on blood, sweat and rapids…

ow…

no really… ow…

went rafting today, despite high water levels from all the recent flooding and thunderstorm warnings. There were 11 people total, which isn’t the best number for rafting. So we had a boat of 4, a boat of 6 and I went solo. Now the water level was officially measured at 2.76 feet. At 3 feet, you aren’t allowed to take boats shorter than 12 feet (the single man duckie is about 9 or 10 feet). Of course they measured that BEFORE it started raining. I now understand why they don’t want you to do that. It was like The Perfect Storm… little tiny boat, great big ocean river. 1st wipe out, was my fault and I was just stupid; I saw a trouble spot, tried to cut the other way, turned my head to shout back and warn beststephi‘s boat and I smacked right into the very rock I was warning her about. Like I said, I was stupid. Wipeout 2 was the fault of the river… Or maybe my underestimation of the power of nature. I got through Dimple Rock (the hardest rapid on the river) with no problem at all, then I parked myself between 2 hyrdralics in Swimmer’s Rapids so that I could watch everyone else come through. As I was sitting there, and people were sailing past me, they’d push the much higher than normal waves towards me and rock my boat. Then eventually the tip of my boat went under water so the boat filled with water and just sank right out from under my ass. Next thing I knew I was in the water. Finally, right before the jumping rock, we met up with a tour group. Three different boats from the tour group collided and caused congestion and ended up nailing myh little tiny vote and flipping me right into a rock. I knew it was coming for about 5 seconds, and there was just nothing I could do. So I braced myself and smacked against the rock. I go flying, I hit the water… only its not the water, its a big fucking rock. Ouch, my back. My right hand hits the rock and bruises slightly, and a small cut, and then the struggling tour group smacks my left hand into the rock with a paddle. So now I have a bruised bone in my index finger, cut knuckles and a very nice slice right into my pinkie… fuckin’ ow…

So I finished the second half of the trip juicing from my hands, and then the torrential downpour started. That was kinda nice really… Very tropical. Very soothing. I probably have pneumonia now. Made the rest of the river with no incident. Cleaned my cuts and band aided them and now I’m home.

Planning on going to Cleveland tomorrow to help out my grandparents. So if anyone is looking for me, call my cell or something….

ow…

EDIT: By the way… it seems that both Barb and Stu have retired from Yough Outfitters. I am sad, but congratulations to them