Floating the Willamette

So school does not start for me for about forty more days....pretty exciting right?!? Yes! I am pretty excited to have the "Indian Summer" as I've always called it back home. I kinda wish I could enjoy the summer time weather though...I think this gray-ness needs to fade away pretty gosh darn swiftly now; it's been carrying on now for quite a few days. Not cool. For the last week or so here in Corvallis, it's been a "severe weather warning" climate. However, it was for the HOT weather we were experiencing. It was fabulous, weather in the high nineties and even some 100 degree days
Saturday we took full advantage of this little surplus heat and rafted the river. Or rather, floated the river. For $2! It was great. the Bi-Mart in Corvallis was one of the only stores around that had any summer pool toys left in stock, and they were cheap and fun. I got a hot pink one :) partially because the rest were green and partially because I was the only girl and it was the only pink one and there were just enough for our group... So we park my car at the north end of the river and drive to south town where we parked the other car and started our float. I was the one who thought of this adventure, but none of us had any experience in this vendetta...So I approached a truck load of guys who had inter tubes about the size of a big rig truck...and inquired about plopping in and pulling out points along the river. Then, we just got right in, with only some slight shrieks at the brisk water and how swiftly it was flowing.
Richard and Ben plunged right in and got a little ahead of me and Aaron; we took some excessive amounts of time getting situated atop our floats. After some incredible paddling and maneuvering, we eventually caught up and floated in a tandem layout for a bit. All in all, very fun adventure which I would definitely repeat, but with less paddling to catch up and more relaxing and getting tanned :) I didn't even get burnt! I think it was the best $2 I'll spend all summer and I got to be with my friends at the same time. I think a huge group or a couple could go and have a blast. I would not however recommend it as a solo trip. Oh! But next time I do want to stop at one of the little islets along the way and sit out maybe and people/float watch. It looked like a fun little rest and would definitely elongate the adventure. The float lasted about an hour and was very easy and immensely rejuvenating on a hot day. So, another summer success story!