The article recounts an emotional rafting trip on California's Kern River, marking a poignant experience for the author and his chosen family, Erin and Etta. The author reflects on childhood memories with his estranged father, a river enthusiast, and the significance of this trip—his first multiday rafting adventure. The Kern River, known for its beautiful landscapes and rapids, becomes more than just a destination; it symbolizes a complex interplay of nostalgia, family connection, and the thrill of new experiences. The journey serves as both a literal and metaphorical navigation through life’s turbulent waters.
Our collective nerves spiked the instant we arrived at the Kern River... bobbing at the river's edge was a blue rubber raft in which we were to spend the next two days navigating 20 miles of turbulent whitewater.
When I was growing up my father ran rivers often, relating his exploits in a highly infectious, off-color poetry and always assuring me that I would join him once I was old enough.
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