Travis and Peyton went on our 2nd annual raft trip a few weeks ago on the Platte River. Next year we will take Isabel with us, building memories. We decided to do a raft instead of kayaks so we could all ride together. The canoe is easily tipped and my boys were not too keen on going in the water last year so a raft was a good alternative.
I love to canoe, I've thought that if it was possible I'd like to be on a rowing team, that's seriously how much I like to canoe. I used to be pretty good at it too; I remember one year at summer camp I surprised my team mates and counsellors with how strong a rower I was. Then years went by and Paul and I went on some canoe trips with the youth group from our church. That was ok- Paul didn't think I was that great of a canoer. He felt like it was my fault when we steered into the side of the river as soon as we started.
But the most memorable trip was my first when I was 13. It was my first youth event! My youth pastor afterwards named it the canoe trip from hell. My best friend Elain and I were in a canoe together and we started the day havng a great time. We splashed and got splashed, we enjoyed the bright sunshine, we were in sync with our rowing and we talked like only best friends do. It was to be an overnight trip with 2 days on the water.
In late afternoon our youth pastors kept going ahead to see if they could find the landing for our campsite. Then they would paddle back and say, can't see it. We didn't care. We were laughing and soaking in the rays. And then it started to get dark. And then the bats came out. And we still didn't know where we were supposed to get out of the river. There might have been complaining at that time-as a young teen I don't remember. Then all of a sudden in the fastest current we came upon the landing. Everyone was trying to park their canoe and pull out their overnight bags and tents. That was the night Elain and I almost drowned. Our canoe went past and we flipped in the dark into the fast current. When we fought the current and made it back we looked up. And to our young eyes we were being rescued by some of God's gift to mankind. A father/son canoe group had come over and were helping us out of the water and up to dry ground. Teenage guys, hot and older. I think all of the girls in our group fell in love that night. Because then they helped us set up our tents and start our fire.❤️❤️❤️
The guys in our group were wet, shivering and complaining. Nick- I lost my shoe. Bobby- I'm so cold. Nathan- this was the worst idea ever. They kept repeating themselves while they huddled by the fire. But we didn't care, we were giggling, flitting between one new guy and the next, and using our disposable camera to take pictures of all these handsome specimen.
The next morning we had to break camp and haul canoes back into the water. Elain and I did our part with the other girls while the guys whined some more. It was while Elain and I were carrying a heavy canoe and Bobby looked on that one of the youth leaders slapped him for not helping. (Thankfully for her it didn't turn into a lawsuit. I'm also pretty sure that was the last youth event she ever did.) Well anyways we got back on the river only to find out we had to canoe for about 30 minutes to get to the pickup point. 8 1/2 hours the first day, and a half hour the second. Needless to say no one was happy when we got back on the bus to head home.
We probably all looked like something the cat dragged in. Haha what a trip. Looking back on it I realize it's one of those times you would never give up because it's part of you. But the main lesson learned- when canoeing with youth have someone haul the camp gear and overnight bags to the campsite so when you get off the river no matter the time you can enjoy the night. Oh and don't slap the teenagers.