I have said for years I wanted to go white water rafting on the Fraser but for several reasons I never have.
Now a really good young friend who has been before has said he will go with me.
We have contacted the company and told them the truth about my age and mobility problems and they will allow me to go, in fact they are looking forward to it.
We have to decide wether we want to go power or paddle, I fancy the paddle but not sure if I would let the team down, with power you just have to hang on and be prepared to swim and dodge the rocks if dunked.
My friend tells me I have to wear a wet suit too..oh eck, I have problems putting my tights on LOL
I know I might be slightly nuts,,but Hells Gate here I come as soon as we can get a date together.
I feel so excited and all my fingers are crossed that nothing stops me now!!
I will keep you informed and yes there will be pictures.
Has anyone done it?
XX Jeannine
I almost did it in Turkey but Tone said I was being reckless. ??? i cannot wait for the pics of you fulfilling my dream ;D
go for it Jeannine and don't let anyone talk you out of it. Have a great time, and like Shirl look forward to the pics.
I did some on the grade 4 Tully River in Oz. Great fun, but hard work. I suggest you go "powered" as you have that option, as you only need to concentrate on "hanging on"
paddling is important to ensure you do not overturn and also involves ensuring you do not whack your neighbours. We were given strict instructions to always have one hand across the end of the paddle to stop it flaying around; but I had a young Japanese girl next to me who had little English, little comprehension and little ability to follow these instructions; and her paddle pole hit me in the face as she did not keep control of the end of it... it hurt
If you do not have great mobility you may find hanging on in fast water is enough to think about... Obviously depends on the "grade of the river" and how much energy and strength you have. Will the experience of hanging on, give you the experience, be more fun and be sufficient thrill? My brother in law always wanted to do this, but when he saw the video we were given, he said "never"!!!
have fun, and post a piccie afterwards...
Hold on tight to your handbag LOL ;D
Oh blimey! What a fantastic thingto do Jeannine, fingers crossed it happens and tell your friend, WE NEED PHOTOS ;D
Go for it Jeannine, it sounds way to much fun and excitment to miss. Yep pictures please ;D
Go for it Jeanine fill your boots in many ways ;D have a great time, dont shout too loud or Tim will want to come with you.
I remember watching a programme on the tele about the army rafting down the grand canyon (I thnk) This must have been in the early 70's. So exciting. Hope you can swim Jeannine
Thanks all I am so determined to do this..reason
My parents came from the UK in the 80s for a holiday, we took them to see Hells Gate, you can walk accross a bridge over the Fraser and see the rafts fighting the rapids below, the water looks like it is boiling. My dad who was almost 80 was thrilled . He went back to the car where Mum was sitting and told her he was going for it..There erupted a fight, she forbid him, he insisied, it was quite funny really. Dad finally said, one of the familky should go for posterity so I said I would..we couldn;t get a booking and I said I would go later. Both my parents died a few weeks later and the plan is so far unfilled.
I have ashes which are being kept for just this purpose..so it is a must do thing.
The person going with me has gone paddle before so power may be a bit tame for him athough none of it is tame on ther Fraser. I was surprised that they agreed to take me considering my disabilites but I didn`t go into details and I won;t walk in on my elbow crutches or drive my scooter to the raft LOL. I think power is faster and you get much wetter even if you don`t fall out.
I expect I will pay dearly fior it the next days or week but I am determined to do it.
Yes I can swim and I can`t wait. My friends Mum is on holiday here with him so it will have to wait till August sometime.
I will see if I can find a picture.
XX Jeannine
Brilliant Jeannine you are as always a breath of fresh air and a make us all smile with your enthusiasm and love of life !!
I have done the shotover jet in NZ (http://www.shotoverjet.com/the-video) and it was so much fun so i am sure you will have a great time.
Personally i would go for power as its your 1st time and maybe after you have recovered paddle next :) hehe
take care
Cam & Harriet
This sounds just amazing. I am so pleased you have got your determination back.
Find a picture? What we want is to see the pics of you doing it.
OHHHH...GREAT!..sounds like a lot of fun.. ;D Just remember to put waterproof bra on to keep the seeds dry.. ;)
We want picks,,we want picks..we want picks.."and all together!"..we want.... ;D
Good for you, Jeannine-can't wait to see the photos!
How fabulous ! Go for it - probably best powered, but whatever, have a great time ;D
Alison x
Go for it Jeannine, I like your spirit and if you really really want to do something, you have got to do it.
Your Dad will be cheering you on.
;) ;) ;)
I'm really pleased you are finally going to get to have a go! :D You were talking about this last year and I said that when my husband and I come back to Canada that we were going to knock on your door and take you with us on our next river ride, LOL!
Is it the actual Fraser river you're going on? Hoo-haa, that's a biggie for someone who's not done it before, Jeannine :-\ but hopefully it will be fantastic and I wish you lots of luck and fun.
Do let us know when you've booked a date ;D
good luck Jeannine :D ;D I hope someone might be able to some photos. I admire people who follow their dreams!
You go girl! You absolutely bonkers, wonderful lady! Have a blast! ;D ;D ;D
Yep, it is the Fraser, and yep I agree I am bonkers but I simply can't wait to go,I just hope I can hang on.. don't want them to have to keep stopping to retrieve me..mind you I float like a seal..it is all that fat LOL.
The only bit I am worried about is getting into the wet suit and don't ask for stand up photos of that cos you are all out of luck..sit down ones is OK,,but I am not doing the Tweedledum picture.. I have no iudae how the dickens I will get it on..
Sam if this falls through you are on!!
Seeds in my bra..I have been trying how figure out how to keep the scissors and baggies safe in case I float past any interesting plants!!
XX Jeannine
Life is too short to let a dream go when it can be fulfilled! I am sure you will have the ride of your life! Think of those people over 70 that go parachuting or bungee jumping to say that once in their life they did it!
Quote from: Jeannine on July 28, 2011, 05:46:19
The only bit I am worried about is getting into the wet suit
Hope you can get a front zip one, at least you can struggle to get into that on your own. With a back zip, somebody else will be needed to help you do it up.
Galina..LOL.. if I go swimming John has to peel off the bathing suit when I am wet . I am truly hoping that wet suits are not mandatory.
XX Jeannine
Just an update..message just recived from my rafting volunteer partner that next Sunday is OK so we HAVE JUST BOOKED ... oh I gave myself an extra birthday pressie today.. 69 today,69 today, I got the key to the raft...
XX Jeannine
69 today,69 today, I got the key to the raft...
;D ;D
Happy birthday Jeannine!!! & go for it!!!!!
I did an 8 man raft about 15 years ago when i was a teenager. It was a man made river in nottingham & they do a watersports weekend every year, so you get to try a bit of everything. The rafting was my favorite by far!! Ive always said that i would love to do it on a proper river so i am EXTREAMLY JEALOUS!! Its hard work & great fun, we found that the more you put into it the more you get out of it but maybe thats just because if you did nothing on our river you could just float straight down it without getting into serious trouble.
I will be thinking of you on sunday & i cnt wait to see the pics.x.x.
I haven't figured out yet what to wear or how to keep a camera dry..oh decisions .. they suggest shorts...not
XX Jeannine