Another Day on the River

My sincere apologies to the grandparents, and others, for last night’s blog.  If you freaked out and did not figure out that it was an April Fool’s joke, then I need to tell you that none of the story ever happened.  Yesterday was nothing but a long, tiring school day.  There was no flood, just a big, fat book of math.  Today, however, was spent on the crashing waves of the Ansu River and the Jatun Yacu River. 

Today, Dan, Mom, Dad, and myself,  joined onto one of Jaime’s rafting day trips.  Dan was wanted as a safety boater, and Jaime said that we could tag along in kayaks too.  The day started on the Ansu, a medium sized brown river.  The four of us (Dan, Mom, Dad, and I) slipped into the water while Jaime and the raft group got their stuff together and had some safety briefings.  On the raft were about five young kids, ranging from age five to age ten, along with parents.  I was so glad to know how to kayak, so I could be with my parents down at the level of the water.  It felt very freeing to have my own vessel to control by myself.

(photo by Dad)

(photo by Dad)

The rapids started out being pretty easy; some rocks and some holes, but nothing much.  Soon the waves started to get bigger and more fun.  I had to be careful, though, because hidden in the waves were nasty, sharp boulders over which poured lots of water.  Occasionally, I passed massive holes, but these were scarce.  On one rapid, there was a large wave train, the first waves of which were about six or seven feet tall.  After the monster waves, followed five or six more, all of which were about four or five feet.  I skirted the big waves and stuck with the smaller ones.  I think that they might have been the biggest I have ever been on!  I had a blast!

After a delicious gourmet lunch laid out on a sandy, shady beach, we came to the confluence of the Ansu and the Jatun Yacu Rivers.  As we turned into the Jatun Yacu, everything changed.  The river became cold, silky, wide, and grayish brown.  I cannot quite describe the intimidating color of the Jatun Yacu, but picture it as a giant bowl of grey chocolate milk.  Also, instead of well defined, short, start to finish rapids, this was continuous and big, but strangely easy.  I think it was easy because there were not many holes or obstacles, just waves.  These were more like ocean swells, wide and never breaking.  The take out was sadly close and the day of boating was soon over.

Dan Dixon Diggin' Into a Gourmet Lunch (p: Dad)

Jaime's Ten Year Old Daughter, Toa, and Me (p: Dad)

Today was great!  I loved being back on the water, and thought the level was perfect for me.  Tomorrow will sadly be a school day.  Dan will go boating with Mom, while Dad and I stay home doing school work.  Hey, you can’t boat all the time!


Thank you for reading Rohan Geographic!