Running The River
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We rafted the Rio Grande River near South Fork every year,
Up there in that mountain country so pure and so clear.
Every summer we were up their with family and friends,
What fun we all had on that river with all its sharp bends.
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Running The River
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When I was a young man and in the prime of my life,
I bought a six man raft to run the river with my wife.
We vacationed in South Fork, Colorado, each summertime.
Staying in my Dad’s little mountain cabin so very fine.
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The Rio Grande River ran right through South Fork there,
And in late June, it was perfect for river rafting, if you dare.
Here in these next verses from this point to the very end,
Is my recollections of what we did with family and friends.
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About 8 AM, I unpacked my raft from the box in my van,
I unrolled it and spread it out on the ground with my hands.
With a vacuum cleaner with the hose on the blower end,
I filled it with air leaving room for expansion in the hot sun.
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I placed it right there on top of my van and tied it on tight,
Loading 2 canoe paddles and 6 life jackets in just right,
And put in a small cooler of soft drinks for our long trip
Six passengers loaded into my van like a big flagship.
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We drove into South Fork with that raft on top so very fine,
Then headed North towards Creede up state highway 149.
We drove to Palisade Campground on the river Rio Grande,
And pulled in there to get ready to launch and leave dry land.
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We untie the raft and carry it to the river over our heads,
Then load the cooler and don life jackets of black and red.
I put a good paddler in the front of the raft fit as a fiddle,
Then loaded passengers in the two seats in the middle.
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I grab the paddles and push us off of the bank and hop in,
And we’re off on a 7 mile raft trip back to South Fork then.
My Dad drove my van to the point where we did get out,
And fished for trout on the bank catching many, no doubt.
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In the stern of the raft, I paddle and keep us going straight,
As we run that beautiful river in the mountains so great.
While the passengers Ooooo and Ahhhh at all the sights.
Getting a peaceful easy feeling with everything so right.
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As we rode down the river with the sounds of nature,
A feeling always came over me that thrilled me for sure,
As it seemed like I became a part of a place so very keen,
Seeing beauty there like I had never ever before seen.
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It always seemed like the raft trip was over much too soon,
So we loaded back up and ran down again before noon.
Twice more in the afternoon with a different crew aboard,
Was common in those days when we were never bored.
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I always got a natural high as we ran the river in our raft,
As we perfected our great trips while having a blast.
If you’re young and in your prime, now is the right time,
To try doing things like this together and you will do fine.
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By Bill
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Thanks for reading Running The River,
Bill