Wet and Wild
Trip Start
Sep 30, 2005
1
17
82
Trip End
Sep 01, 2006
Rishkesh,
India
Thursday, November 3, 2005
An hour or so more drive to the place we start which involved minor scrambling, not sure how they managed to get the raft down but after donning sexy yellow life jackets off we go. Was very chilled the first day, looking at excellent views of the Ganges paddling along and only a few minor rapids
1. New found friends
. Stopped for lunch on a beach soaked and hungry where our guide produced cheese spread to go with pokoras and potatoes. The cheese spread was great - its so weird the things you miss!By the end of the day three shivering but happy people stepped of the boat to have warm chai and a bucket shower - heaven! In the evening there was a group of kids at the site so after watching them play a variant of musical statues and then a disco we called it a night and retired to play cards - much more mature!
From the start of the next day we are repeatedly told what to do if the raft flips and how hard the river is from now on! The rapids start straight away and we now have another group with us, two safety kayak, helmets, life jackets and again we are told what to do if we flip!
So nervous but excited we go down the river. Each rapid our guide tells us to keep paddling faster and harder and together - near on impossible through really rough water! So still in the raft, helmets on and soaked through we approach 'The Wall' This rapid is the hardest on the Ganges and we were told we had a 99% chance of flipping. Again we were told if the boat flips dont panic, grab the safety line on the raft or swim to the right and feet pointing downstream and grab the line if they throw it to you and all while keeping hold of your paddle! As we get closer we see how rough it is and theres no way out now, we keep paddling faster and faster and the guide is shouting at us to keep going, the raft in front flips over but we keep going
2. Two guides?
. The waves ahead are huge and we have no choice but to go towards them, the boat goes vertical with waves crashing over the top all while trying to paddle! We all thought we were going in for sure but the next second we were heading back down again and we are all still in! Was excellent if not a little scary!After the rapid we catch our breath and our guide tells us it is a record for him not to have tipped with inexperienced people - oh yeah!!
After 'the wall' there was 'body surfing' where as there are no rocks we jumped out the raft and did the rapid in the water - that was fun but freezing! Danny was not too sure at first and kept asking if there were any crocodiles -Nah says the guide! Another night relaxing and we all agree we are liking this travelling thing!
Day three and there are many more people rafting so more opportunity for splashing contests as well as lots of rapids. Another great day with big rapids more body surfing and a beach lunch,Also a mini cliff jump (5m) which was great apart from the bright purple bruise I now have on my arm from hitting the water - rooky mistake!
We rafted back to Rishkesh changed on the beach and headed straight for the bus station. Seven hours later and with rather sore bums we arrived at Delhi and stay at the first place we stayed, time for a quick beer before bed and what a welcome bed - aaahhh!
