American River Rafting

The rafting trip is designed to be a two day affair. The first day we departed on the river from our campground and went down the river. The second day we were taken, by bus, up the river and then rafted back down to the campsite. Rafting on Day 1 was a very long day, about 7 hours worth of rafting excitement and fun. We did stop for lunch about half way through. This was the only meal which wasn't prepared by our guides because they were with us for most of the morning. I don't know how they could have been on a raft and made lunch at the same time.

Also, the water level took its time to rise. So all the rafts on the river, and there were many as all the rafting companies decided to raft at about the same time, got stuck on rocks. For the first half of Day 1, Caleb, Shayne, and Dan, our guide, spent a lot of time getting us unstuck. After lunch, the water level was much higher and we didn't get stuck.

After lunch was also when one of the strangest things happened. At that point, I was sitting in the back of the raft next to Dan. I looked over at this yellow raft next to us and saw someone I work with. I had no idea that he would be there, and I am sure he didn't know I was going to be there as well. So for a few minutes I was teasing him, because I knew who he was but as I was disguised (okay, a hat and sunglasses aren't much of a disguise but it fooled him - he didn't know who I was). Finally I revealed my identity. Of all places to run into someone you know, in the middle of the American River!

And then...Satan's Cesspool!

Satan's Cesspool is the name given to a spot on the lower part of the American River which must be quite tricky to navigate. Especially for beginners. Our group didn't seem to have any problems although, if not for Dan, I probably would have fallen out of the raft. I was in the very back and it is like a roller coaster back there. The effect of going over the rapids if much greater back there and I was bouncing up and down and around after lunch the entire afternoon. I know Dan saved me from going in the water on several occasions.

The rest of Day 1 was uneventful. Dan encouraged us to jump into the river and float along, so we did. That was fun. It was a lot cooler in the water than in the raft. And at the end of the day, because we got close to the resevoir, all of the rafts are tied together and we are towed to the spot where we have to get out of the water. By this time, the girls and I were in another raft altogether. And it was very hot once we got to dry land.

Day 2 began with a busride up to the river. There were some people still there from the first day of rafting, but we also had an influx of new people. Our raft was unchanged. The bus let us out by a bridge, where the rafts were also unloaded and we climbed in. The water was very cold but much higher than when we had started the day before. Made for much better rapids.

From what I heard, and I could be wrong, we traveled the same distance on the river as we did the previous day. However, for whatever reason - the water level, the incline or steepness of the river - we traveled it in much less time. Dan also encouraged us to go over some smaller rapids in the water, of which several of us took advantage. It was fun, except for inhaling of the water. Of course, if I had listened to the orientation by Robert, I would have known that you do not breath when there is water in front of your face. Seems kind of basic, doesn't it?

The big rapid on Day 2 was called Troublemaker. Again, a lot of people apparently have trouble navigating this rapid. In fact, the boat in front of us got stuck on a rock in the middle of the rapid and we had to navigate around them. These last two pictures were taken at Troublemaker, and in the first of the two you can kind of see the other boat in the background. Or see the bottom of it. We had no trouble whatsoever but, then, we were good!

After the rapid, boats pulled off to the side to watch all the other boats come through. There were some poor souls that fell out and one of them smashed face first into one of the rocks on the bank which surround Troublemaker. A few kayaks also came through, and they seemed to do okay for the most part.

The rest of Day 2 was anti-climatic. We floated very slowly down the rest of the river back to the campground. I did ask Dan if we could do circles around one of the last rapids, and we did. I liked it. But then again, I like the Teacup ride at Disneyland. One of the guides took a picture of us with Dan. And here we are. From the left, that's Aunt Marion, Shayne, Ana, Caleb, Dan, and myself. In the front from the left, are Malia and Nalani.

There is a story about the guide hugging my Aunt. His name is Joe, and my Aunt will probably kill me if I tell this story. But it is funny, and all of the guides there knew it. My Aunt and cousins have gone on a river rafting trip with River Runners before. There guide on the previous trip was Joe, here with my Aunt. During one of the rapids, my Aunt was falling into or out of the raft and reached around for something to hold onto so she wouldn't lose her seat. She grabbed onto Joe. Or parts of Joe, personal parts of Joe. He still remembers this and so do my aunt and cousins. And the other guides. And.....

Home | My Cats | My Travels | My Family | My Potpourri | My Guestbook | Contact Me