Slocan River Rapids

The Slocan River Valley--one of the most beautiful places on earth. What started out as a calm river entry (albeit, deep and swift) soon turned into dangerous rapids.
These are some Slocan rapids, however, the ones we went through, the river was twice as wide.
We started out in in several dingies and tubes: Peter, myself and our three girls (in life jackets). Theresa, Kyran, Joop and Paul & Shane. Just my three girls were in life jackets (thank G). However, on entry, I realized the river was far deeper and swift than I'd thought. It seemed fairly calm on the surface and I figured it would only get more shallow as we progressed down river--so I loaded myself, Tabs and Pip in to Joop's 8-man dingy with Joop. Peter and Misty shared a giant tube "Big Bertha."

Soon we entered rapids. TERROR! They wouldn't end! After every river curve there were more and more, swifter and deeper. I knew I was in way too deep. If the dingy tipped, or the girls got thrown out, I would not be able to save them. Joop paddled like a mad man through the rapids, while I held onto the girls for dear life. When I realized the rapids were not ending, I yelled to Joop "As soon as you can, paddle to the shore--we're getting out!"

Joop paddled his best and finally managed to reach shore as the rapids eased. The current was too strong, and the rest of our party had drifted far ahead. By the time we'd reached shore I was shaking with fright.

So my little girls and I got out--preparing to walk through the forest back to the place we entered the river to wait for the rafters to return. I grabbed enough water bottles and a bag of chips from the raft--not knowing how long we'd be separated from the group--Unfortunately, Joop had the key to the car in his shorts (we left one car at our exit point) he had no choice but to reenter the river and try and catch up with the rest of them.

I was worried about him alone on that river. And worried about me and my two little girls walking through cougar/bear country in 40 oC to try and find the swimming hole we'd parked the cars at. My dear sweet little girls were such troopers though, unaware that their mother was afraid of cougars coming out of the bush and tracking us.

By the time we'd reached the hole (45 min later) my girls were purple with over heating. I immediately doused them in the cold river and gave them water and those precious chips I'd been smart enough to take.

We managed to wait for 3 hours at that swimming hole with various interesting Slocan locals: nude hippies, Frenchmen and some other unique characters. It was a fascinating cultural experience and I quite enjoyed it. The girls had so much fun building sandcastles on the river bank and playing life guard rescue with each other (Pip had a whistle on her life jacket that she took full advantage of).

The scary thing was not knowing if or when I'd ever see any of my fellow river rafters again.

After 3 hours and as dusk approached and all the hippies had left, Peter ran down the river bank towards me calling "MJ!" --They were alive!

I am so blessed to have trusted my instincts and have gotten out of the river with my babies when I did. The entire crew nearly drowned on a log jam up river. Peter and Mist's tube flipped, Kyran and Shane got sucked off their tubes and under the logs and Joop's dingy flipped. Paul and Theresa had made it past the logs and were unaware of the crisis. Peter tried to save Kyran but the paddle he handed him broke in two! Both Kyran and Shane were finally able to pull themselves out from under the log jam but not before loosing their hats, shoes and sunglasses.

Needless to say, no one will be tubing down that stretch of the river again.

*I bought the most amazing 1960's sofa and chair (copper fabric with green leaves ) and an antique reclining chair at a thrift store yesterday. Such treasures! I love them. And after seeing 5 decades of apartments at the VAG (Vancouver Art Gallery) I've decided I want to live in a time-warp. I absolutely love the 1950's, 60's style.

**Still horribly smokey in Kelowna--ash falling from the sky. It is like living in an ash tray. All of us are tired and have headaches from the smoke!

***And my darling Fernando is missing Hermie too much. He is not eating his food! Either I'll have to get another dog to perk him up (Peter will freak) or he'll have to go back to his Hermie. I do so hope he perks up today!