We did white water rafting today. Instead of starting at grade 1 or 2 like most sane people do, my first rafting experience was to be a grade 5. There are 6 grades and after reading the wikipedia page, I interpret grade 1 as relaxing in a spa and grade 6 as guaranteed death
After almost flipping on the first rapid but managing to stay on (Shira disappeared in flash of white), I was feeling pretty cocky. We swapped some rafters for the next rapid and I decided to go on the "100% flip" raft. The guide put all the heavy guys on one side and made us approach the rapid sideways. Guaranteed flip. After the initial confusion, I realised that I was under the raft. I tried to get out but the currents kept pushing me in all directions, making me lose my orientation. As I struggled for air, a current pull me under and I panicked. After a few seconds of struggling (let me tell you, it felt like eons), I remembered to ball up and let the vest do the work. I floated to the top and took in a lung full of, highly underrated may I add, oxygen and was picked up by one of the other rafts.
My confidence was all but shattered.
Worst spill though was rapid #5, a level 5. The raft went straight up and Lindsay and Meg fell backwards on top of me and I lost a lot of air. After being thrown around for a few second, I found myself speeding down the rapid and the guide yelling "GET YOUR FEET UP". It eventually registered and I positioned myself with my feet pointing down the rapid, face looking up at the sky and arms crossed in front. A rescue kayak came and got me.
It was a whole new kind of fear. Not like sky diving, where the variables can be calculated, but a feeling of futility against forces too mighty that really leaves you deflated.
It was good fun though.
Here are some pics:
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| Approaching the wave |
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| Getting smashed by the wave |
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| Flipped |
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