I don't need no stinking boat
Today was the river trip with me, my dad and my sister. We took our inflatable kayaks. I got one to myself. I wasn't used to the double oars, but it was kinda fun. I didn't remember how many rapids there were! Not big ones, like the ones you take professionals on, but decent nonetheless. The first one was pretty good, I bet those waves got to two or three feet. That's something to see coming over your bows, make no mistake. woohoo! I got pinned up against a rock, since I wasn't used to the oars, but got out all right. After pulling over and dumping out the extra water, we started again. Most of the river is fairly flat and smooth, with a few minor rapids or rocks to watch out for. There's one place called Sunburn Alley, because the river is so wide and placid that everyone gets sunburned. Right after it though, there were some more rapids. I went ahead to scout out a good way to go. The left bank was the best route, and by best I mean only, because it was two drops of a couple feet and some roaring water. The other side was all rocks, no way to get the boat through. Unfortunately, I realized this about the time I reached them. I beached myself on this tiny island and actually got out (dangerous, yes, slippery rocks and all that) and pushed by kayak back upstream a bit so I could go through the 'better' part. My dad and sister went down first, since they were behind me, and had time to get over. I made it part of the way, just missing this really narrow section that wasn't wide enough to let the boat get through. Then I had to go through another narrow shoot, fortunately big enough to let me through. I made it down the first drop all right, but then the current caught me, and the boat was so light with only me in it that I spun around backwards to go down the second part. It all happened really fast, but I think what happened was I made it down the second drop, then turned partly sideways, and the lack of weight in the front of the boat tipped me over. At any rate, I suddenly realized the boat was tipping, It wasn't quite slow-motion, but there were definitely a few moments when I realized that the boat was going to tip, and thought to myself, "well, I'm going in." So the boat swamped, and I went under. The water was surprisingly cold, but not too much. When I first tried to come up, I hit against the boat, and couldn't get up. Then I came out ahead of it and managed to gulp mostly air (some river water in there) then it was down again. My first thought was of my lifejacket, which was of course in the boat and not on me. The second thought was to grab the boat and not let it get away, since it would be my flotation device. I was still in the rapids, though fortunately through the drops. I kept kicking the rocks, unable to get a purchase, since they were very smooth and slippery. I did not smash into any, thank goodness. The second time I came up I grabbed for the boat. It was upside down, the nose right in front of me. However, the bottom is so smooth that I couldn't get a hold anywhere. The third time I surfaced, I managed to grab hold of the laces that tied on one of the front flaps. At that point, the rocks were behind and there was only really choppy water, manageable. It was really deep, so I had to swim along with the boat, but at that point I was basically home free. Farther down, Dad and Dorothy picked up my oars, my waterbottle. The other stuff, my shoes and lifevest and blow-up chair remained wedged in the kayak, so I didn't lose anything! I swam into the bank, and we righted the kayak. I took a few minutes to take a breather. I've never been swamped in the rapids before, though I've done them in inner tubes and that's pretty intense too. Still, there were a few moments of freaking out, coming up under the boat and not being able to hold onto it. But I managed, and by the time I reached the slower water was quite calm. Then, we had to go on, because there was still a little bit more river before our getting-out point. There was one more set of rapids, and despite myself I was a bit nervous to go over them, because it looked like they dropped quite steeply. We waited until some more experienced boaters came by, then followed their lead, since last time I didn't exactly do the best job of picking a route. Fortunately, it wasn't that big of a drop-off, and I hardly had to paddle at all. I'm glad I did at least one more set of rapids before getting out, to kind of get rid of any remaining fear from falling in. I think it earns me hardcore points at least. It was pretty intense. My glasses even stayed on and everything. I think for the first half of it I even had my eyes closed, though it's kind of hard to remember now. Anyway, it's all good at this point. My muscles are sore from all the paddling, but that's it. Not even a scratch. Huzzah. My battle with the river and I didn't die a watery death. Boat? I don't need no stinking boat!