Sep 8, 2007
A Pocono Whitewater Adventure
Vacations are supposed to be a time to relax, right? So I find it funny, that many travelers find the need to fill every minute of their vacation with stuff to do. Ok, I admit it, sometimes I’m one of those people.
I guess I was pretending to be a Pocono tourist this past weekend. I crammed my weekend full. After biking for 13 miles on Saturday in the Lehigh Gorge State Park (see my previous post) we did indeed go rafting on Sunday. For $55 per person my daughters and I spent the day paddling on the Lehigh. We went with Pocono Whitewater Adventures on Route 903 (1-800-whitewater). The weather turned chilly overnight after a warm and pleasant day on Saturday. Asking for two good weather days in a row is apparently out of the question.
We rented full wetsuits. They stunk like sweat or mold or both. Mine was, well, wet when I put it on which was unfortunate because although I was quite willing to get wet I would have preferred to do it at the river.
We chose to raft the Gorge section of the river where the rapids are a little more exciting instead of the family float. Our group was small, just 4 rafts. We geared up, boarded the bus and were transported to Drake’s Creek to launch our rafts.
Launching our rafts was probably the most dangerous part (for broken ankles). We had to heave our raft through a washed out gully, balancing each step on river rocks. The river guides said a major flood caused the damage. Thankfully two other adults were added to our raft because my two young daughters and I would have had trouble getting the raft to the water in those conditions.
Finally, we were launched. Morgan and Madison upfront, two teachers from Bethlehem in the middle and me in the back. Somehow I got the job of captain. Within 3 minutes of working on the river, we were all hot! That’s right working. We’re paddling, we’re steering and we’re bailing.
I definitely had the wrong image of rafting. They instructed us back at the rafting center to leave everything in our cars (dry clothes, dry towels, cameras, cell phones, etc). I did. I thought that things could get wet, through some splashing etc. I had no idea that water was going to seep into the bottom of the boat or worse yet, that we were going to hit “45 minute” rock and have water fill our entire raft! There’s no time to bail when your running the rapids and trying to avoid rocks but when we got to flat water, we bailed and bailed and bailed. At least the heavy water pushed us off “45 minute rock” very quickly. Apparently it’s called 45 minute rock because it’ll take 45 minutes to get rescued or freed from the rock.
Although my daughters were disappointed that they didn’t get to go for an unexpected swim, I’m thankful that they stayed in the raft the entire time. I got dumped out twice (once when we stopped abruptly, (of course on a rock) and the other time when I was ruddering in the back and just rolled out.
My girls loved the trip. It was a real life roller coaster. They loved the class III rapids. I would not go if the river was any lower, in fact, if we go again we’re going to watch for special water releases. I think fall is a good time to go rafting. The water is still warm and the river is not too low.
In closing, let me say that it is a long day. We arrived at the rafting center before 9:45 am. I don’t remember what time we actually got on the river (who can check their watch when they are desperately trying not to break their ankle). We got off the river around 3:30 and were back at our cars at about 4:00 pm.
Every muscle in my upper body hurts (my shoulders, neck, obliques, forearms, pecs, just everything!). I tried aiming the jets of a Jacuzzi on my shoulders. I applied BenGay and finally I took an Advil. Obviously, I tried to muscle the river too hard. Maybe we should have tried throwing the paddles in the boat and letting the river just take us.
Rafting while on vacation has its advantages; you don’t have to use a sick day the day after. How about you? Have you ever felt like you needed a vacation after you had a vacation or participated in a "leisurely" activity? Let us know…
Tina Dowd
About two weeks ago, I took a long weekend trip to Florida to see my brother. The first full day I was there, my brother had to work, but he left me his truck so I went exploring by myself. Everyone that knows me knows that I can’t get away from golf, so it wouldn’t surprise many that I went to Mangrove Bay Golf Course to hit 120 golf balls on their driving range. I didn’t count on the heat to be so intense, even at 10 AM. After the first 30 golf balls, I started to get really tired, but stuck it out. Then I drove to the Gulf Coast to explore the beaches. I stopped at Madeira Beach to stick my toes in the ocean and relax for a half an hour. Then I went to Daiquiri Deck to eat a Mahi Mahi Dinner because I was starving (it was around 2 PM at the time). Then I came back to my brother’s place and took a swim in the pool. Then picked my brother up and went to eat dinner. Just after the first day, I was tired but had lots of fun.
