My first experience at whitewater rafting was amazing and exciting. It was full of adrenaline and surprise. It was a first experience I will never forget. It was so FUN! I would do it again in a heartbeat. I like athletics and this feat was challenging enough to hold my interest the entire way down the river. It was not so scary that I would never go out there into the rapids again. We had a few close calls with one person almost falling out; but we kept at it and made it down the river.
I was so nervous as we settled into the raft for basic instructions. I knew that once we pushed off, there would be no place to go but downriver and that I would be trapped on the raft with nowhere to escape if I changed my mind. Luckily, I did not feel scared or nervous for too long and did not want to get out of the raft or away from the water. I did not change my mind about the attempt as the first rush of adrenaline came with the first rapid. I was having too much fun getting soaked to worry about escaping from the raft.
As an inexperienced, first time rafter, I was placed in the last row just in front of the instructor after he explained a few basic commands and how he would give them. The raft held 7 of us; perfect for 3 of us on each side and the instructor at the rear. As I was rafting, there was a rescue man rafting in a kayak with us that also acted as the photographer. As you can see, he did a great job!
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| After making it down the river |
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| Getting soaked in the rapids |
As an inexperienced, first time rafter, I was placed in the last row just in front of the instructor after he explained a few basic commands and how he would give them. The raft held 7 of us; perfect for 3 of us on each side and the instructor at the rear. As I was rafting, there was a rescue man rafting in a kayak with us that also acted as the photographer. As you can see, he did a great job!
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| Before getting into the most difficult rapids |
This experience was great and I highly recommend it to all you other fun loving, thrill seekers out there! It was also very affordable while I was on vacation in Costa Rica after studying hard! This was before the spring rains when the river swells and the rafting becomes more challenging and dangerous. It was still a class 3 & 4 river which is not for beginners but I was with a good group and instructor that have a lot of previous experience. I cannot wait to go back to more whitewater rafting for intermediate and experienced rafters, even after the rains! I think the images above prove I can handle it!
