So, today the boys and I joined the FNC group and went on a 4-hr float trip down the Salt River. If you were there today, you probably saw me...black shorts, black shirt, white baseball cap, giant red & white striped golf umbrella. Yes, I was called Mary Poppins by more than one person (total strangers) floating down the river with us. I didn't want to get sunburned. I didn't want to be in the full sun (doctor's orders), and I thought we could use the umbrella as a sail when the current slowed down (actually that thought occurred to me while in one of the still times and I'd like to think that my maniuplation of the umbrella actually redirected our tubes in a positive manner).
The water was icy and refreshing. The kids had a lot of fun swimming beside the tubes and riding out the rapids. David Mitchell filled ice chests with water, sodas, strawberries, chocolate, fried chicken, apples, cupcakes, and sunflower seeds. A wonderful feast for a lazy day on the river. We really did hit some "big" rapids a couple of times - - big enough to submerge the ice chest at least once - - big enough to completely submerge me at least twice. Having my nose and mouth filled with river water has never been part of my life plan. So that was really the only marginal part of the experience. Besides the part where the float ends and you have to get beat up on the rocks as you struggle to exit your tube gracefully (impossible) and get to the shore without slipping on the algae covered rocks (painful) all while grabbing your beach bag and umbrella with one hand and grabbing onto two big strong men with the other hand (mortifying) and holding all the beach towels with the other hand all while being either strangled or cut in half with the ropes tying all the tubes together (hilarious).
I'm glad I went. Would I go again? I think I'll let Dan handle the next trip by himself.
