Five friends take a 13-day, 250-mile canoe adventure from the headwaters of the James River to the fall line in Richmond, VA, exploring the troubled history of the river's environment and the lives that have been lived along the banks along the way. Along their journey, they are confronted with gun violence over a camp site, lose a boat to rising waters, and struggle to stay positive through news of sewage leaks and coal train derailments along the river.