The River & Key Lime Pie

On June 18^th, the Youngquist, Gawron, and Pratt clans descended on Canon City, Colorado, the jumping off point of our grand whitewater rafting adventure. Our goal was to Choose Joy and experience whitewater rafting down the Arkansas River. The trip would be an amusement ride for some. For others, it would push us out of our comfort zones for a once in a lifetime experience. Some drove the approximately 1,100 miles while others flew into Denver or Colorado Springs.

The weather forecast was for cooler days than the previous weeks and showers and thunderstorms every afternoon. The record snowpack combined with suddenly very hot temperatures in the previous weeks, brought the current of the Arkansas River in the Royal Gorge to a 15 year high (5,300 cubic feet per second). Authorities decided to shut down the Royal Gorge section of the river for safety reasons.

Lost Paddle Outfitters had a Plan B. We moved significantly upstream to safer levels, but the current was still exceedingly strong and nasty with numerous category 3 and 4 rapids to be run.

Being a whitewater rafting guide is a lifestyle choice. Our guides were no different. Most worked the ski slopes of Colorado in the winter and as whitewater rafting guides during the summer months. I could spend hours recounting some of the tales spun by our guides (Steve, Hunter, Tyler, and Taylor), but let’s just say they were very entertaining.

The trip began by loading the vans. It is amazing how much 14 people can decide to take with them for three days and two nights of camping along the river, but we had 5 tents for all of us, a well-stocked cooler of various refreshments, and everyone’s camping clothes and gear. By 11:30, we were loaded and began our drive up the canyon. Apprehension began in most of the participants as we got a look at the roaring river on our drive up the canyon.

We dumped our gear at our campsite for the night and continued up the canyon to our starting point. Everyone had donned wetsuits back at the outfitter, but had declined the splash jackets. I felt horrible for my nephew Cole who did not have a wet suit as they had given the only two in his size out to the previous group the day before. He was a trooper as he did not want to disappoint his Uncle. We bundled him as best we could with clothes and a splash jacket, but it made for a very cold day for him.

We embarked in three rafts the first day. We got some good rapids in right out of the gate. My worst fears were realized when as my raft was approaching a category 3 rapid, I saw the raft containing the kids (Carson, Hayley, Claire, and Morgan) dump truck into the river.

The guides were shouting instructions at us immediately, but I could not take my eyes off the raft where I only saw Hayley clinging to the raft. In the blink of an eye, I saw the raft righted by Steve, the guide, as he quickly had everyone back in the raft. I am not exaggerating when I say all this happened in less than 30 seconds. Then the chase for their paddles racing down the river began.

My trip on day one was less than stellar. I was extremely uncomfortable in the middle-left position of my raft. My torn meniscus was screaming at me for the unnatural position it had to hold to be tucked into the raft properly. As we completed our first day on the river, I doubted my ability to continue the next day.

As we made camp that evening, our group could see a storm rolling towards us. We raced to pitch our tents before the storm arrived and were putting the final stakes into the last tent as a downpour of rain and hail descended on our camp.

Two hours later, the storm subsided, and we were able to enjoy a meal of chicken fajitas. Later as we relaxed around the fire, our guides asked us if we wanted our dessert. “Of course” I answered for the group.

Our choices, French Silk or Key Lime Pie.

My heart skipped a beat (see Key Lime Pie on the My Joy Journey with Amy blog). “Well,” I said, “this is Amy telling us she’s with us and her telling me to get over myself and enjoy a piece of key lime pie.” We all smiled at the serendipitous choice of dessert by our guides.

Any doubt I had about continuing the next day evaporated as I ate a small piece of Key Lime Pie. Small wonders.