Saturday, January 7

River Rafting

Saturday, January 7. Cloudy but very warm [and wet while in the water!]

We four had a hearty breakfast and off to the coach that held 16 people who decided to do River Rafting today, like us. We were likely the oldest today but I don’t think that we looked it.

We then had a 45 minute drive to a starting place where we could change into appropriate clothes and bathing suits and then put on our helmets and life jackets and into a six person raft. Then, we paddled around and practiced the commands of our leader. Next we had to get out and carry the damn thing across to the main stream of the river. There were boulders in there the size of medicine balls that were real leg-breakers. Fellette stepped into a hole and almost disappeared but came up ok, holding onto the strap that runs along the outside of the raft. Jim and Gail fared better as they have done this before.

Once in the main channel we paddled and flipped and flopped, sometimes with rather substantial amounts of water over us, soon we were thoroughly soaked but enjoying every minute of it. The paddling did not seem too hard at the time, but the required position of our feet and legs, while sitting on the side of the raft put a bit of strain on feet and legs. The total time in the raft I have no idea but it was likely 1 1/2 hours.

We came ashore at a mucky beach and to the small bus again where we then returned to the same spot as we started. There, we changed, had some light food and drink and then back to the ship. Once there, I downloaded the pictures taken, [Jim had a waterproof camera in the raft, and mine taken ashore and a few in the raft at calm places], to my iPad and I took off to a cafe just outside the port gate. A man hooked my phone and iPad, I ordered a beer, [$2.00] and I spent the next half hour on line and catching up. I thanked them for the service and back to the terminal, got a floppy hat, [forgot to pack one!], for $10.00, and made it to the ship 8 minutes before all-aboard time. 

I showered, rested and next it was dinner time. We had a table for two and soon back to the cabin. I can hardly walk from too much walking two days ago, it feels like a charlie-horse in my calfs, and now my shoulders and neck are trying to figure out what I did to them today. Fellette went to see the entertainment while I did the blog, sorted the pictures, did my journal and relaxed. It feels a bit good to have ailments from too much exercise!

Thank heavens we have an interesting and restful day tomorrow, transiting the Panama Canal, starting at 5:30 AM! Actually we have four days before we get to our next port, Manata, in Ecuador. This is the place that makes Panama Hats, believe it or not.