After the long day on Monday, we weren’t in a big hurry to be up and going so we called the whitewater rafting place and postponed until the afternoon. \u00a0 It is about an hour away, and we needed to stop at a store and pick up a few things so we left pretty early. \u00a0 My friend John told us about a restaurant at the Nantahala Outdoor Center that has great burgers, so we planned to have lunch there before rafting. \u00a0 We took a nice (translated – not direct) ride up to Bryson City and got there in plenty of time. \u00a0 Lunch was good, and everyone that had finished the rafting trip was smiling – a good sign.<\/p>\n
We signed away any responsibility for our deaths, and watched a video about NOT standing up in white water. \u00a0 We got our flotation vests and paddles and boarded a bus to take us upriver. \u00a0 I haven’t been on a school bus in a long time – until today. \u00a0 The water is pumped from a lake by the power company and used to generate electricity and the water is COLD. \u00a0 Not Deadliest Catch COLD, but still COLD. \u00a0 After losing all feeling in the foot that is wedged under the thwart in the raft, you soon forget about it. \u00a0 Your foot, that is. \u00a0 Some people decided to jump into the river; why someone would do that from a boat that is not burning, sinking, or being destroyed by icebergs I have no idea. \u00a0 My bride was one of them, some things just defy explanation.<\/p>\n
Our guide Raymond was great. \u00a0 Had some stories about the river and some of the well-named rocks in it: Jaws, Pyramid, and a few others that escape me now. \u00a0 When we got to several of the rapids, the right side of the boat (my side) paddled forward, the other side paddled backwards so we could spin through the rapids. \u00a0 Apparently the goal of this maneuver was to ensure that all occupants were equally soaked by the end of the trip. \u00a0 The Nantahala Falls are class 3 rapids and pretty exciting, but you’re through it very quickly.<\/p>\n
They have photos for sale of each boat going over the falls, and of course we had to have not one shot but two. \u00a0 A lot of fun and something we will definitely do again.<\/p>\n
The ride back was fun too (translated – lots of curves) and dinner was a pizza at our cabin.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
After the long day on Monday, we weren’t in a big hurry to be up and going so we called the whitewater rafting place and postponed until the afternoon. \u00a0 It is about an hour away, and we needed to stop at a store and pick up a few things so we left pretty early. … <\/p>\n