Murray

Murray
Intro -

Rafting...

Not having had any real plans for this weekend, we (Monika, Armin, Stephan and I) decided to go wild water rafting. We booked a tour advertised in a small leaflet about Kentucky. Having not calculated that Kentucky could be so big, we decided to leave at about five o'clock in the morning to be at the meeting location at 1.30pm local time (we were aware of the one hour time difference!).

The way itself was then probably nearly as exciting as the rafting tour itself. All started with a little loss of orientation. After about half an hour, we realized being near a lake we'd know a shortcut to. So we were pretty surprised driving on an already known road but with a different departure...
A little later, an old woman was driving right in front us, apparently not knowing the way. We tried to pass as she took a left turn driving a little bit strange and very slowly. Bad luck for us that there was a traffic isle in the middle of the road...
After about four hours of constant, quick driving, we realized not having half the distance yet (there were just about 3 hours and a little bit left). Calculating the necessary speed, we just could hope not having a speed control the next 150 miles, although it would be very common. We then speeded up to more than 100miles/hour (we don't know exactly - the speedometer was at its maximum) at a 55 speed limit. Driving at this speed, we couldn't stop at a red traffic light in time. We luckily didn't have any traffic in this junction at this particular point of time.
Following the description of the way, we came to a camping site where we saw a group of rafters preparing to enter the water. We looked at our really smoking tires and breaks - it smelled ugly - and had to realize that it was the wrong place and the wrong group. Being in quite a hurry, just ten minutes were left until the departure, we asked for the way, jumped in the car - I tried at least - and drove off. We missed once more an exit because of the speed but finally entered the right parking lot with a group of about 20 people, ready in their wetsuits, waiting for us.
We got out of the car, watched the safety video, subscribed to give up all our rights to suit against the tour provider, got life vests and a paddle, and jumped on the bus going to the river - not wearing wetsuits because of the lack of time.
The tour bus was an interesting experience. Finally, it was its last way - it couldn't take us home again. After getting the last instructions, we chose our boat with our guide. We appeared to be the best paddling team in the group having no problems to react on the guide's commands. Therefore we just stocked once on a rock. So no one of us had to fall out of the boat (we got pretty wet anyway) except our guide...
The "16 stiches" let him fly in the air, on his way down we were already away with the boat. He joined us again at the end of the rapid.
At the end, it was a great trip. We got wet enough, had to freeze a little bit, could therefore enjoy to wear our warm clothes again. After another couple of hours we were back home again and have to admit that it is pretty crazy to drive 850miles just to go river rafting. But it was worth the experience...

Sorry that there aren't any pictures - there was just no possibility to take some.