Hello to a River

In the more than sixty years since John Graves wrote Goodbye to a River, his "piece" of the Brazos has not changed as much as he might have expected. He would still recognize and cherish it. John Downes recorded similar trips down the Colorado River in his journals over more than a decade. Using both of these efforts as inspiration, Robert Richard Downes explores stretches of several Texas waterways. These rivers still retain the beauty and adventure they held in Graves' time.

Robert Richard Downes is a retired U.S. diplomat who served most of his 35-year Foreign Service career overseas. He now lives in his native Texas where he kayaks, writes, and volunteers for local charities and international organizations.