White Water Rafting

Well I don't know how many of you remember the story of me trying to go White Water Rafting last year out in Western Mass. Now don't get me wrong we all had a GREAT time on that trip. However, I don't really remember seeing any actual rapids and my boat had the bitter racist guide which is just so wrong for that line of work. Then we had the propane grill incident where Andrew bought a hibachi and bought the propane and it wouldn't stay lit so then we were using one that was attached to a tent cabin that Lynlee had rented which never got hot and we tried to cook those burgers for like 2 hours which is why we nicknamed the trip "Propanepolusa" and if you say "it's almost time for cheese" to anyone that was there we will start laughing just a little too hard and sorry you had to be there I can't explain that one well but trust me I think it's HYSTERICAL.

So of course we say we are going to do this again next year and this time there will be rapids. So with that in mind in the Spring Andrew and I get together and start planning for the trip this year and we decide that we are going to go to Maine. Why not? Let's do this right? At first we are thinking that we are going to do the Kennebec and it's supposed to be a good river to get your feet wet. I call to talk to one of the people at the company and they tell me that the part at the beginning is the worst and that if you make it through that it's no big deal. Well wait a minute. I want to have a solid rafting experience. I want to be able to come home and say yeah I did that. I mean I might have a broken bone and definitely going to have bruises but TOTALLY going to be worth it. So I talk to Andrew and we decide we are going to do the Penobscot River in Millinocket Maine. WAY UP THERE for those not familiar it's Exit 244 off of Route 95. Yeah that was a bit of a drive. Anyway, we end up with 9 people going which is a good number and we weren't sure how the boat was going to work out and if they would have us in one or two boats.

Andrew, my cousin and I decide to head up early on Friday. Andrew and I take half days from work and Deb was still on summer vacation so we got up to the campsite around 6:30 and had a great time on the drive up and just hanging out and getting all set up and settled in for the next couple nights. The other two cars got there around 10:30 and then they got all settled not long after the rest of them got there we all started feeling like it would be a good idea to try and go to bed.

OK so I know you really just want to hear about the rafting. Yes the Penobscot has class 4 and a class 5 rapid. I have had a lot of people talking about how all the rain fall means that there is more water in the rivers and that the rapids are going to be even more crazy then they would be normally. I push this out of my head as much as possible since I really don't want to think about it or freak myself out. We get there and they have us sign the waiver that says they are not responsible for anything that happens to us when we are on the river we are the insane ones deciding to do this. I get my life jacket fitted, put on my white short bus helmet, and grab a paddle. So I didn't tell you who went Andrew and I, Deb Regan, Debbie Corliss, Andrew Scholte, Andrew Sutherland, Leah, Katie, and David. Yes 3 Andrew's and 2 Debbie's. Very FUN! David unfortunately threw out his back earlier in the week so he came up for the camping but wasn't able to go on the river for the rapids. So all of us except David head over to our bus and find out we need to meet J.B. when we get there. So we all get there and find out that we are going to be the first boat and that all 9 of us would have been in the same boat and one of us would have been sitting in the back with J.B. not doing anything but holding on and watching. I think that would have been the scariest thing. When you are paddling at least you feel like you have some control but to put total trust in EVERYONE else in the boat. AHHH. Yeah I am not good at putting that much trust in people.

So the first thing that we do when we get in the water is we go down a waterfall and somehow we all stay in the boat. J.B. asks us if we want to go Surfing. Andrew's face lights up so I am thinking this has to be a good thing since he has actually done this before. So we go into this part of the waterfall where it's pretty intense and we get into this point where we are just sitting there coasting it was awesome. Then he has us take the boat back up the waterfall and we go down for a second time this time sideways and that was scary as FUCK. Oh my God! We all got thrown around but wait for it. We are all still in the BOAT! YES GO US! We did some more surfing and the second time when we came out of it Andrew pulls up his paddle and it's bent. He is SO PROUD of his bent paddle it was really funny. Now we pull the boat up and are going down the waterfall for the third time and I am realizing we went forwards, sideways, Oh the bastard is going to put us down backwards to see how well we do. So I look at him when we get back in and I tell him in no uncertain terms don't even think of having us go down this backwards and he laughs. Everyone agrees with me. So we go down forwards and all stayed in. I know that the guides where trying to figure out everyone's ability and to see what they can do. I have to say I am very proud of my group we made it through the WHOLE day and NO ONE fell out of the boat. After lunch when we went to the new point where we went in up by the dam and we turn the corner and you see the gorge and the Class 5 I thought for sure I am DONE. This is seriously the craziest thing I have ever seen and I have a million thoughts rushing through my head and I hold on to that rope with all my might and stayed in somehow. I have to give J.B. a lot of credit he was great and I know that he had a lot to do with us making it through all of that successfully.

At one point when we were drifting down the river waiting for the next section of rapids we saw a moose on the edge of the water. It was such a huge and beautiful creature. We were all so excited it was a little ridiculous but what are you going to do. I tried to take a couple pictures with my waterproof disposable but it just didn't really come out shocking I know. There was also a point where there was swimming rapids and I decided to get in the water and see what it felt like. I was one of the first to decide to go in and they tell you to keep your feet up and if you go under try not to freak out that you will pop out. J. B. also told us to stay close to the boat so I am trying to do everything I am supposed to and water just rushes over me and I have no idea what end is up so I just keep telling myself to keep my feet up and don't worry. Feet up and don't worry you'll pop out. So I pop out and my chill guide is at the edge of the boat practically in my face and saying "Jackie are you OK? You were under the boat!" Now the look on my face I am sure said it all. I told him "I was until you told me that!" Of course I was fine and everything worked out and I am glad that I had no idea I was under the boat when I was under the water. I am so glad that I did it and I can't wait for next year to do it all over again.

That night at the campsite we didn't have any issues with the charcoal grill that Andrew brought it was fantastic. We all hung out and reminisced about the day. Andrew pulled out his guitar and we sat around the campfire listening to him play. It was such a great weekend. I wish I didn't have to wait until next year to do it all over again. Oh well.