San Joaquin

When Friant dam makes large flood releases, the San Joaquin river returns to a semblance of its former self. The river is mostly open as in this picture but there are frequent areas where trees seem to grow all the way across the channel. Paddlers have to look carefully to find the best openings through these trees.

And yes, Tim and Christine should be wearing lifejackets even though it is flatwater. If they had tipped it could have been a long and very cold swim trying to find a safe place to get to shore with all of the trees and brush along the banks.