As soon as we rounded the tip of the point, we were in the washing machine of wind, waves and tide all colliding in one space. The strategy for paddling in this kind of water is to keep your nose into the waves and paddle like there is no tomorrow. A strong westerly wind was blowing upstream (east) and the waves it produced were at least 3 feet tall and mostly coming straight up-river. I say mostly because some waves were reflecting off Tongue Point and coming crosswise, while others occasionally came at us from the other side. I fell into a rhythm of steady and long paddle strokes, focused on keeping my paddle blade in the water and my nose into the waves, watching the bow of my kayak come off the top of a wave so that 1/3 or more of the boat was in the air, and then plunging into the trough and disappearing below the next wave until it suddenly lifted clear again. Sometimes the nose of the boat would go below water far enough that my waist was almost in the water; this is when a paddler appreciates a drysuit and a well-fitting spray skirt!
I clearly remember to this day the wave that suddenly reared up to my right heading straight for me and slapped me across the face. I didn't see that one coming, but it was very refreshing. What a wild ride, what a fun time, what a lot of work!
This excerpt is from my journal of a 90-mile paddling trip from Portland to Astoria, Oregon, on the Columbia River. And you, dear reader, are wondering what this has to do with Trump and the Republicans. And I'll tell you.
For the past four years, we have been in the washing machine of Trumpism, tumbling daily between reality and fantasy, truth and lies, normalcy and outrageously abnormalcy. Finally - finally - we had an election and Donald Trump was given his pink slip, his boot in the ass, and shown the door. And yet (which has become a favorite term of mine recently), here we are, nine days after the election, Joe Biden clearly the winner, and Donald Trump refusing to accept defeat. Worse yet, his Republican cronies, his enablers, have his back! What shall we good people of America do?
I know certain things from my many years of paddling a kayak on big rivers and tidal bays. These things are reflexive now. I have been in situations, such as that described above, where there is no time or purpose for worrying, for fretting, for trying to analyze the future. If reflex and determination and persistence do not take over the "deep doo-doo" can be very, very serious.
So this is what we good people of America need to do: stay focused, keep our noses into the wind, paddle with strength and determination, trust that our vessel is sound and designed to stay afloat, and keep the goal in sight and mind. Sure, some rogue wave might slap us in the face, but it will only make us that much more resolved to move forward. We will get to our destination, and yes, we will be tired but joyful.
Donald Trump will be gone in January, 2021. If we persist, if we stay strong and focused, if we see our goal as a better America, we will not be defeated. This I know.
My buddy Dave and I did conquer everything the mighty Columbia threw at us that day, and arrived tired, safe, and joyful in Astoria. Let's all work together to conquer the dark and turbulent politics of our time, and arrive safely in a different place.
(I did not paddle again after that trip for three years, until I had shoulder surgery. And I can't think of a good analogy for that!)
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