We were schedule to go river rafting today so Jason and I got up early and headed out for a run.
We did just over 5k.
The Exercise Details.
The route we took had an really steep incline and it was SUPER hard, I felt pretty much like I was walking up it because I was going so slow but I made it.
After our run, we headed to Radium Hot Springs to meet up at the River Runners.
We hop on a bus there and they took us out to where we would be hopping on the rafts.
The fellow in the back there was one of the two guides that would be leading us today.
There were two rafts and 10 people on each.
This guy ended up being our guide, he was really good.
When we got to where we were going to disembarking from, they got us all suited up with helmets and life jackets.
The guides checked all of our life jackets to make sure they were on correctly then they went on to debrief us and go over all the safety stuff.
I was kind of scared by the end of it to be honest but I asked one of the guides how often people fell into the water and he said on this route, it rarely happens.
Then they split us into two teams.
And we got on the rafts.
I figured taking my camera so I could try to take pictures wasn't really a great idea so I left it behind but luckily, the guides all take pictures then post them on their website after the ride.
This is where I got these from.
When we were loading up on the raft, the guide asked for four strong men to man the front of the raft and Kody and Jason both volunteered.
Off we go!
Jason may have regretted volunteering because he got soaked from a wave within the first 60 seconds and while the sun was peaking out here and there throughout the trip, there was a chill in the air especially once you got wet.
For the most part it was calm and we just floated down the river and enjoyed the gorgeous scenery.
We did hit a few rapids here and there but they weren't that bad at all.
The guide told us that there are all kinds of different factors that determine the course level and they can go from a 1 to a 6.
1 is anything on the water and 6 is a course that barely anyone has done and you only have the width of a canoe that you need to stay on throughout the course to avoid the rocks and any other obstacles.
The one we were on today was a 2 - 3 level so pretty mild which was just fine with me.
The line running down the center was for us to hold on to when we went through especially rough rapids and we were instructed to hold on to it a couple of times today.
The guide told us that he only ever had one person go over board and it was his very first time guiding and it was when they were going through rough rapids.
He told everyone to hold on and this one girl either didn't listen or didn't hear and she went over.
They got her back in the boat right away though.
The other team was a ways in front of us the whole time.
We did some chatting and told a few jokes along the way.
Our guide told one that just totally cracked me up.
It was more his delivery than the joke itself.
It went kind of like this "two whales walk into a bar, the bartender says to the first whale, what can I get you? the whale says "wharrawaharwhrahwhara" .
Basically our guide made these really loud whale noises for a few minutes, OMG, it was hilarious.
The joke continues on with the second whale saying "I'll have a beer and don't mind my friend, he's slow".
He got a good action shot of all of us actually paddling through some rapids.
We came to a point where he told us that we could get in if we wanted to.
We had to hold onto the boat though - I was kind of expecting that we could just kind of float around in a calm area.
Haylee is always up for trying things she got in right away.
Kody jumped right in with her - I'm glad her willingness to try things kind of encourages Kody to do the same.
I was mulling over in my head whether or not I wanted to hop in and the guide says 'If you don't do it, you'll regret it' so of course that pushed me to decide to jump in.
OMG - It was freezing, bitterly cold.
It literally took my breath away.
The guide was leaned over taking my picture and meanwhile I was feeling terrified because I couldn't catch my breath.
The girl sitting behind me on the raft must have noticed my look of terror because she asked if I was ok and all I could do was shake my head 'no' because I couldn't speak.
So right away the guide asked if I wanted back in, I nodded yes and he pulled me in.
Maybe a little ungracefully but he did it!
So would I have regretted not doing it?
I think so - even though it scared me a bit, I am glad I did it.
We still had a little ways to go after that.
I thought we had a good group that we did it with.
I was a bit chilly since I was soaked but no too bad.
We made it to the end!
I didn't get the memo that we were doing a paddle high five.
He got us to slap the water with our paddles to try to make as much noise as we could.
Then it was time to disembark and hop back on the bus.
Jason and I were both freezing on the bus ride back.
I think he was wetter than I was and I actually got into the water.
I highly recommend the trip.
We went with the Kootenay River Runners and the whole experience was wonderful.
When we got back to Radium, we were ravenous.
The guide had told us about this place that does giant burritos and it was right next to their office so we went there to get some lunch.
Leo Burrito was the name of the place.
We shared a couple of tacos.
And a huge burrito.
It hit the spot!
We had to get gas before we headed back to Windermere so while Jason did that, I walked over to take a picture of the cool sculpture in the center of the roundabout in Radium Hot Springs.
They've been newly installed since we were here last year and I thought they looked so cool.
Radium has some nice views.
When we got back to our vacation rental, we gathered in the kitchen and made some slime with the girls.
It was funny - I had like 8 different colors of dye they could have chosen but the both picked the same color.
It was fun - I think the girls enjoyed it.
They just like doing things that are 'messy' - who doesn't?
Kody, Haylee, Crystal and the girls went for a drive to check out the hot springs towards Fairmont.
I'm not exactly sure which hot springs they were.
These are pictures that they took from their excursion.
It's nice that the girls got to see it.
They said it was a bit of a hike up into the springs but they said it was worth it.
Kody was with them but he must have been the camera man because he wasn't in any pictures.
Seeing the pictures made me kind of wish that I had gone but while they were gone, we baked a cake for Freya's birthday tomorrow.
I cut the cake into the shape of a 3 and got the first layer of icing onto it then let the girls add some sprinkles.
Freya picked out the icing color too.
The girls added lots of sprinkles and Jason bought eyeballs for them to put on the cake too.
He figured they would like them and they sure did.
I think it turned out pretty good.
Freya agreed - she gave it a thumbs up anyway!
It was nice enough out this evening for the girls to go out and light up some sparklers.
Jason captured this great shot of them making circles.
I thought this was cute.
Wonderful words of wisdom!
That's all for today, until next time, be happy!
