A glimpse into kayaking the Salt River

I couldn't sleep last night, and ended up reviewing a bunch of instagram stories from 2020, starting with the hospital visit that began my dad's health crisis. Man, that was a rough year. ROUGH. Dealing with my dad's sudden decline and transition to an assisted living facility was hard enough, but having to do it all during covid was just plain crazy.

It's no wonder that I spent so much time paddling on the Salt River, a calm refuge from the chaos and stress of my suddenly-hijacked life. Hell, I even wrote the only guidebook to kayaking the river that summer, as so many newbies discovered this gem on the edge of Phoenix (there are now a dozen AI-knock-offs, none showing the Salt River).

Anyway, I thought I might share a few videos from the river to show you what it's like. These are all from the first mile or so of the 11 miles we usually paddle. I tend to start just before sunset and then paddle through the darkness, which adds a whole new vibe to the scene.

The events of the last month have kept me from paddling so far this season, but I can't wait to get back out there. It's definitely one of my treasured places!

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