Paddle or Die!
Today, Partner and I went whitewater rafting on the Snake River in Jackson, Wyoming. Even though I had wanted to go white water rafting for so long, I was still very nervous. We started off with a scenic ride on the beautiful river and saw pelicans, bald eagles, and the majestic Tetons. After that we returned to base camp and were encouraged to wear wet suits. Partner rented one and he looked very handsome. I was worried about being uncomfortable in something so tight. As a result, I wore my bathing suit and a light waterproof coat. When we got to the Snake River, we got matched up with our guide, Capitan Ron.
At first I was very nervous, so Partner had the paddle for us. We saw a moose who looked lost, but majestic. About a quarter of the way down the river, we were in a calm area. In between jokes, Capitan Ron invited us to go for a swim if we liked. I had heard that the water was very cold, but I had come too far not to jump into the river. Partner went first and I jumped in after him. Holy crap-- the cold hit me right in the core. When it was time to return to the boat, Partner went in first. Capitan Ron found out that we were newlyweds and made a joke about Partner leaving his wife behind. When I got back into the boat, I took over paddling and worked through all the rapids. I was terrified but listened to the sound of the Captains voice yelling, "Paddle or die!" Other times he yelled, "Paddle like you want to live!" He told us that we did a good job because the boat did not turn over.
The first rapid we came upon was called the Lunch Counter. According to Capitan Ron, it is named the lunch counter because if you do not approach it in a good line, the rapid will eat your lunch. We also got the newlywed special which was splash-tastic! Partner reassured me when I screamed by holding me tightly. Even though I was nervous about falling in, whitewater rafting is one of the most exciting things I have ever done! Plus, it was fun to get applause, cheers, and extra splashes for being a newlywed.






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