Most summers by early June, friends of mine would be finalizing plans for an overnight trip to the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (part of our amazing National Park Service. Thanks, TR!). We’d roll in early on a Saturday morning and load up rented canoes with coolers, tents, sleeping bags, cooking gear and musical instruments. The following four or five hours would be spent lazily floating down the Delaware River. At times, we’d swap stories or tell jokes. At others, we’d break into song. Often - though - we’d simply fall silent and enjoy the sounds of nature that surrounded us. By mid-afternoon, we’d come ashore at an inviting bend in the river and set-up camp. Our camp fire would eventually be spread out into hot coals for cooking dinner. Once dinner was done, we would build the fire back up and - as dusk faded and the stars came out - listen as the sounds of the day faded and forest’s nocturnal denizens took over.

Image: Nathan Lindahl on Unsplash