force mulberry

Here's why it's a good idea to paddle when the river's up, or in flood stage - the overflow channel. A quiet place, except for the birds, turtles, snakes, beavers, muskrats, logjam riffles, and the occasional plink, plink, plink of mulberries dropping on your boat. Overflow channels, as the name implies, are largely inaccessible except during high water and because they lie at the interface of woods and river, they are teeming with wildlife. The also offer shelter from the sun and wind which are just beginning their summer-time impersonation of an industrial blow-dryer.

Find an overflow channel near you and practice your forward sweep.