OTHERPLANE

     While on an outting, we picked a campsite near a river. After we setup camp and stored part of our camping equipment, the group took in the beauty of the area. High cliffs on the north side and a fast moving river on three sides of us. Tall trees everywhere and wild animals who seemed unafraid of our intrusion into their domain. We would return in the morning, however, someone had to remain to watch the gear.

     Steve decided to stay. He picked an area where a high cliff loomed below him and running water barely a few feet from where he setup his tent. To make sure that he and the tent would not be washed into the river, he tied a rope to one of the nearby trees. After eating supper and checking that all our gear were secured, Steve decided to turn in for the night. He lit a cigarette and contemplated the long trip that day and all that heavy equipment that he had to carry back, not to mention the full day of work the following day. Suddenly, a voice interrupted his thought, “Hello”. The suddeness of the voice startled him. As he was trying to regain his composure, he thought to himself, 'What the hell is she doing in the river at night?' It was way after nine.

     He answered her by saying, “Helloww?” She said, “Can you tell me how far is it to the road?” Steve replied with, “It’s about 400 yards upstream”. He continued by asking, “What are you doing here?” She said, “I was running away from home”. Again Steve asked, “Are you paddling?” She replied with a, “somewhat!” Steve was really concerned about the girl being in that river water at night and didn’t know where to go. He told her that she shouldn’t be here. She said, “I know”.

     About this time, he finally found the one million candle power floodlight and scanned the area but the girl was gone. That night's encounter was told to the rest of the group the next morning. Someone raised a concern that the girl could have been swepted down river by the current, luckily saved herself, got lost and ended up at the campsite.

     The group searched along the riverbank and found nothing. This is a favorite stretch of the river for people to paddle kayaks and float on inner tubes. Checking around the area with the locals, it was learned that a girl drowned in the river 13 years ago.