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| Day 5 - White Water Rafting | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7:10am | Alarm went off. Thank goodness for that - been awake since 6:15. Another bite appeared mysteriously overnight. All breakfasted and prepared and in Banff at Hydra by 8:40am. Coachload of people of mixed ages and nationalities. |
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| The Journey Out | Journey into BC into the Yoho national Park - some serious scenery.
Lake Louise where we picked up a couple is amazing with a huge mountain and snow field really high above. Yoho valley itself is stupendous. As Katie put on one of her cards "There is a lot of Geography in Canada".
Brief stop at Yoho Brothers for toilet and drinks, then on to the launch site. How he got the coach down the steep dirt track I will never know! |
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| The Preparation | All kitted out with wetsuits, bootees, Mae West, helmet and spray jacket for the 'Thermally Feeble'.
Highly entertaining safety talk from Steve, split into boats - 9 in each (plus 'driver').
Katie and I at the front, Lucy in the middle section and Mary with our driver Ian.
We all made sure we were not "Lily Dippers". |
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| White Water! | Brilliant ride!
First real major rapids saw our boat badly positioned as we were too close to the one in front. Result, raft stood on its right side. Mary was completely under the water and the driver landed on her; I 'stood up' from my left hand position onto the right hand float but hung on. When water streamed away from face - only 5 of us onboard - OOPS. Katie had been catapulted straight over from left to right and into the water (perhaps even taking the Swiss girl with her). Irish girl who was sat in front of Mary also disappeared. Lucy was clinging on OK - except she was in the water. Another Irish girl was vainly trying to haul her in, so I 'helped'. Lucy in a heap by me! Apparently the other 3 had been whisked aboard the following boat immediately, amongst all the chaos. They grabbed our raft and almost threw them back to us.
What a great start! |
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| Body Surfing | After that we seemed to get it right, so there was only a good soaking and very bumpy ride. At one point we stopped on a bend in the river, walked back upstream on the bank and then dived into the rapids to 'body surf' back to the bend again. Very cold water, I hit it perfectly but attempted to drink Canada Dry. Still breathing silt hours later! All but 4 people did this. |
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| The Journey Back | Finally finished, loaded boats onto trailer, changed and back on bus for a long, hot journey back to Yoho Bros Trading Post for a meal (Lucy had a Buffalo Burger). Absolutely roasted again because of the long hill 900-1000 feet ascent out of the valley so no air conditioning. Very dozy people. |
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| Back in Banff | Eventually all back safely, bought some cards and pop in Banff then back for a siesta 5ish.
Mary went to use the hot tubs (and find out the life history of 3 couples) whilst we chilled. |
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| Tidy up Loose Ends (and shopping) | 6ish Back to Banff to buy the T shirt, order the photos of the trip, have tea and look for walking boots for Mary. Almost got some but not quite. |
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| 10ish | Came back with a bottle of wine for Wedding Anniversary and watched Cable (3rd Rock From the Sun).
Early start again tomorrow, plan is to leave ASAP and breakfast in Lake Louise, do a walk there then reach Glaciers after lunch when apparently it is less busy.
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