‘Friday Night Writes’ offers an evening of paddling and poetry

Via the St. Croix River Association:

Friday, September 6, 2019
5 – 8:30 p.m.
Register here

I was born upon thy bank, river,
My blood flows in thy stream,
And thou meanderest forever,
At the bottom of my dream.
— Henry David Thoreau, journal entry in 1842

Over the course of history, rivers have both imprinted their mark on the land and the written word. On this paddle, we will exchange poetry and prose inspired by rivers and then let the river move us while we write our own St. Croix Haiku or free form poem.

Join the St. Croix River Association and St. Croix 360 for a thoughtful, early fall, sunset paddle on the St. Croix River and then put your thoughts to words at the end of the paddle.

We will meet at Log House Landing and then shuttle to Osceola Landing and paddle south to our vehicles for 6.5 gentle river miles.

my mind shattered
in thousands of fragments
wishes to spend
the whole day on a boat
drifting with the river stream 
— Okamoto Kanoko, 1889-1939

Details:

• Trip Rating: 2 (This event is a great option for new and beginner paddlers).
• Paddle distance: 6.5 miles
• Meeting Location: Log House Landing
• Meeting Location Address: Log House Landing is located just north of William O’Brien State Park off of Quinnell Avenue and 205th St North in Scandia. If you are coming from Taylors Falls or Osceola turn left on Quinell Avenue off of Hwy 95 and then left on 205th St. N. If you are coming from Marine on St. Croix or Stillwater turn right on Quinnell Avenue off of Hwy 95 and then right on 205th St. N. Follow 205th St. to the Log House Landing.

Important Reminders:

• Appropriate for ages 12 and above. All youth ages 12 – 17, must be accompanied by an adult chaperone
• If this event is canceled due to inclement weather, we will post a notification on SCRA’s Facebook page and we will do our best to contact all registered participants.
• We require all participants to wear PFDs.

Registration and Costs:

• $45 Kayak Rental & Shuttle
• $25 BYO Boat & Shuttle

The Negro Speaks of Rivers
Langston Hughes

I've known rivers:
I've known rivers ancient as the world and older than the
      flow of human blood in human veins.
My soul has grown deep like the rivers.
I bathed in the Euphrates when dawns were young.
I built my hut near the Congo and it lulled me to sleep.
I looked upon the Nile and raised the pyramids above it.
I heard the singing of the Mississippi when Abe Lincoln
     went down to New Orleans, and I've seen its muddy
     bosom turn all golden in the sunset.
I've known rivers:
Ancient, dusky rivers.
My soul has grown deep like the rivers.