On our recent vacation to Colorado, the hubs
thought it would be a good idea to substitute semi-safe rafting for non-safe
kayaking. I am a professional non-outdoors woman and an avoider of all things
risky like roller coasters, slip & slides, ski slopes, burro/pack mule
trips, sleeping outside in tents of any kind, campgrounds, petting zoos and
outdoor toilets, so I was less than thrilled, but he said that our family
needed some adventure so I acquiesced reluctantly. Who am I to get in the way of
adventure?
We showed up at the appointed time and as I
squeezed the smelly protective helmet on my head, he asked me if I was scared.
I said no, as I wasn't scared so much as resolved to get it over with. We had a
quick crash course in what to do if we fell overboard, a quick reassurance that
the rapids were not strong due to the low water levels in the river, and then
we put our inflatable kayaks in the river and took off. I spent the first half
hour paddling backwards to make sure that I could stay up with our 10 year old
daughter, unsure how she would do in the rapids. She was a natural and kept up
with the group just fine with a little help from our guide.
The following is a text I sent to my sister in law
about how I did in the rapids:
Haha- well I
fell in and drank some water and my helmet came over my eyes and my life jacket
came up to my chin and I couldn't see a durn thing. I held on to my paddle for
dear life and the current took me into a huge rock. Then I bumped the hell out
of my leg and knee. I lost my kayak and it went flying, I bounced back to it
somehow, but couldn't get back into it. Guides helped me get back in.
I was
wearing a wet-suit so in the pics they took; it basically looks like a huge
killer whale flying off the side.
Her reply to my near-death experience:
OMG! I am
laughing so hard I am crying and J is asking what’s going on cause nothing can
be that funny.
I am always happy to provide serious
entertainment; all in the name of adventure. Laters.
