Saturday, July 7, 2007

Breakfast at camp. Drove to the grocery store parking lot where the rafting people picked us up in their van. On my previous rafting trip with Mariah the campground was right on the water and we put in to the river right from camp. At the end of the trip, there was a long bus ride back to where we put in. On this trip, we were picked up in their van and we drove for a long time to the put in. This van was air-conditioned, which made the ride very comfortable. The road was harrowing—one lane in each direction along mountain cliff roads. Sometimes there was only enough space for a single lane and we had to share the road with oncoming vehicles. During the drive one of the raft guides described in detail his experiences with having intercourse with farm animals. This was both amusing and somewhat uncomfortable at the same time because we could tell he wasn't making it up. We put in to the river. I can't remember the name of our guide now, but she was excellent. She had been rafting for 6 or 8 years, and she gave us excellent instructions which prepared us well for the rapids we would be encountering. The water was cold our entire trip, but despite the common knowledge that there was less water now than in previous years, I didn't notice any problems with water levels, and we were told it was a good time to raft as there would be less water in the coming months. As the day warmed, we hoped that the water grow warmer, and it did but not by much. Others took a dip during some quiet parts of our trip, but it was still too cold for me. Although Mark and Brian had to be rescued after taking a swim and drifting somewhat close to rapids, there were no serious injuries or other catastrophes. We got back to camp and everyone was exhausted from the day's exertions. We rested, took showers, snacked, and drank cool beverages. After a shower, I swam in the campground's 5-foot-deep pool, which was the perfect temperature in the afternoon. Steve cooked chicken, Korean beef, and more. Matt joined me for a bit in the pool then left. I returned to camp, then returned to the pool. Brian, Josh, and Timmie were there swimming and got out not long after I arrived. Marck joined us. We all went over to the playground and played on the swings, monkeybars, seesaw, and tetherball court. Near sunset I walked a bit around a small, nearby lake. As night fell, we sat around the campfire roasting marshmallows, making s'mores, and talking.