Sunday Rafting

sunday was the last rafting day of the season. The difference this time was I took my father, stepmom, sisters and THEIR various boyfriends. We got on the river by 11 or so and discovered we were the only ones rafting that day, at least the only blues. We saw a few yellows but who really looks at them anyway.

So it was mostly a mellow day, we floated down the river, attacked a few people and argued about how to paddle and move. We stopped at Gilligans Island and had the island to ourselves. Aundrea had found this strange canned meals, basically sandwich fixings you make, along with water and a sweet. All in a can. Wierd.

Then we went under the bridge ….and tide turned. We went down the right side and soon the current and our lack of teamwork cause the raft to bash into a tree. Joe (Ali’s — the 18 year old sister — boyfriend .. seems like a nice guy but I am keeping an eye on him) jumped out of the raft to push it, then the rapids turned the raft around and he almost was crushed between the massive tree and the raft. He literally jumped into the raft with one second to spare. It was an Indian Jones action come to live. When we bounced off the tree, I started to fall into the water, soon to be crushed as well. John grabbed me and kept me in the boat. What a guy!

The next step in our adventure we tried to get past some wicked rapids, only to hit a tree stump in the river. I had hit that stump in the past, but this time we hit it at just thr right angle, the raft lodged in the stump and slightly tilted. And soon filled with water. Abandon ship! We all hopped out and people tried to grab stuff. The water was only waist deep and wasn’t that serious. Joe and I hoped out on our side, only to discover that one section was about 8 feet deep and a wicked undertow and sucked us both under the boat. It was only a few seconds, but it was freaking scary. We all swam to shore, Dad swallows a bit of water and was not feeling very well. In total we lost sandals, sunglasses, a hat and a few water guns. Including the pvc one Adam had bought.

We made it to the end soon after that. We saw the pvc gun but the current was too strong and people were too pooped to try for it (after some gentle convincing) Aundrea hopped the shuttle and we waited for her. During that time some canoers found the pvc water gun and gave it to us. Dad was too pooped for dinner , the sisters wanted to go home so John and I had Ethopian. Yum. Then I made the drive home and plopped into bed.