Atlanta, Georgia, July 2002
Floating down the Chattahoochee River, also known as “shooting the ‘Hooch,” is a beloved summer pastime here in Atlanta. Basically, you round up some buddies, rent a massive raft, take a cooler full of beer along and drift down the river for a couple hours. (Canoes are an acceptable alternative for smaller outings.) On sunny, not-too-hot weekends the river is slammed with ‘Hooch shooters, kayakers and even some fishermen (who surely must land the occasional three-eyed fish).
This was taken the summer after my freshman year of college — ten years ago now — which was one of those rare summers when many, if not most, people from high school were back home for the break. Here we are attempting to deflate the raft at the end of our journey. (I’m in the middle back with the old-man fishing hat on.) Ah, to be a summering college student again…
