One day I had this wild idea to build a raft and drift down the Ohio River and so I did it. Sort of. Here’s my trusty vessel where it sits today. I’m amazed that it held together long enough to get me here. I thought I might just go with the current for a couple of miles or so, but I was swept into the main channel and I rode it out as far as it would go and here I am. Stranded.
Don’t worry about me…I’m alright. I just hung out here so long and the summer was so hot…that the river dried up around me. I found this spot on the riverbank that I like that always seems cool even during the most scorching days. I also liked looking at all these shades of green in the algae.
It’s refreshing standing under this shower and on the warmest days it would only take minutes to completely dry off while walking under the sun. I’ve always been a sucker for waterfalls and I have struck up a relationship with this one. Something about water going over the edge of a precipice from some height helps people attain a feeling of the sublime and awe as felt in nature.
I’m going to miss this place if ever I can get out of here. The local landscape has some charm and the change of the seasons.
Soon it will be the Autumnal Equinox and the days will continue to grow shorter as the leaves change color and drop from their branches. It is a time for shifting gears and making plans.
Alas, for most of this summer the rain has been in short supply. Each day without a significant down pour, the river keeps receding away from me and delaying my departure even more. We need, I need it to rain again.
For the moment, I’m at a standstill and will need to be open to what nature has in mind. I know a new adventure is just around the corner from here and it will be worth the wait. In the meantime, maybe it would be a good idea to work on my raft? From this angle it looks rickety. I’ll search the riverbank, maybe I’ll find a life vest too. I have found them before! When the river comes back I’ll be ready.
Artist at Exit 0 Riverblog 
For a split second I thought that you yourself had sailed off on a raft! Very Huck Finn:) I loved the waterfall – who’d have thought that would have been there. This part of the river seems very different and I bet there’s a lot of wild life in those pools? The brilliant photographs really capture this wild and humid place too, can almost feel that heat (send it over here :))
The raft came as a surprise. Someone else made it and I found it where it sits in the photos. I can’t imagine someone trying to use this, but I thought it could make a good prop for this post. I have other different waterfall images to share soon! I’m trying to rediscover the Falls of the Ohio or what passes for them today. The weatherman after granting us a heat reprieve has put it back on the menu. Seems like we haven’t had any good rain in the past two months…perhaps longer. Glad you like the photos!
This post made me consider the old river trade of boats carrying cargo along the rivers to the cities on their banks. I never considered the very seasonal type of commerce this must have presented to the river riders as they dealt with the rise and fall of the rivers. Good post, Al.
Oh I enjoyed this adventure–Robinson Cursoso anyone?–so much, Al. A river adventure right at the river that’s looking nearly gone. Not so good.
Also like how you found different perspectives to shoot from–especially the ‘above’ angle.
Thank you.
Hi Eva, I just caught your latest comment regarding the camera angles and so I’ve looked at that post again to see what I did…and the answer is nothing. The only “trick” here is that the figure itself is about 8 inches high or so. He’s a little guy and so he’s easy to tower over. In other posts to obtain shots, I have done such things as climb trees and rocks. I’ve started to think more about these angles as this project takes a narrative swing. I’m not a fancy photographer by any means.