I learned something this week. I’m not meant to spend my life on the river. It was a close call because I was *this* close to chucking my glamorous life in the city and spending my days floating down a river a la Huck Finn. Minus any racist overtones.
It seemed like a good idea. Girl-child’s youth group was going to inner-tube up in the mountains. I was chosen to accompany them, not based on my wicked river skills but because of my wicked-large vehicular module. They needed drivers. I know how to drive. A match made in heaven, right? So I signed up to drive. And that’s where the fun begins.
I knew I was in trouble from the beginning. When someone says “You can’t miss it,” and I still get lost, I should just cut my losses and go home. But the kids were counting on me. So I kept plugging.
Getting into the river was the hardest thing I have ever done. Did you know that tubing involves stuffing your bum-bum in a giant inner tube so that the only parts actually touching the water are feet and the most tender parts of the anatomy? Did you also know that river water is cold? I bet you didn’t. That’s what I’m here for. To teach. And to drive.
It was hard, but I am brave. I did it. I let most of the kids get in first. Not because I am chicken, but because I was trained that there should always be an adult watching from behind for safety’s sake. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.
Anyway, with only a few folks left behind me, I put my tube in the water and off I went. Or so I thought. I didn’t get very far before I hit a rock and dragged bottom. As in, my bottom. So far, rafting chafes more than it entertains. But I am one to persevere.
In a matter of moments, I realized I was alone on the river. As in, completely alone. It was as though my tookus suddenly dropped anchor in an iceberg, and I was left watching groups who started 1/4 mile up the river from me pass me at great speeds while I sat almost completely still. At one point I think I actually started moving backward. No, really. Pretty soon, I couldn’t even hear other rafters.
I tried to pretend that this was solitude. And I almost believed it. Until I hit the first rock. A wide, wide river, flowing smoothly, not a rock in sight. Except for the one I was now bearing down on with new-found speed. Speed. Yes, now I find that current that everyone else was riding. Whee! OW! Frickiddy-frack! Solitude is kind of ouchie.
I discovered that the rock had friends. A lot of friends. Some hidden a little better than others, and some of them just waiting to whack me in tush or grab my inner tube. I also discovered that rocks are slimy. Very, very slimy. When it became obvious that there was absolutely no way to float through one section of the river, I attempted to right myself and carry my tube to deeper water. And I fell. A lot. I found myself channeling my inner Yosemite Sam. I am not proud of it.
Finally, I found the deeper current, and it was really moving. I dropped tube and jumped in. And nearly flipped my raft. I could have died there. Except I had an audience. Tents were pitched here and there along the river. Everywhere I hit a rock, I could count on at least one camper sitting on the bank watching. I’m sure my plight would have been very, very funny if it hadn’t been so pitiful. I think I would rather have had them holding their sides and peeing their pants laughing at me than see the looks that so clearly said “Oh, sweet Lord, what is the matter with that woman?”
After an hour and a half of furious paddling and hauling my rig over rock and ’round bend, I finally came within sight of my group. It took another fifteen minutes for me to finally catch them and get out of the water. Sadly, the sun came out in full force, and I couldn’t float the river a second time, even if I had wanted to. And believe me, I didn’t want to.
So lesson learned. No more rafting. I’m hoping the next youth group trip will be something a little less fraught with peril. Like bungee jumping. Nothing could go wrong there, could it?
Thanks for the giggle. I was laughing WITH you, of course! Also, I LOVE the detail in the drawing!! Very cute!
I took great pains over that drawing. I am as skilled at drawing feet as I am navigating the river.
Is the right foot normally that size or did it take the brunt of the rocks (snigger, sorry, still recovering)? On no account must you go bungie jumping – we fear this might be the report of your experience: http://news.sky.com/story/916074/bungee-cord-breaks-over-croc-infested-river
My feet are weird. They’re kind of drawn true-to-life. And yike! That would TOTALLY be me!
The things we do for our kids, right? I feel for you, sister. I once volunteered to chaperone a field trip to a dairy. I couldn’t get the smell of cow dung out my car for weeks. The kids had it on their shoes when I took them home and they ground it into my car’s carpet. Lovely.
