Down the river

After church on Sunday, we drove out of Birmingham to go tubing down the Little Cahaba River. I thought it would be too cold to be in the water (it was in the 70's, but I am used to 90 degree water for my therapeutic swim at the rec center!), but that is what we did.

Yes - I did use the bathroom. No lock - there was a rope to hold it shut while you sat on the pot.



Quite the place, huh? Unlike this place we passed on our way home through Arkansas.

We climbed in the back of the pickup and he drove us to a point up river and let us off.

It was chilly - no, it was freezing! I was so glad to have brought my windbreaker with me! I had read on-line to wear more than just a swim suit as the rocks can cut you up. Al has wounds to prove that.

We were too chicken to try to go over most of the rapids. So each time, we would get out and walk around on the land.



There was a sign for "No alcohol" but judging from all the beer cans on the tree, no one paid attention.
Shortly after this photo, Mindy lost one of her shoes. It was in a bend in the river and Al got up on the land and ran across and jumped in the river on the other side and rescued it!

Earlier when Mindy and I went over a smaller rapids, the waterproof camera we purchased slipped away and went down stream, but a couple quite a ways down river caught it for us!!

We watched a guy actually climb up the ladder and dive in. About 35 feet!
End of the road (or river) where we got out. This is the owner who gave us a thumbs up.




A very cool waterslide. One can get up to 50 mph going down it, but once a guy flew across the river and banged his head on the rock wall across from it. Insurance prices were just too high to keep it up so it is no longer in use.

The car felt so nice and warm and we were exhausted as we drove back to Mindy's.



We passed this lumberyard that reminded me of where I grew up in Japan.


We thought that was interesting. Echizen is a town close to Kyoto. Don't know the history that made the towns sister cities.
Xander was happy to see us when we got back.


What adventures we have with our daughter!

As I am typing this, I was reminded in 3 different settings this day the truth that Christ spoke -
"I will be with you always".
Our lives are similar to traveling down a river. There are bends in the stream, unexpected turns. Times when you might hit a swirly whirlpool where you can't seem to get anywhere. The journey can be beautiful. The rocks can be slippery and as you try to walk across them, you fall flat (like one unnamed person in our group!). There are rapids that are dangerous and need avoiding - and sometimes you can't seem to avoid them at all! You might even get cut up. But Christ promises "I will be with you always." And just like that owner who gave us that thumbs up at the end of the trip, Christ welcomes us with a "well done" at the end as we have traversed life with Him.

"When you pass through the waters
I will be with you;
and through the rivers,
they shall not overflow you."

God doesn't promise that we will escape the turbulent seas of life, but He does promise
"I will never leave you nor forsake you." Hebrews 13:5