Sac River Adventure to Good Home

Is this news in the strictest sense? Probably not. But it is an opportunity to build connections with your community, with the natural world around you, and learn about yourself. A very personal sort of news making.

Last week we completed a 100+ mile punk rafting trip on the Sacramento River. We built a raft out of found and scavenged materials and floated for a week Huck Finn-style down from Red Bluff, rafting through all the twists and turns and dangers and islands of the Sacramento, fishing and floating and reading and swimming and wasting away the days.

We jumped ship in Colusa but left the raft tied up along the banks of the river for the next set of adventurers to enjoy.

The boat (actually two identical rafts tied together) was made of truck tire inner tubes, and cast off plywood and 2x4s, all lashed together with rope. There was a rough shade structure made of branches and canvas. It has a fabulous couch for lazing away the hours.

We left a note on the boat that said something like this:

Dear Adventurer:

Congratulations o acquiring your new raft! We hope you'll have many hours, days, and weeks of fun.

Your new raft comes fully equipped with the following:

* robust flotation
* plywood decking surface
* shade structure
* carpeting
* inner tube for floating about
* pirate flag
* comfortable seating
* eclectic ornamentation
* mooring line/inner tube line
* topo map of Sac River

This raft was built from the finest scavenged materials for a cost of next to nothing. It was built and launched in Red Bluff along the banks of the Sacramento River. We floated and camped on beaches for five days.

You’ll need the following to continue your trip downriver:

* paddles
* water
* beer
* personal flotation devices
* food/stove
* sunscreen
* sleeping bags
* tent or mosquito net
* musical instruments

Have fun. Stay safe. Make trouble & adventure. Send us photos and stories.

2006 Punk Rafting Crew

This is not white water rafting. We're talking a river with class zero rapids. A floating river. A lazying hot summer day eating found apples sort of river. A trip that will remain low on specifics, high on general concept, mood, and emotion. Part of an experiment and a belief in the power of boredom to inspire.

Please ensure that when the boats are at the end of thier adventure downriver, that the parts get recycled into other creations. One couch, 16 inner tubes, and a few sheets of plywood. A bounty for some new adventure.

We left the raft securely tied up along the western bank of the Sacramento in Colusa. It is at the river end of 2nd street off of Market. Follow the trail along the left to the river.

This adventure is yours for the taking.