We just got the pictures back from our white water rafting adventure in Maine & I had to share!
As you might guess, I’m kind of a girly-girl…who married and Eagle Scout. Brett spent his childhood doing all that boy stuff-hiking, camping, rafting and doing other outdoorsy things where you get sweaty and dirty. My version of camping is visiting a Bass Pro Shop.
On our Memorial Day getaway in Maine, I suddenly found myself about 30 miles south of the Canadian border and suited up with the Magic Falls Rafting Company in The Forks, ME. (which made me think of Forks, Washington…hee, hee!)
We were set to go rafting down the Dead River…and if you remember your American History, you know that in 1775, Col. Benedict Arnold led 1000 men through Maine as part of an invasion of Canada. The group went up the North Branch of the Dead River to get into the watershed of Quebec’s Chaudiere River…take that Alex Trebek!
Because in May the water temperature of the Dead River is a chilly 47 degrees, we were given some smokin’ hot wet suits to sport during our rafting adventure. Of course, they complimented our wool socks and water shoes! I felt like mine had to have been inspired by Debbie Gibson, featuring the acid wash ripped up jeans look with black leggings underneath. Hot right?? I worried that I wouldn’t get rescued if I fell overboard because the help would be laughing their fool heads off at me…
Brett and I were sorted into a rafting group with four Indian men from New York City and a girl who was a friend of our river guide. My “paddle faster, I hear banjos” joke was totally lost on this Yankee crowd though.
Rains in the area had the Dead River up higher than normal, and our Class II and III rapids turned into Class IV & V! We rolled down 15 miles of nearly solid rapids, including Poplar Falls, which is the longest continuous rapid in the entire state of Maine!
I only managed to lose my paddle once, but didn’t fall out of the boat! Our little rafting adventure got a tense for a moment when one of the NYC guys took a spill over. The rapids pulled him so far away from our boat that the guide had to throw him the lifeline rope to get him back in. After spending about 10 minutes in the freezing water, the poor guy looked like he was in shock by the time we dragged him back into the boat!
I still don’t think I’m outdoorsy, but at least I’m trying!
