A wet and wild adventure
I am still pumped from rafting, I really can't wait to go again. I'm browner (and redder) than I've been since I last played field hockey, I have some scratches and bruises from unruly trees and rocks, but it still could not have been better. Our guide-- "BJ"-- was awesome, he kept talking about how great Girl Scouts are and how lame Boy Scouts are... even though he was probably lying in order to get a good tip, it worked. We loved him. Our raft never flipped, and we never lost anyone. Although, by the end of the trip I was almost longing to get thrown from the raft. I don't know why, considering I haven't the lung capacity for serious swimming, but the water was calling my name and pehaps I have more of an adventurous side than I thought I did. If I were a better swimmer I would want to be a guide, or at least do guide training.
On Saturday we drove four hours to Ridgecrest, where Janine's mom lives. Ridgecrest... how can I describe it? Like Ramona, but hotter and with both a Wal Mart AND a K-Mart (And a Starbucks). Ridgecrest is the Gateway to Death Valley. Supposedly there was a sign, but "valley" kept getting painted over.
The next morning, we got up early and drove the final hour to Lake Isabella (or Kernville, I'm not sure whether they both describe the same place, or two very small towns so close together that they are impossible to differentiate.)
Then we rafted. The water was really high, supposedly, which made the river flow faster than usual, and also but tree branches around head level. The concept of ducking was a new one for me, but I learned quickly enough. We camped. Then we rafted some more. Day 1 had been mostly 2's and 3's, Day 2 was way more intense (and way more fun) because there wasn't as much flat water and we got to try some class 4's.
Umm, okay, and then we drove back to Ridgecrest Monday (Yesterday, I suppose)to sleep at Janine's mom's house again. And that was what we did.
Driving through the desert is an interesting experience. I detest Joshua Trees. But, encountering towns like Adelanto, the self proclaimed "City with unlimited possibilities," (They use the term city very lightly, considering that the "business district" consists of several firecracker stands, a Stater Bros. which is still in construction, and a handfull of mom and pop general stores and diners.) made the drive thought provoking at the very least. If my ass hadn't been so sore from two amazing days of bouncing up and down on a surprisingly hard inflatable raft, I would even go so far to say that the drive was enjoyable. And, I've decided to add Adelanto to my list of possible places in the middle of nowhere to run off to in the event that I ever decide to live as a hermit and write the next great American novel. (Santa Ysabel is the only other place I have so far.) In my mind, being completely cut off from everyone and everything seems like the most perfectly intense situation for really accomplishing something amazing. Of course, some great tragedy will have to prompt my move... A very painful breakup, the death of a loved one. It's sick that I'm even thinking of this, I don't seriously want any of that to happen. I need to stop.
Anyway. The point is that this weekend made me feel alive and was the perfect beginning to a hopefully fun, exciting, and productive summer. The end.
On Saturday we drove four hours to Ridgecrest, where Janine's mom lives. Ridgecrest... how can I describe it? Like Ramona, but hotter and with both a Wal Mart AND a K-Mart (And a Starbucks). Ridgecrest is the Gateway to Death Valley. Supposedly there was a sign, but "valley" kept getting painted over.
The next morning, we got up early and drove the final hour to Lake Isabella (or Kernville, I'm not sure whether they both describe the same place, or two very small towns so close together that they are impossible to differentiate.)
Then we rafted. The water was really high, supposedly, which made the river flow faster than usual, and also but tree branches around head level. The concept of ducking was a new one for me, but I learned quickly enough. We camped. Then we rafted some more. Day 1 had been mostly 2's and 3's, Day 2 was way more intense (and way more fun) because there wasn't as much flat water and we got to try some class 4's.
Umm, okay, and then we drove back to Ridgecrest Monday (Yesterday, I suppose)to sleep at Janine's mom's house again. And that was what we did.
Driving through the desert is an interesting experience. I detest Joshua Trees. But, encountering towns like Adelanto, the self proclaimed "City with unlimited possibilities," (They use the term city very lightly, considering that the "business district" consists of several firecracker stands, a Stater Bros. which is still in construction, and a handfull of mom and pop general stores and diners.) made the drive thought provoking at the very least. If my ass hadn't been so sore from two amazing days of bouncing up and down on a surprisingly hard inflatable raft, I would even go so far to say that the drive was enjoyable. And, I've decided to add Adelanto to my list of possible places in the middle of nowhere to run off to in the event that I ever decide to live as a hermit and write the next great American novel. (Santa Ysabel is the only other place I have so far.) In my mind, being completely cut off from everyone and everything seems like the most perfectly intense situation for really accomplishing something amazing. Of course, some great tragedy will have to prompt my move... A very painful breakup, the death of a loved one. It's sick that I'm even thinking of this, I don't seriously want any of that to happen. I need to stop.
Anyway. The point is that this weekend made me feel alive and was the perfect beginning to a hopefully fun, exciting, and productive summer. The end.