So, rather than shred el cheapo rafto on rocks so early in the day, I elected to portage it across an island to deeper water on the other side. I was glad I did, too, because that rock-strewn island was littered with some really nifty pieces of driftwood, which, upon closer examination, were the gnarled, decomposing remains of many dead salmon. And contrary to one expert's opinion, my trusty craft maintained its integrity. Then the river got placid again, meaning I had the choice of rowing or sitting dead in the water. I saw three or four people on the south shore, each of them playing fetch with their hunting dogs, perhaps getting them up to snuff for duck-hunting season come fall.
Many cities have a dominant geographic characteristic.
San Francisco is surrounded by water on three sides. Los Angeles has a mountain range that cuts across its middle. New York's urban center is on an island. Sacramento is bisected by a river. But the American River, which flows into the Sacramento north of Downtown, dominates the city's landscape, effectively dividing the city in half.