The next day, my brother and I did a round of golf at Mangrove Bay Golf Course. This was the first time I golfed on a course with palm trees surrounding me! That was a whole lot of fun, especially since I drastically improved my game on the last 9 holes compared with the first 9. Then we were exhausted so we relaxed so we’d be in tip-top shape to go to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays baseball game. I also learned from my brother that they had a water tank with rays in it so people can pet them. Obviously, their stinger were removed so no one would be in danger. After the game I was ready for bed.
The last day was mellow as we ate out for breakfast and I treated (the least I can do for my bro for such an awesome time!). Then we went to a neat little shopping area by the beaches to look for a Tampa Bay Devil Rays golf shirt (a souvenir for me), but there were none that I liked, so I am getting that as a Christmas present. I bought postcards instead. And that was it.
Would I have wanted an extra day to just put my feet up and relax from an exhausting yet fun vacation? I probably would’ve relaxed for about an hour, then found other things to do just to exhaust myself again. So kicking back on a two hour direct flight from Florida back to Allentown was exactly what the doctor ordered!
I had a great time reading your blog about whitewater rafting. I worked at Pocono Whitewater for a year back in 2001. It’s been a long time since I heard someone talk about Drake’s Creek, 45 minute rock, those smelly wet suits, and bailing. It was a really fun summer, and I have lots of memories of the river, both good and bad. I found myself laughing a lot while reading your story, probably because I understand the fact that rafting is not usually what people expect. We had tons of people that thought they just had to come to the river and relax. This is not what happens, and it really is hard work. I’m happy to hear that in the end, you did have a good time.
About 10 years ago I went horseback riding. I hadn’t been on a horse in about 8 years prior to that day. It was so much fun. But, for the next 3 days I was so sore. I must have used muscles that I hadn’t used in years!! Just recently I had visited Egypt and rode a camel for just 20 minutes. Again, although the actually ride was very lesurely and quite peaceful, the next few days my stomache muscles were very sore. It just goes to show, next time you decide to ride a horse or a camel, you may want to do some stretches first. =)
It sound like you and the girls had a wonderful time rafting. Yes I have also had the experience of needing a vacation after taking a vacation. This spring my 17yr old daughter announced to me that she would like to go to florida for spring break vacation(the week before i was supposed to report to duty as a manager in brookfield) so we went to orlando with alot of excitement to ride all of the roller coasters in florida! We hit 7 amusement parks in 4 days and then got stranded in cleveland’s beautiful airport for 6 hours on the day I was supposed to report for duty in Brookfield. We finally made it home in one piece, but were exausted from all the excitement and then waiting(ugg) Traveling can be so much fun when mother nature plays her part. It is the unexpected things that happen in life that makes it so fun and memorable!
I would have loved to see you girls going down the rapids! I always wanted to do it. Sounds like you had an awesome time. I better get my gear ready and go now!
I have not went white water rafting in years, but the last time it went we had so much fun. It was right after I graduated so the summer of 2000. We also did the Pocono Whitewater Adventures. My first mistake on that trip was to miss the sign and take my backpack on the boat. Needless to say that by the time the trip was over the clothes that I was wearing were soaked as well as the extra pair in my backpack that I had brought with me to change into. I ended up buying a whole new outfit at the gift shop.
We had alot of fun though whitewater rafting and when we went the rapids where insane. Luckily everyone in my raft managed to stay in but all around us people were falling out of their rafts. We ended up picking up someone that fell out of their raft because their crew could not get them back inside.
I think I hurt for days after that trip especially in my arm area but it was worth it.
Whitewater rafting is an amazing time and when Malacki gets alittle older I am going to take him to brave the rapids once again.
It sounds like Tina and the girls had a great time rafting. I would love to go rafting sometime. I seem to always need a vacation away from my vacations even my weekends I need a weekend away from it. I am glad Tina shared her experience so now I know what I have to look forward to.
I never went rafting but I would like to. Everyone I know that has done, had a great time. Except for when my daughter went and forgot her sunblock. She got 2nd degree burns on her arms, legs and face. Even then she said she had a great time and would do it again, only this time with sunblock.