GET ALL OF YOUR DUCKIES IN A ROWCLASS VI UPPER NEW RIVER FAMILY ADVENTUREby Autumn RheaUntil now, the term �river rafting� translated for me into a simple rubber inner tube, some fluorescent pink water shoes last year�s leftover sunscreen and a casual two-hour float down a Texas river. After a recent adventure down the Upper New River Gorge National River in southern West Virginia, these associations were replaced with memories of rushing waves, cozy campfire singing sessions and unforgettable bonding moments. The Class IV Family Adventure Rafting Trip began with a short preparation session, with our two river guides, Bobby and Andrew. They began by teaching all of the novices the uses of a dry bag, assuring us that later, that vital makeup bag and hair dryer would only end up a nuisance. They demonstrated how to fit a sleeping bag, a sleeping pad, a tent and three-days worth of clothes and other overnight necessities into a large rubber bag and still be able to fit the other 15 bags snugly onto the raft. After all the legal papers were signed, waterproof cameras were purchased (this will become an important factor later) and everyone had been educated on the upcoming events, we piled into an aging school bus and began bouncing our way to the New River Family Adventure weekend. I experienced flashbacks to the days when the �cool� people got to sit in the back of the bus and taunt the younger kids. Luckily this time, their would be no taunting - only a building excitement for an introduction to one of the oldest rivers in the country. (It�s estimated age is 65 million years old.) It begins in the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina, crosses Virginia and enters West Virginia at the southernmost tip. We arrived at the launching site and our guides began the process of airing up our ducky and getting the larger rafts ready for the trip. A ducky is an inflatable, kayak-like craft, which is 3x9 feet-long and is flexible and easy to maneuver. After a short lesson on paddling, the best way to keep dry in this one or two-person �boat�, how to wear the helmet correctly and how to adjust the life jacket, it was time to go. Too engrossed in my ducky discovery, I looked back to see that while the bus was launching our rafts, it� became stuck in� the river.� I was persuaded not to worry and told that these guys were strictly professionals. Within minutes, the bus was back on dry land and our driver was waving goodbye to us in his rear-view mirror.
Next, Chris gingerly balanced on the ducky in a standing position and bellowed a loud, �Who dares to face me in a game of King-of-the Ducky?� Julie bravely paddled to his side and jumped at the chance to enjoy a competitive game of �chicken.� The two struggled a bit to see whom would be the last person standing and finally Julie managed to get the upper hand. There were cheers for the victor, but that would not be the final test of strength of the day. Chris would make his comeback and regain his King ducky stature soon. The Upper New River includes rapids ranging from Class I-III which allows beginners a chance to build experience and alter in the trip meet more difficult challenges. The classifications range from I-VI, depending on the paddler�s experience, volume of water in the river and craft type. Our group was capable of keeping up with the challenging whitewater, but there were some moments�. I fell into a groove and found myself feeling confident that I was part of the team. I had already watched a few people tip their duckies and chase their paddles downstream. An amazing camaraderie developed quickly and everyone helped each other, ensuring that paddles, duckies and friends all remained intact during this adventure.
Andrew and Bobby, both West Virginia natives and were true characters.� In the three days I spent with him, he sang a song that he wrote about a kid who burned down his house, but saves the TV, because it spends more time with him than his mother. He also announced he'll be the next governor of West Virginia and when elected he promised to outlaw soccer (something about it starting wars) and big-legged pants (something else about that causing the demise of society.) He paraded around in a Hawaiian shirt with Girl Scout braids and knee high blue socks and was constantly keeping us entertained.� Bobby wasn�t quite as boisterous, but still has a story to tell. He had an entire kitchen packed on his raft and he managed to whip all kinds of gourmet feasts for us. He works as a river guide during rafting months and has other business projects in Florida during the winter. Bobby was the teddy bear type and towards the end of the trip, I convinced him to pull my raft when my novice paddling arms were at an exhaustion point. We had finished creating a makeshift shelter, as a powerful storm began brewing and the rain started to fall. Everyone huddled together and listed to the wind tear at the trees. West Virginia was in desperate need of the rain, but we all were more concerned with our sleeping arrangements and how we would finish the journey if it didn�t stop raining. Bobby brought out a birthday brownie cake for Scott, a birds and wildlife ecology expert, who was celebrating his birthday on this trip. The blazing candles and the campfire music made us all forget the ravaging storm and soon we were all too engulfed in song and laughter to worry about a little rain. Scott blew out the candles and celebrated his birthday in style.
