A Day of Salt River Rafting

Today I went rafting with the girls. Seven of us who have busy lives, with businesses, kids, and long to-do lists said good-bye to all those responsibilities and headed off to the Salt River for a full day of rafting. It's funny, the response of this from those in our lives. Guy reminded me that there was nothing on paper about important numbers he should know or things he may be called on to do if i'm not around. I concur, but didn't have time to do much more than give him John and Susan's number.  Sarah's mother had a similar response, telling Sarah she better make it back because she (her mother) did not want to be raising 2 young children.     Leslie, who is a mother of three young children (under 5) was given a complete day  of freedom as hubby, Brandon took on the care and feeding of young ones. (I'm sure he said something about making it back in one piece!)...

I was not too worried, until we listened to the "safety lesson" and discovered all sorts of ways one could end up in the river.

And it was Waaay to cold today to be cavalier about going into the river. So we listened.

(At the end of the day when none of us had fallen overboard, we asked our guide just how many people did end up in the river. He told us it was unusual to complete a run without atleast one overboard. I attribute that to the sensibilities of our little gang of seven. We do not go for that kind of discomfort and drama in our life. So we worked at staying in the boat. Which we did!)

As for the rafting itself, the clothes leave alittle to be desired. First you have to pull on a semi-wet wetsuit (used from the day before) and pull on those little waterproof booties. Then layer that with a splash jacket and a life vest...which, when taken as a whole....makes you feel a bit mummiefied..it is a wonder that you can walk - let alone climb in a raft and row!

We opted for the full day on the river, which included a wonderful hamburger grill - compliments of our guide(s). about mid-day. By then we'd traveled 5 miles and multiple rapids and some of were very wet, and all of us were very hungry. We finished up on the river about 3:30...and as our guide said, we complete our day by managing a level 3 rapids....and a level 4 Bus trip back through narrow canyon roads which drop off and stream beds with loose bottoms. yep...that was well said.  But we survived. And so did the bus.We decided to close out our day of total irresponsibility at The Drift Inn. Ahhh.... what a day! 

Comments

[susan]

I got it wrong. Its not Turkey that has the good life, its Globe Arizona. Glad you went-
and glad you all came back. -With a few new stories!