Gliding down the Takahicho Gorge

We drifted quietly along the calm turquoise waters of the Takahicho Gorge, watching nearby boats row clumsily, bumping into one another. The sun spilled over the cliffs, making the mossy rocks glow chartreuse. Deep grooves have been chiseled into the rocks over thousands of years to form vertical slate-colored columns. Ear-splitting shrieks erupted, followed by laughter as a nearby boat drifted too close to the waterfall. It was in these fleeting moments of perfection that we felt vindicated and rewarded in our quest for adventure off the beaten path.