the river. Usually there are a lot of folks floating along on rafts, canoes, and kayaks, but not today. So far we had only seen one other canoe with an old man and woman. They passed us when we stopped for lunch. The sun had been slipping in and out of the clouds most of the day, but now it was hidden behind the heavy grey blanket covering the sky. The temperature dropped about ten degrees. The wind was picking up, and I realized a storm was brewing. I hoped it would be a short one, but by the looks of the sky I knew it wouldn't. I knew the river pretty good from fishing when I got the chance, and I knew we had two more sets of rapids before our trip would end. The rapids change in size depending on the weather and the water level. At lunch, I had checked the canoe and the repair was holding well. I was a little worried about the oncoming storm, but we had no choice. We had to finish the trip. Listen dad said Jonny, I can hear the rapids coming. OH YEA, said Zach excited, as he pushed his paddle hard into the water trying to get to them faster. The rain started. It got bad really fast. It was pouring like crazy, and the wind was tossing the canoe from side to side. Now I was nervous. The rapids were just a short distance ahead. Jenn was pulling my arm. Look daddy look, she said. I turned my head toward her and she was looking behind us. As my eyes looked back I saw a swell in the water completely across the river from one side to the other. It was coming at us fast. I tried to paddle out of the current toward shore, but the wind was driving me back toward the oncoming rapids. The canoe's reactions were also sluggish due to the repair. The trailing was helping the wind and current keep us out in the middle of the river. Everyone hold on tight I said. The boys grabbed the side of the canoe and with their other hands grabbed the seat. Jenn grabbed me. I used the paddle as a rudder. I hung it out the back and held us straight in the water. The swell went under the boat lifting us up about five feet. I watched the rivers edge as the water went up as it passed us. I didn't know what was happening. I had never seen this happen while fishing, and I fished in some pretty bad weather. After the swell passed the water level stayed high. The rapids just ahead now sounded like thunder. I could see the turbulence. It was all white water. I was now frightened. I should never have taken the little ones out here alone. I must be stupid I thought. I took a deep breath and calmed myself down. Ok kids hand on tight. If anything goes bad, just float. You have your life jackets on, we will get through this. Jenn looked into my eyes. I tried not to show any fear. I forced a smile onto my face and whispered to her, just hold me tight and don't let go. The front of the canoe hit the first wave and we were launched into the air. We crashed back down into the water. Then up again. Water was everywhere. We splashed down and into the next wave. It came up over the canoe, soaking us, but luckily only an inch or two entered the boat. Hold on tight I yelled again. Wave after wave bashed us and our canoe. As we were nearing the end of the rapids, Zach and Jonny were yelling and screaming, YAHOO YAHOO. Here I was scared to death, and they were having the time of their lives. Jenn just held onto me as tight as she could not making a sound. I steered the canoe with my paddle rudder out of the current and toward the edge. The canoe was half full of water but we were upright and alright. The boys and I tipped the canoe and emptied the water out. That was fun said Jonny. Yea it was said Zach. Even Jenn now had a smile on her face. The rain subsided a little and we got back into the canoe and headed toward home. The only thing between us and the rock beach, was one more set of rapids. I felt better. We made it through this far, one more is a piece of cake. End part two
There's water coming in through a tiny crack yelled Jonny. Where I asked? He showed me this minuscule hairline fracture. It was on the opposite side of where the old hole was, right at the tip of the boat. It did look like some water was seeping in, but with the rain it was hard to tell. It's probably just the rain catching on the little crack in the gel coat I said. As I looked I could see thousands of these small cracks. I didn't notice them when I fixed the canoe. I looked over at the repair and it was in great shape, however there were the same star shaped cracks all over the canoe, except on the spot we re- fiber glassed. It will be okay I assured them, we only have one more set of rapids and we are home free. The last set of rapids was closer to where I did most of my fishing. Down by the train trestle at Mill Rift. They were not as big as these others and I felt we could navigate our way through no problem. The rain and wind were picking up again. Even with the drop in temperature earlier it was still around eighty degrees. We were wet, but we were warm. I let Zach and Jonny paddle while Jenn and I again glared into the water intently, watching the rocks on the bottom and trying to see fish. Everything Jenn saw looked like eels to her. The weeds, sticks, even the rocks lol. Soon I heard the faint sound of rushing water. The current had picked back up and we were being sucked into the middle again. Give me a paddle I said. Jonny handed me his, and again I used it as a rudder. I wanted to have control of our craft just in case. Withing a few minutes the faint sound of gurgling of water, had become a thunderous clashing of water crashing over the rocks in the river. I forgot about the water suddenly becoming so high, and the effect it would have on the rapids. My confidence dropped instantly, and fear and panic set in. Paddle hard left Zach, I yelled, we need to get to the edge and get out off the river. My stomach had this terrible feeling. We paddled hard trying to battle the current, and the wind was once again our enemy. We were stuck in the middle being drawn right into biggest waves I have ever seen in the river. The wind was blowing so hard it turned the canoe sideways. We were dead for sure. Paddle hard right I screamed to zach, as I used the rudder to get us straight. The first wave was big but we had managed to turn the canoe right in time. Up we went, then BAM! We splashed back down into the water. Up again, and BAM! Back down. Each wave seemed