That's What I Call Adventure

Yesterday was the last day of the first canoe camp! The last week has been full of rain and flooding so we were not able to canoe but yesterday the rain had subsided and enough time had passed so the river was beginning to go down and we decided it would be okay to canoe the rest of the course. The river was so fast we stopped on a rocky beach close to our final destination and enjoyed the cool water and rested. As dinner time came along we shoved off and went through the last stretch of rapids, where my canoe was close to a full blown wipe out. Thankfully we were able to stable the boat and came out with smiles and exclamations of how awesome that was.

When we made it to the campsite and unloaded from the truck Ji-Won came to me and explained that one of the girls lost her glasses and she believes they were on the rocky beach where we rested. His idea was to drop us off above the place were we rested so we could canoe down, look for the lost glasses and meet him at the beach where we finnished before. I agreed with the plan, helped pack up the equipment and joined Yeay-Jin and Shin-Wan in the truck.

The sun was just touching the mountain and a light mist was floating along the surface of the river. The drive was beautiful, the river was transformed in the evening sun and I was perfectly content to get a chance to enjoy the evening river. It took about 30 min until we reached the place where we could unload and begin the search and rescue. The first destination was only moments away and we began to scan back and fourth for Shin-Wan's brown rimmed glasses. The glasses were never found. The girls and I tried all we could think of to help us find them but had give up the search as the light was fading.

Soon after we left the safety of land I realized the mist had grown to be a dense fog. After passing a large rock projection that split the river, we stayed in view on the left bank as much as possible as we rushed forward on the swirling water. The river was intimidating in the daylight but as we surged forward through the uncertain path ahead the little trip reached a whole new level. We soon began to here the rush and thunder of the rapids ahead and I was suddenly not as excited about them this time. Because my sight was impaired by the dim light and fog all my other senses were hightend. the roar of the rapids seemed overwhelming and close, the water seemed to come alive all around us, I could feel each under current pulling on the boat this way and that and my arms felt the tug and strength of the water against my paddle as i continued to maneuver the boat straight and close to the left bank. I brought us closer to the middle of the river were the rapids were less intense and we rocked and crashed through to return to the left side as the river leveled out.

My mind was wondering to possible outcomes for this adventure while at the same time I was trying to be encouraging for my paddling partners. When we made it through the roughest section I began to look around a little and try to gain my barrings of where we were. I knew that at some point the river split and we needed to stay to the left because the right side would take us around past the beach were we were going to meet Ji-Won. As we paddled I commented, "Wow it looks like a whole different river in the fog." Silence followed and soon one of the girls asked, "Are we going the right way?" For a moment I was not sure but reminded myself we had stayed by the left side the whole time and must just be disoriented by the fog. We continued on for longer than I remember it taking but also figured that must be another trick of the fog. I could tell the girls were a little restless and wanted to say something that would quiet their nerves and reassure them. I looked to the right and saw a light up a ways on the side of the mountain and though I wasn't sure, decided it might be our campsite and told the girls it was. I explained that up their is were we were earlier today and we are going to the bank on the opposite side of the river. Soon I could see the road on the mountain side that we drove on earlier and was encouraged and thankful that my guess was right. It was hard to tell if they understood what I was saying but they did finally recognize the road and light which encouraged them. Shortly after we rounded the corner and I could see Ji-Wan wadding in the water ahead.

Through all the moments of fear, anxiety and uncertainty part of me was also thrilled. I was alive, I was braving the river in the fog with two students, we were tired from the week and hungry from the day's activities, but that only added to the experience.

Currently I am tired out and about to go to bed. I have tomorrow to prepare for the next trip and set of adventures.