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Swollen River

Russian River
May 19, 2005

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For the second time in as many weeks, heavy spring rains raised the river higher than anyone would have expected, and we had to make our way out there after work to rescue the boats. This week was higher than last, with the beach completely under water, and the tall jumping rock barely peeping above the surface (lower right). We couldn't dive down into the swirling waters to unchain the boats -- and might have lost them in the fast current if we'd tried. But I made my way out on a floating island to fasten a spring line to both, pulled them in out of the current, and tied a safety line, in case the tree they're chained to uprooted.

Fortunately (and unknown to us) the river had already crested, and was dropping back down towards normal by the next morning.