bigger than the one before it. The canoe was holding together, and the kids were holding on tight. Please god I said to myself, help us through this. Coming down from the top of one wave, I saw ahead, the biggest one of all. The dam thing was at least twelve feet high, it looked like it could stop a bus. My heart sank. Hold on tight, and remember if you fall out, to keep your legs up high in front of you, and just float with the current until you get to calm water. OK said the boys. Jenn began to cry. It is okay baby, we are going g to be fine. I used every bit of calm I could muster, to sound confident enough to comfort her. You will float I said. Like a little beach ball. She looked at me and I saw her face relax. Waves were now crashing over the bow and the canoe was filling fast with water. It was getting heavy and not going up so high on the waves. Here it was, the bus stopper. Up we went. The wave carried the canoe the full length to the top, but this time it didn't launch us into the air, we were filled with water and too heavy. Instead the front of the canoe turned straight down towards the water. I was in the rear way up in the air. Hold on kids, Daddy loves you. The bow of the canoe came down fast and hard, and CRASH, BAM, SPASH, it hit dead center on a big rock. All three kids were catapulted and launched out of the canoe, thrown far out in front and into the water. I saw them for a second, floating, but then I too, hit the water and rocks. The back end of the canoe smashed me in the head, and it was lights out. I must have been unconscious for a minute or so. When I opened my eyes, I was in calm water with my leg stuck under the seat of the canoe. I looked ahead for the kids. I have the paddles dad yelled Zach. And I have the cooler squealed Jonny. Both were just floating freely in the water unharmed. I looked for Jenn, she wasn't by the boys. I scanned across the surface and she was not there. I turned my head back toward the rapids. My heart fell. End part three.
Part Four My eyes searched over the rapids desperately trying to find her or some sign of where she was. Did she get caught on a rock, or sucked under in an eddy behind a rock? I was frantic. My brain was reeling back and forth. I was sick to my stomach and almost threw up. Just then Zach and Jonny had swam to my side. “What is wrong, Dad?” they asked. “Are you alright?” I turned to face them horrified. “Your sister is gone,” I cried. “What do you mean?” said Zach. “Yea,” said Jonny pointing his finger. “The old people have her over there on shore.” My eyes followed the direction of his finger and came to rest on the most precious site I have ever seen. There was the old woman holding Jenn safely in her arms. The old man was standing right next to her. I did not see their canoe, and there was no house around. They boys and I headed over to them pulling the canoe along with us. Jenn put her arm out to me and the woman gently handed her over to me. I held her so tight. “You were right, Daddy,” said Jenn. “Everything is alright just like you said it would be.” I thanked the woman and her husband for their help, but they didn't speak. The woman's eyes had a soft glow about them as she looked at Jenn. Her and her husband's faces were kind looking but very solemn. “If there is anything at all I can do for you, just say the word,” I said. The old man and woman turned away and stepped into the woods without a word, and were gone. I squeezed Jenn again, kissed her, and set her down alongside her brothers. “We made it,” I said. “We're not home yet,” chuckled Zach, looking at the canoe. The entire front end was smashed to bits and the only thing holding it to the rest of the boat was the fiber glass cloth we had applied with the resin. What I failed to realize when I found the canoe, was that it was very old, and very brittle from the elements. We still had about a mile to go. “We can walk the edge of the river to the rock beach,” I said. The three kids looked at each other and got into the canoe. “Okay,” I said, “we're gonna finish this trip in style.” I tore off the rest of the loose broken end and set it in the middle of the canoe. I pushed the canoe out a little into deeper water, and climbed in the very back, and sat on the small triangular tip at the very end, and put my feet behind the back seat. Then Jenn and Jonny sat on the seat, and Zach sat on the floor right up against their legs. He handed me a paddle and hollered, “ALL ABOARD!” With all our weight in the back, the front end of the canoe was up and out of the water. We had won the battle with the river. The storm was over and the sun was popping in and out again. As I paddled, I thought about the old people who helped us. I wondered who they were and where they went in the woods. As we came around the last bend in the river, there was my wife waving from the rock beach. What a site it must have been for her to see, the front end of the canoe missing, with her husband and kids still inside, paddling down the river. When we reached the beach, she hugged us all and told us she was so afraid. When she got to the dirt road that we use to get to the river, she said it was closed. Due to the pending storm, there were multiple dam releases up river and there was no canoeing or rafting allowed today. I never saw anything posted where we entered. I guess that was where the huge swell of water came from. Jenn looked up at me and said, “Daddy, when can we go again?” “Yea!” chimed in the boys. “That was the best ever!” We loaded the canoe and headed home. After dinner I told my neighbor about our day on the river. He asked if I was gonna ditch the boat, if he could have it. I told him it was shot but he wanted it anyway. He went on to tell me a legend he heard long ago when he moved here. It was about a mother and father who lost their daughter in the river. They never found her and never gave up looking. He said that there were other stories like ours, of the old man and woman, saving children in the river. The stories began back in the late 1700's on the upper Delaware. When I told the kids about the legend, they asked me if it was the old people we met. “Maybe,” was all I could say. Jenn and the boys, and Amanda, Chris, and Ben, still use the river today with their friends and kids. My neighbor restored the entire canoe. It still has a slight trailing to the right...