Rafting in the dark
Trip Start
Nov 03, 2007
1
25
33
Trip End
Dec 07, 2007
Waitomo Caves,
New Zealand
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Black water rafting was really cool. I (RM) am NOT a big fan of water, don't really know how Fi talked me into this. The idea is we have an innertube to sit in and we float down the river in the underground cave system. Sounds tame enough. We have wetsuits etc. so why not? The problem came right at the start. We togged up in gear and got to the cave entrance, next to a river. Before going into the river we had to practice to jump into the water. Backwards! With the tube squashed round our bums! This is because there is a waterfall underground we will be jumping off, just like this. RM not too happy at this but did it OK. It was only about 3ft above the water. Went completely under, v soaked, v cold. Quite unhappy.
Mad Lamb (Called Chops)
Then into the cave. Some walking through fast flowing water (up to our middles) then some floating on the tubes. We had sessions with lights off and you can see all the gloworms on the roof above shining green. Sooo coool. Then it came to the waterfall. Did it OK, was about 3ft. The I found out this was just another practice, the real one was still up ahead. This was about 6-7ft. Jumping backwards from that height into fast water???? Well, I did it and was dead chuffed about it too. Another phobia crushed? Fi of course was OK all the way through cos she is really confident in water, but she still admitted to a few nerves before the big jump.Spent some time chatting to the lamb back at the hostel. Just a mad animal. He was forcing his head through the fencing to get more petting. I went into his field (it's the way to the tennis courts) and he wouldn't leave me alone! He was like a mad Spaniel hopping and running around.
Tomorrow is a drive to Raglan, a nice town by the seaside. We do need a holiday after all.
