Tranquility And Brotherhood On The River With The Texas River Runner

“Back when there was a lot more fighting going on, we had a lot more troops over there; we had a lot of amputees,” Carroll said.

By Terra Rivers, Managing Editor

Every year, the nation comes together and celebrates the men and women who serve everyone by putting their lives on the line. But in San Marcos, Texas, there’s one place that does it every week.

The Olympic Outdoor Center partners with organizations and hospitals, such as Brook Army Medical Center and Mission Kayaks, to bring wounded veterans back into an active lifestyle.

Last Thursday, Nov. 16, volunteers came together to help the Brook Army Medical Center’s Warrior Transition celebrate Veterans day and Warrior Care Month with activities on the San Marcos River.

But in some ways, at the Olympic Outdoor Center, every Thursday is Veterans day. The center offers a variety of programs to help wounded veterans recover both mentally and physically by getting them outside and active; the center hosts a weekly trip where expert kayakers, known as Team River Runner, guides wounded veterans from Rio Vista Damn down to Thompson’s island and back.

Ben Kvanli, former Olympian and owner of the Olympic Outdoor Center, partners with Mission Kayak and Brook Army Medical Center to provide a therapeutic adventure along the San Marcos River.

The wounded vets are dropped off near Rio Vista dam and paddle the winding water way of the San Marcos River downstream. The slow current created by the dam allows them to move at their own pace and take in the turtles and trees that inhabit the landscape around them. There’s a sense of peacefulness on the river—especially beyond the reach of your typical tuber. And the slow current allows everyone to navigate the water. 

Daniel Carroll, a volunteer and kayak instructor, said the number of veterans varies on a weekly basis. He found Kvanli’s website and started coming out as a volunteer in 2010 whenever he was in town.  

“We have all kinds of people that come,” Carroll said. “Back when there was a lot more fighting going on, we had a lot more troops over there; we had a lot of amputees. We’ve had triple amputees, who learned how to roll kayaks back up, which is pretty amazing. We used to go to the swimming pool, center for intrepid, and we’d work with everybody for about 45 minutes on rolling, and then we’d play kayak water polo. Ben always donates of his time, equipment and gasoline.”

Carroll said as the war wound down; the program saw fewer amputees and was reduced to one day a week out on the river.

At Cape’s Dam, experienced kayakers direct and spot veterans as they ride the channel of water created by the breach into the lower channel. A few people flip, but Kvanli and his volunteers are there to help them back onto their feet or foot and into their kayak.

Riding the cascade of white water over the small rise is exhilarating whether you flip or not. But there is a sense of triumph and excitement when you ride it for the first time and paddle away without taking a dip.

A few kayakers grab trees and bushes to hold their position while they wait for the rest of the group to join them. Otherwise, the current will carry them into the beyond, and paddling upstream against the current is difficult for an experienced kayaker.

Once everyone has made it down, they follow the river past the fish hatchery and Stokes’ park. The group looks on as a few of them seek the next therapeutic thrill of the river also known as Thompson’s Falls. It’s not for everyone, and when standing at the top of the falls, there are a few possible second thoughts. But in the end, it’s exhilarating like the first hill of a roller coaster.

However, the pivotal moment of any kayaking trip with these guys is the climb up the hill at Thompson’s island from the river.

It may be a group of strangers, but the moment the boats hit the water it’s a team. Fellow veterans and guides help the vet who lost his leg in accident up the steep incline. It’s a slow process. And anyone who has broken a foot or an ankle can recall the struggle of hopping up that hill. However, here, everyone is there to help. While others help their comrades up the hill, the rest carry the kayaks and equipment.

And those things have some weight to them—especially once you’ve got twelve or so paddles and helmets in them. (Believe me.)

And it isn’t just a straight shot up the hill and back into the water. The bridge on cape’s street over the Mill Race is almost at water level on a good day making it impossible for anyone to go under it on a kayak.

Veterans have to walk a third of the mill race to cross Capes Street, a two-lane road which weaves through John J. Stokes’ Park and bears no stop sign to accompany the small crosswalk, in order to get back in the water.

It’s a 15-minute paddle back up the mill race to the Olympic Outdoor Center. The final trek of the river is up the channel created by Cape’s Dam.

The Olympic Outdoor Center opened its doors in 2001 under Kvanli. Now the cabana like building and grounds is home to a variety of small businesses with programs from paddle board yoga to training for the Olympics and the annual Texas River Safari to taking Boy Scouts on a canoeing trip. 

I was fortunate enough to be invited to go out and explore an area of the river, which has been part of a grand debate for years now. I’m a journalist; I can’t tell you how the environment or the wildlife will be affected if the dam stays or is removed. And I won’t tell you my opinion. But I can share what someone else said.

Specialist Nicholas Carral, United States Army, is a 23-year-old wounded veteran, who has lost his right arm. Last Thursday was his first time out with Kvanli and the Texas River Runner team. He rode shotgun on a kayak with Kvanli and watched fellow veterans ride the cascade of water from Thompson’s falls. 

“Being a wounded veteran is definitely an experience in terms of rehabilitation,” Nicholas said. “There’s a big sense of tranquility, big sense of brotherhood out here. Everyone seems to enjoy themselves and have a great time. I plan on…eventually being able to bring my family back here and enjoying the river and enjoying everybody’s company.”