Whitewater

For all the years I have lived in the West, I have never been whitewater rafting. Until today. For those of you who have never tried it, let me be the first to tell you that it is a scream. Of course I didn't start with the death-defying package that is sure to turn your hair silver, but I did select a trip "for all levels of expertise."

Seven passengers and one guide climbed aboard a 16-foot commercial-grade rubber raft and floated for 2.5 hours down the river. The "whitewater" part was only the first three-quarter mile, but it was definitely one of the most invigorating experiences I have ever had.

The sun was hot, and the water was cold. Mix the two together and you get a potential case of hypothermia. But, alas, I am slightly sunburned, without a trace of even the sniffles.

Being the only adult male, I volunteered to be one of the "captains" and sit in the front of the raft. This bestowed upon me the responsibility of leading my side of the raft in oar strokes. We paddled quite a bit when approaching agressive sets of rapids, ensuring a higher rate of speed when we hit the turbulent currents. The result: being more soaked than a water ride at a theme park.

Even though the trip cost $43 per person, I still feel it was money well spent. Now, I just have to find yet another trip that may very well turn my hair silver.