On wednesday Aiken's First Baptist Church returned with a large group we went down the French Broad River looking for trash to dig up. This group was very enthusiastic and by the time we had reached the first drop-off spot they had collected chaisse lounges and old washing machines that people had left to sink into the mud.
We regrouped at the drop-off spot (called Zen Tubing) for a quick lunch and then quickly departed once more down the river. Before we had gotten very far, however, Conor and I stopped at small bank to dig up a rather entrenched tire. After struggling with the task for at least five minutes we managed to use our shovels as a wedge with which to pull out the tire. We were then confronted with an even more difficult chore, getting the tire from the bank and into our boat. We had done this a few times with other tires, which had been heavy but capable of being lifted. This tire, however, was filled with thick mud and roots at every spot, making it far heavier than it had been before. In order to make it lighter we began using our hands to dig out the mud, which turned out to be a pretty good idea. We were soon able to lift the tire into our boat, only to see a long snake slither out of the mud in the tire. It appeared that this snake had been lying inside the mud and we had released it with our digging. The snake began moving around our boat as if it was attempting to find a way from which to escape; Conor and I merely stood there trying to figure out how to get the snake out, for neither of us were brave enought to reach in and pick the snake up. Finally, two members from the church came around and apparently had no problem with snakes. They quickly grabbed the snake and three it onto the bank, where it safely slithered away. -Gmo
No comments:
Post a Comment