I learned one more thing - I have a long way to go before I can call myself King of the Ducky.
For more information:Class VI River Rafting Lodging:Woodcrest B&B, Fayetteville - 304 574-3870 |
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TM
The Family Adventure Rafting Trip involved a mixture of adults and kids - ranging in age from eight to 13-years-old. Two characters I met were Julie and Chris. Our introductions began when Chris casually asked me, �Can you answer this riddle?� and the games began. It�s a little intimidating to be inundated with questions upon an initial meeting, but it made me admire these kids. �You CAN bring a fiddle on this trip and you CAN bring a faddle, but unfortunately, you CANNOT bring a fable.�� It was driving me crazy.� I couldn�t let these kids beat me at this riddle game. I was in the word business, after all. I eventually gave up. Julie coyly told me, �This is all about the double letter. Both of these words have double letters and this one doesn�t.� They wouldn�t trick me next time. But the next challenge was just being able to keep up with the rest of the group. My paddling skills on the ducky were still in the tadpole stages.
After a grueling day of exercise, the group was ready for some relaxation and nourishment. We were guided into shore and set up camp in a beautiful, lush area that provided much privacy and warmth. Andrew quickly schooled me in the art of setting up a tent and my �buddy� Jennifer helped me with various other camping duties. I discovered a turtle that wasn�t affected by our visit in the least. He casually eyed me with his drooping stare and I admired his bright red striped and decorative shell. He ventured on to the next tent, looking carefully disinterested in our whole existence. After meeting the turtle, I discovered an amazing spread of food, prepared by Bobby. It was not the usual camping food of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and juice with a possible side of chips and watermelon. This was a full exhibit of vegetables, rice and seasoned chicken with rosemary potatoes and delectable garlic bread. I could have never created such a meal in a fully armed kitchen, much less with a simple Dutch oven and some basic pots and pans. We savored each bite and discussed our day�s activities. Andrew produced a guitar and proceeded to entertain us with campfire songs and his own views of the world, based on his �West-By-God� experiences. 
We rose early the next morning to discover more delicious food, that would give us endurance for the day�s upcoming challenges. We packed up the tent, said goodbye to the turtle and launched our duckies into West Virginia�s Upper New River once again. As I eased into the paddling pattern, I was overcome with a peace. John Denver�s well-known song, �Country Boy� felt like the most appropriate way to express it and I actually fond myself humming it as I eased down the river. It was almost a spiritual experience for me. Unfortunately, it was interrupted by a sudden rock that I missed and was tipped over into the chilly water. My camera (which wasn�t waterproof) was dumped along with me and I was trapped for seconds beneath Chris�s ducky. I felt a surge of panic, but quickly decided to continue swimming until I could pop my head above the water. The whole experience only lasted about two minutes, but it quickly tore me from my serene mindset and back into one of full attention. This river was the boss and I had to constantly be aware of it at all times - John Denver could still be my background music, though. (�West Virginia, take me home�to the place�I belong.�)
We continued our journey, seeing various birds and fish, and learning about their natural environment and daily lifestyles. Jennifer and I became more relaxed and decided to take a shore break along the way. She proceeded to teach me the finer points of the river by parading her fashion statement with the local seaweed. Another rafter, Nora and my riddling friend, Julie, took the resting opportunity to test the weathered rocks along the shore and learn more about the river�s erosion process. Sondra, an Irish masseuse, gave free facial massages and told me about her recent trip across the U.S. and her life in Ireland. We visited more tributaries, remote stretches and the gorge, where we saw the best smallmouth fisheries in the United States.
My stereotypical images of West Virginia faded completely. Somehow we develop these ideas of places we�ve never seen before - I had imagined front yards filled with dilapidated trucks and banjos playing in the background. I was surprised to discover it is a place of lush land and friendly people, who want to share their beautiful river with the tourists and teach them about its history and adventure. The Class IV Upper New River trip is one you can enjoy with your whole family, creating lasting memories forever.