Floating the Never- Ending River

Since it has been incredibly hot and dry, I was dying to get in the water. The closest body of water is the river. TJ's parents live on it, so we often float in inner-tubes from one side of their property to the other. It's usually a short distance. Any way, I asked around to find people to float with me. The group consisted of my friend Sarah, sister-in-law Robyn and myself. At the last minute, Robyn couldn't get a babysitter, but told us to go ahead and use her parents canoe or inner-tubes. Somewhere along the text feed she said that it should take us about three hours to go from her parents to the park. Great! Not too long and not too short, get some good sun and just talk with Sarah. We set off at 3 p.m. hoping to be done at 6, and I told TJ I would be home at 7.

We picked the worst day. Of all the burning 95 degree days we've been having, we picked the one 75, windy, and cloudy. We got in the water with our inner-tubes and realized quickly that it would take a long time. The majority of the time we had to use our arms to push us along, stay in the current, and avoid the multiple beaver homes. We kept getting separated and would be in the middle of a conversation when the wind would push one of us away and we would shout our conversation till we could no longer hear each other. Sometimes the wind would blow us to the shore or shallow spots and we would get stuck, having to crab-crawl on the rocks. Since the golf course was about half way between his parents and the park, two hours in, Sarah declared that we must be going past the golf course and it would probably go much faster after the course. I had a terribly sick feeling when I saw hay bales and a pivot. "Sarah, I think we're still on TJ's parents' property..." sure enough! It took us three hours just to get to the golf course!

During the two hours we swapped stories, talked about whatever we found to talk about, nearly collided with two beavers, and got a good arm workout! I just have to note that Sarah is a super good sport. She laughed when I complained and really made it fun. Although the whole time I was not loving it. And probably made that a little too clear... There is nothing you can do if you get sick of being in the water. You just have to suck it up and keep floating ,

Did I mention there's no service? I couldn't keep my imagination from taking me through all the worst case scenarios. Ok if a beaver attacked us, I would just have to pull Sarah to shore, run up a coulee, and call for someone to fly in and get us. For a beaver attack?? Alright, getting a little to close to the shore and there could be rattle snakes... if one jumps out and bites me I will be perfectly stoic, walk to the road and wave someone down. Kinda hope I get a snake bite so I can get out of this miserable river! 

It really would've been much more enjoyable except for the fact that it was cold and the sun barely showed his face. We had to keep moving and far too often did I ask Sarah if I had hypothermia. (I just like saying that word)

After we got to the golf course (at 7 p.m.) we estimated one more hour till the park. Well it took one more hour to get to the bridge before the park. Finally, Sarah had the idea to climb out and walk the rest of the way (probably a mile). I found a good spot and just wanted out, so I climbed on a rock and up the side of the bank, not even afraid of the potential for snakes. I just wanted to get onto dry land. Sarah's predicament was a little less smooth. My location had been the last before thick brush covered the bank for about half a mile. She was ready to get out too, so I found a decent spot where she could climb onto the bank. However, it had sharp jagged rocks on the edge of the bank, and she had to climb on in order to escape the never-ending river. As she pushed the tube up to me so I could grab it, she lost her balance and fell on the jagged rocks! Thank the Lord she only cut up her hand, but still! However, she was soon laughing and was on the dry land next to me. We left our tubes, and walked to the car, talking about hot showers and Annie's Mac n Cheese.

Once we were in the car and Sarah blasted the heat, I was so thankful to be out of the cold and on land before the sun had gone down. It was about 8:30 when we got to the vehicle. I had had a lot of fun getting to know Sarah better but next time we'll be drinking tea and eating scones!

Afterwards Robyn texted us to make sure we made it out alright. I told her it took us five hours and we hadn't even finished completely! "Oh! I'm so glad you guys made it! I should have told you you needed to use the canoe to make it a 3 hr trip?!"

Oh boy. If only to go back! I would've done the canoe, with snacks, a sweatshirt, and a thermal sleeping bag! Ok maybe not the sleeping bag....

Though it's one of those things that looking back will be a fun memory with Sarah, I do not want to do it for some time! (Photo cred: Sarah Welker)