Life on the water is very different from life on Earth. To be able to cross the tumultuous rapids, we must first learn to understand the river aboard the raft boat, but in the water as well!
Man overboard. Aurélie is in water right in the rapids, but instead of panicking, she remains calm listening to the guides’ instructions of the shore. She positions herself feet first and she flows down fast with a smile. After crossing the big waves, she listens to instructions and swims against the tide.
In fact, Aurelie did not fall into the water. She simply threw into the water as part of an open water swimming exercise. The goal: to practise in case one falls overboard during our expedition.
A few hours earlier, on Lake Magpie, participants received a short white-water rafting course to learn how to steer the boat in the rapids …while remaining in it. It was also necessary to learn to work as a team and keep up with our teammates at the front of the boat.
We then see the mouth of the river. After a few hundred metres, we hear the sound of the rapids growing, which immediately raise the adrenaline levels. Big waves on the horizon; everyone carefully listens to the instructions of the guide to go downstream as experts would have. That’s it! Prime white-water experience is a thing of the past!
Most participants had never been rafting in their lives… Much less a rafting expedition over several days. And it is not the only first! Helicopter tours, kayaking, rowing and fishing in the rapids are part of new experiences.
Today, we also had the opportunity to take out fishing rods in a good location, to the delight of the great fishermen as Aaron and Anthony, but also less experienced fishermen as Ariele and Diego. After just 30 minutes, Aaron had already caught four trout that we enjoyed in the evening after roasting them on fire!
It began to rain during the afternoon. What could have been an ordeal yet went very well, because the Boreal River team and the Foundation have used their experience to set up a comfortable camp with many tarps to keep everything nice and dry. Consequently, everyone could enjoy an (another) excellent dinner of pork chops on the grill, with mashed potatoes, beans and mushrooms. And a wonderful dessert (and a trout as a snack before going to bed).