This afternoon, our friend K organized a rafting expedition on the Cannon River, the very tame waterway that runs through these parts to the Mississippi. Along with three other families, we took about five hours to float eight miles downstream from Cannon Falls. Except for a couple dicey moments involving “rapids” and sandbars, the trip was quiet and relaxing. We picnicked on an amazingly sandy beach and later took another break on a rocky island that supplied us with dozens of skipping rocks. The river is gorgeous. I’d love to do this again in the fall, when the leaves have changed. Perhaps a beer would also be good.