For some reason in Blue Ridge, we learn a lesson about the limitations of youth and age during each trip. The first year, our eldest fell off the tube whilst mounting and seriously hurt herself and our youngest cried much of the time and ended the trip by sleeping on Mimi. The second year, there was a slip, 2 falls, a broken rib and many scratches.
I could say that we’ve learned our lessons this year. But perhaps also we are not quitters. If others think this is so much fun, we will have fun too! We decided to try tubing again.
It is a fun activity, especially when one has appropriate weather and water levels. This year the floaters included: Early, Mimi, Savannah, and myself. Maddie started with us for 1 second and she decided (perhaps wisely) that this wouldn’t be her year.
The waters of the Chattahoochee river were calm and shallow. Calm is ok. Shallow is not so good. The floating was with some effort. Not so much floating most of the time, but scooting, pushing, and bumping into rocks and other floaters. The lighter you are the better, so Early bailed halfway and re-joined the family.
Luckily for us, we always have reinforcements in the form of the conscientious objectors who follow our floating forward movement from shorelines and bridges. Both years, they have taken us out earlier than the destination/pick up point. This year though, it was much shorter and much better.
I will always remember Savannah’s face when, towards the end, she actually went over a rapid smoothly, that is, without getting stuck on the rocks. Her eyes lit up, she was smiling, I thought she might hop off her tube and walk back to do it again. I thought to myself, yes, this is how it is supposed to be. Perhaps these droughts are mother nature’s way of telling us that we are hurting how it is supposed to be.
I could say that we’ve learned our lessons this year. But perhaps also we are not quitters. If others think this is so much fun, we will have fun too! We decided to try tubing again.
It is a fun activity, especially when one has appropriate weather and water levels. This year the floaters included: Early, Mimi, Savannah, and myself. Maddie started with us for 1 second and she decided (perhaps wisely) that this wouldn’t be her year.
The waters of the Chattahoochee river were calm and shallow. Calm is ok. Shallow is not so good. The floating was with some effort. Not so much floating most of the time, but scooting, pushing, and bumping into rocks and other floaters. The lighter you are the better, so Early bailed halfway and re-joined the family.
Luckily for us, we always have reinforcements in the form of the conscientious objectors who follow our floating forward movement from shorelines and bridges. Both years, they have taken us out earlier than the destination/pick up point. This year though, it was much shorter and much better.
I will always remember Savannah’s face when, towards the end, she actually went over a rapid smoothly, that is, without getting stuck on the rocks. Her eyes lit up, she was smiling, I thought she might hop off her tube and walk back to do it again. I thought to myself, yes, this is how it is supposed to be. Perhaps these droughts are mother nature’s way of telling us that we are hurting how it is supposed to be.
We had lunch in the town of Helen, on the waterfront with some good German cuisine, beers and company.
When we arrived home we relaxed and the girls made waterballoons, make-believe salad, and later after dinner, we destroyed the piñata that Uncle Tom had packed with goodies for the girls. Another great day in Blue Ridge.
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