Thanks for a great post! I could really relate. 🙂
I dodged the dairy field trip bullet because it rained so much that the dairy was flooded.
Are these tan lines on your feet? And how I love these! Bahaha!
Other than that, you have my sympathies. But I can’t wait for my little monster to get to that age where I can join all the fun activities without people looking at me with their heads tilted thinking: Isn’t she a bit old for that?
Those are tan lines from my Chacos!
Laugh laugh.. i come from NZ remember, lots of rivers, Lots of rocks.. I felt every jolt, I would have driven the car down along the river very fast and said ‘I will pick you up at the other end!!’ You should have checked with me first darling.. your poor wee bottom, “do you need a wee wubber wing for your wee broken bottom?.” Sorry i am not laughing at you.. no.. ok actually I am !! (hysterical laughter!!) c
It’s okay. I’m laughing about it now.
I empathize. Not long ago my daughter called to tell me about yet another bizarre mishap in her life. I said, “Sorry, honey, I think it’s hereditary.” She said, “Well, maybe we should not procreate.” I laughed at your telling of the story and I laughed because I could see myself right there with you. Glad you are safe and only a little worse for the wear. 🙂
So far, none of my kids has this kind of luck. Maybe the gene dies with me?
I hope so! 🙂 Although, the adventures are fun to tell at a later date and I do get a lot of pleasure out of reading the way you describe yours.
You are a brilliant humorist! When my day starts off with one of your posts, it’s a good day. 😀
It’s worth every bump and bruise for a compliment like that.
Reading this had me clutching my sides and trying not to pee! This sounds like more of my tubing experiences thus far. I’ve learned having a beer in hand helps with the pain of rock vs. bum (but being as it was a youth group event that might not go over well…). Driving is so much warmer and less painful.
Driving is much,much less painful. Next time, I’ll just take along a book to read or go for a hike while the rest of them float.
People do this for fun? I’m trying to understand how someone invented this and then others said, “yes, let’s continue to do this” and then a whole industry cropped up and consumers could buy tubing gear.
I did it once before. And it was fun. I think I was ten. Maybe I am just old?
Ahhaha – I worked with a girl who morphed into yosemite sam when she got really aggrevated, it was great fun !
Did she have a mustache like mine?
🙂 I’m so sorry Heather! I hope your bum is feeling better and didn’t withstand too many bruises.
Nothing damaged but my pride.
This brought back memories of the time Husband and I went canoeing together. He ended up flipping our canoe and nearly drowning in the current by getting tangled in a tree branch. I’m a huge fan of your artistic skillz in Paint, in case my fire-breathing cat didn’t clue you in.
I love your fire breathing cat. I am just beginning to learn the nuances of Paint. It’s fun, even if I have little talent!
Believe me, there is no skill in what I’ve done over here.
Ouchie! Very funny and reminds me of my one and only tubing experience. Nice pedicure though!
Why thank you. Would you believe me if I told you I Painted those toenails myself?
You mean you actually get to SEE the rocks in your life BEFORE you hit them? I must be doing something seriously wrong!
I loved your story! You have a casual writing style that I appreciate and admire, and I enjoy your sense of humor a LOT!
Thank you for this fun-filled post!
Russ
Thanks for your kind words!
The rocks that I actually saw were the ones that I could not avoid in any way.
Slick and his crew want to go tubing. I’m going to offer to drive them to the top and then pick them up at the end just to avoid this exact story.
You are infinitely wise.
I’ve just been at it a while.
There was only one real problem with this tubing trip. You forgot to bring the extra tube with the cooler of beer. Silly you.
I also forgot the hammer. You know ,the one I could have used to beat some sense into myself.
It’s more fun with beer.
Reminds me of my very L O N G float down the glacier-fed Skykomish River. Like you, I’m no Huck Finn.
I thought I could be. I thought I could be hip and nearly ended up breaking one.
After the rain we’ve had, should be enough water that your bum won’t get stuck…and you float right over those rocks!
OK river tubing is off my bucket list. Thanks for the laugh. 🙂
Wow, I always imagined tubing as something relaxing… drifting down a river lazily, otters splashing and swimming alongside you… I stand corrected.