Sunday Tube-Drifting through Satan's Kingdom

On the Farmington River, a little under an hour from here, there's a section that you can float down on bright yellow rented innertubes. I'm just back from there, having gone with a small group of friends and friends' friends. I guarantee that out of all ways to take in nature, this is the most slothful: two hours of lazy drifting, lightly punctuated with three very mild rapids. The treesiness and infinite azure sky are quite nice. Swallows darting whichaway, some visible fish, etc. The catch is that you're surrounded with other bright yellow rented innertubes.

This section of the Farmington is called the Satan's Kingdom State Recreation Area. There's a big sign and everything, "Satan's Kingdom State Recreation Area." According to the Internet, this is because back in the day the valley contained a settlement of Indians and miscellaneous other folks of lesser reputation.

Afterwards we went to someone's backyard for cookout food, chitchat, and three rounds of Catch Phrase. Also coffee, since so much sun and slothfulness will really knock you right out.

Need coffee to stay awake through an afternoon cookout? Might be August.

It was 85 degrees and gorgeous today.