Yep, we are doing it. We are setting off on a full day river ride with Noah’s Ark Whitewater Rafting out of Buena Vista. They took us out and brought us back safely last time, about 6 years ago. We are suited up: Life jacket-check. Helmet-check. Sunscreen-check. We climb into the back of the raft while our boatmates Jason and LJ take places up front and our guide, Kayla the center position with the oars. Flow rate is moderate they say, about 1200 cfs. Reports are the trip will include some class III and a couple class IV but starts out nice and easy with a little bouncing and a few splashes to get us set for the bigger stuff. We are just getting started when we ride high on a rock in the middle of the river and there we are, stuck. Really stuck! Kent and I crawl up to the front, boy was that not a graceful maneuver, trying to transfer weight and get us moving. We bounce up and down to free us. We push with paddles. Ultimately Kayla has to put a foot out and push us off…we twist wildly for a few then settle back into heading downstream. It ought to be a fun ride.
We enter Browns Canyon with its great riverside views. We tuck in our toes and hang fast to our paddles as we do our best to follow paddling orders. Go 1. Go 2. Back 2. Pretty simple, at least until one gets distracted by trying to stay in the boast. The guys up front get the biggest splashes but Kent and I get the bouncy ride in the back of the boat. We each land down in the bottom of the boat several times over the course of the trip. We manage to adhere to the first river rafting rule, “Stay in the boat”.
The sun is hot but the water in the 60s with lots of splashing going on. Shore lunch is delicious. The blondies are a particular hit. Not long after lunch stop, we hit the roughest section of the river including Seidel’s Suck Hole….it’s a fun wild ride for us and we make it through without mishap. Not everyone though. There is a ‘swimmer’ off a raft just behind us and she’s caught in the roiling waters at the base of the rock ledge. Her head is above water and she’s trying to swim but having trouble getting free. A loud whistle tweets and all boats move to help. She pops free of the swirl and is plucked to safety. It seems long even for those of us not in the water but the whole thing is probably a minute maybe two. She is a bit shaken but able to carry on.
Just a couple more swirly sections and another grounding on a mid-river rock, less spectacular than the first, then we float out the rest of the trip in relative calm. There is an uneventful bus ride back to the outfitter base where we drop off gear and bid our adventure companions farewell. We spot a food truck in the parking lot offering up homemade poptarts. I find that irresistible and we go for a raspberry one. It looks very poptart-like and the raspberry filling is actually real raspberries. It is delicious. We head home.
It has been a great trip.
(4 miles) was easy on the way out but across a moderate chop coming back in. It seemed like the wind blew from every direction and the waves formed like pyramids that the boat slid off of in every direction. The last mile was a challenge. Out at the far end of the lake we wound through a shady, quiet mangrove tunnel. It had one “limbo tree” to get under but we made it through. You can get all the way out into Florida Bay if you continue another 4 miles or so but there was lots more open water ahead and the wind was kicking up so we turned back. Overall, a good trip but watch the wind forecast if you have plans to head out this trail.
An immature bald eagle glided overhead, the first we have seen here. 3 miles out plus a little loop in Coot Bay then we start back. Not surprisingly, we paddle against a headwind. 
We are entertained by the acrobatics of swallow-tailed kites and catch a look at an open-mouthed croc sunning among downed limbs.
A couple manatees, the baby osprey, and a crocodile all made an appearance. We checked out the marina store and visitor center then gathered up Kent to head back to Long Pine with stops at a few high points along the way. It was getting pretty late in the day so it was hot and humid but we walked the West Lake and Mahogany Hammock boardwalks and did a bit of bird watching at a couple other stops. We delivered Carol home and polished off her leftovers for lunch. We were all looking forward to some relaxation in the air conditioning. We headed back to Flamingo for one more day in the park before we start our journey north. So long Carol. Current plans have us crossing paths next in NY for Miss Willa’s b’day.
Willa tries her hand at paddling, loves trailing her toes and fingers to watch the ripples, and embraces the tippyness imparted by rocking back and forth. Looks like this will be a popular pastime. Water playing; our picnic benches have never been so 
well decorated or as clean and outdoor brown washtub baths are a great way to cool off on those 90F days. Intermittent rain showers let us recreate chalk art every couple days. Hop-scotch always makes an appearance and this week we had to
create the “hole in the ground” tree with lots of verse details. Nearly every steamy afternoon includes a cold, drippy, sticky watermelon treat.
So, what did we do? Nothing much; but it was great fun!
