Fabulous Embry 2011 Summer Tour Continues: Andi, Meg and Stevie Take an Unexpected Swim

Last year we rafted on the Deschutes at the Big Eddy, and had such a great time we thought we'd try a different spot this year.  Bill found an affordable three-hour tour (sound ominous?) out of Maupin which looked like fun, so that's what we booked.

We caravanned (because we can't fit everyone into one Prius) to Maupin on rafting day, and got there a little bit early so we had lunch at the only grocery store in town (great sandwich, I must say), then prepared for the trip.

We learned immediately that the rafting company had no photographers to take pictures - complete bummer!!  And because the instructions told us not to bring anything we didn't want to get wet, we left all our good cameras at home.  I was thus inspired to buy a crappy little waterproof disposable thing to try to get at least SOME shots!

The photo essay which follows will compare and contrast the Big Eddy trip (30 minutes) with the Harpham Flats to Sandy Beach trip (3 hours).

First, we get a group shot at the launch point, before anyone gets into the rafts:

Me photographed in a swimsuit.  Don't say I'm not fearless!

This is the only decent picture from the Harpham Flats trip.  Sorry.

Thence we load into two separate rafts (the Big Eddy trip we managed to fit into one) and I try to snap a few shots before we take off:

I asked Erica to pretend to paddle before we took off.

Here's the compare and contrast part:

Check out the guns on the guide for the Big Eddy:

Now check out our guide out of Maupin:

He was a nice guy, dont' get me wrong.  Just a little on the skinny side (the other raft had a nice young lady as the guide).

Now, here we are going through the Big Eddy:

And here we are shooting the rapids at Wapanita, Box Car, Surf City, White River and the Elevator:















That's right, no pictures.  Why?  Because I was PADDLING, my friends.

After shooting the Wapanita, a Class 3 rapid, I looked over at the other family raft which was in front of us, and noticed the guide and Bill hauling Andi back into the raft!  Yikes!  They were too far away then to tell us, but Megan and Stevie had also gone in!  The very first rapid of the trip!  My hats off to all three of them, tho, because I got a thumbs up from Megan and no one demanded to be taken to shore - for the next three hours, we all rode along like the troupers we are (although I think Ted was sick to his stomach when he learned they had gone in).  We made it over the Class 4 rapid with no incident >whew<

Incidentally, if the landing point was Sandy Beach, I would hate to see their version of Boulder Beach.

On our way back home, we stopped at the Depot in Terrebonne for a lovely meal and some well-deserved beer.  Way to go, Team Awesome!

Next:  Stevie Keeps Grandma on Track