So gracefully and silently my paddle dips into the water and steadily glides us along our journey for the day. We are exploring the stream that runs by our campsite. While studying Google Earth before our trip I notices a set of rapids a few miles up the stream that looks like it might be good trout fishing. Since it was a sunny day (so far) and didn’t appear there was any chance of a storm, we decided to put the canoe in and strike off.
Like many streams that enter big lakes our trek for the day was wide and slow moving as we began our trip. It twisted and wound its way through beautiful flatlands filled with tall grass and wild flowers.
Lisa was sitting up front enjoying the sun and catching an occasional yellow perch, but mostly relaxing. We don’t always talk much on our expeditions, I guess after close to 40 years of being together we don’t need to. There is the occasional “hey look at that” or “isn’t that pretty “but the need for major conversation has long since passed and the simple enjoyment of being together in a beautiful place serves to satisfy the soul.
As we rounded a bend in the stream a low rushing sound began to resonate from the far shore. Sounds like a stream I thought to myself. As we got closer the sound grew louder. My mind immediately races to what fabulous possibilities it could be. Was it a waterfall on a small brook? Was it a series of riffles from a brook leading into the lake? I wasn’t sure but I knew the closer I got the better it sounded.
“Sounds Like a waterfall” I said “yes that’s what I was thinking” Lisa replied. I bet over our lifetime Lisa and I have seen 50 to 75 waterfalls. We have hiked into, driven into and canoed into waterfalls from Maine to Alabama. We both love waterfalls. As we got closer we could see the location of the noise and sure enough it was a small stream rushing into the larger brook we were in. The stream was not much wider than our canoe. We tried to go up the little stream but only made it about 100 feet before the alders became too think for the canoe to navigate so we backed out. “Let’s see if we can put the canoe on the bank so we can get out and explore.” Which was met with an eager “ok” from the front of the canoe.
The bank was VERY steep with many old stumps and logs laying close to the bank in the water. There was also allot of brush growing off the bank and hanging over the water so we had very few “slots” that we could get the canoe into so we could get out. After a few failed attempts to reach the bank I saw a spot I felt we could make it through. By this time there was a small level of frustration building in both of us as failed attempt after failed attempt had stalled our efforts.
As I guided the canoe through the reeds and brush towards the bank it finally arrived on shore and Lisa was able to get out and secure the canoe so I could climb out.
Since we could not go ashore where we wanted to this new found landing required us to climb over a small knoll to get to whatever wonder awaited us. We quickly rigged our fishing rods so we could fish if it was possible. “Sounds like a pretty good waterfall to me.” I said, “You ready” I questioned as Lisa was securing her rod for travel. “Yup, you first” she said “Sure, you just want me to get all the spiders and spider webs cleared for you!” I shot back. Lisa just smiled!
The bank was steep and the brush was thick so the going was not easy but the waterfall sound kept us pushing on. It grew louder as we reached the top of the hill. “Boy that sounds great I hope there are trout at the base of it!” I huffed in a somewhat muffled and strained voice from climbing the steep bank. From the top we still couldn’t see the waterfall so we started down the other side.
It wasn’t much further before reality came into view! A reality that 30 years ago would have left me angry and disappointed!
It was an old culvert off an abandoned dirt road! My imagined waterfall with beautiful flowing water that cascaded over rocks glistening with moss had turned into a steel culver with water flowing through it off from an old dirt road! Bummer! We both laughed as we stood there faced with the lack luster payoff for all of our effort to get there!
“Oh well” Lisa said, “now we know!” We turned and started our way back to the canoe joking about the great natural wonder we had discovered deep in the Maine woods!
Things don’t always end as we hope they will. There isn’t always a rainbow after a thunderstorm, sometimes there is a wet tent! There isn’t always a beautiful waterfall behind the sound of rushing water. Sometimes it’s just a culvert!
For Lisa and I every adventure is a success. All struggles are worth the effort. Although you may not find your pot of gold or your beautiful waterfall. Instead you may end up with hail instead of a rainbow or a culvert instead of a waterfall. Life happens! Embrace it! You see for us every memory made is a treasure to be held tightly! Our trips success isn’t measured by the number of fish caught or sunny days. It's not about everything going perfectly with no challenges or failures. It’s about making memories together, and this one, like all the rest was a keeper!
I hope you take the time and put in the effort to find your culvert!
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