Rafting Lesson #4

Spokane River Level: 15,300

Water Street to Plese Flats

Wednesday 4/2/14 @ 10:55AM-12:55PM

     Mark and I met John Mainio at Water Street at 9:15AM, unloaded, ran shuttle and put on the river in an hour and forty minutes.  It seems longer than ideal, but realistic.  I drove the trailer into Spokane WITH the raft on and to Plese Flats (on the very narrow state park road) WITHOUT the raft.  It was not as scary as I imagined but backing up is very difficult.  I intend on practicing in an empty parking lot this week.  I also got to row the Class III Toenail rapid today.  Supposedly I did a good job, but it is all a blur, except the moment that I had to pull the oar in the boat in order to avoid a strainer.  At the end I jumped in and practiced throw-bagging.  It was a big step forward for me.

Mainio is gearing up

i drove the trailer!

Almost ready to push off

Amber is the first to ROW!

Mainio's turn

Mark looking sexy

Pre-Rapid to Bowl and Pitcher

Hole above the Bowl and Pitcher

BIG waves

Hard to show, but these waves were masive

ROOM of DOOM: Get stuck in here and you
won't make it out.  Don't get stuck here.

Making it through

Lateral that will suck you under

Good work John

In between these two rocks is a common place boaters swim through

Right now there is a dangerous strainer blocking that canal 

I love these rocks

Friends...getting ready to save us by paddling because Amber is about to run the next rapid (class III)

WooHoo!  I did it!  We made it through the Toenail!!
Mark says they didn't even paddle but they were on
ready so no action shot was available this time.

RESCUE PRACTICE 

I think this is the first time I ever pulled myself up on the
raft...and it was so EASY!

Back on the road.  Time to go home, clean up and get ready for our next trip!

Rowing Lesson #3

Spokane River Level: 18,500 CFS

Water Street to Plese Flats
Sunday 3/23/14 @ 2:30PM-4:30PM

     Of course these river photos all look the same as last time; we just can not help but continue to take them.  We love the river and Amber is officially unofficially going through raft guide training!  Mark and Amber had a wonderful day filled with sunshine, fast moving water, very cold splashes and wonderful friends (Seneca, John and Jon).  Thanks for a fantastic spring Sunday.

Wenatchee High School Track Meet

Time for a mini road trip!  We were up at 5AM and made it a whole hour before stopping for coffee.  The drive to Wenatchee was only a couple of hours long and a very straight forward which made for a perfect day trip.  There are not many photos representing the city itself, but it was beautiful.  The river is incredible and the community is built up right along side it.  We had a delicious breakfast at this quintessential diner, visited the local Costco and soaked up the sun while cheering on Malea and the Kentwood Conquerors.  This was their first meet (other than the Jamboree) and performed quite well.  You can see the results here and Malea's progress here.  

After a long, dark drive we were welcomed home by a couple of very clingy puppies.

Thanks JAMES for babysitting!