This event actually happened almost a month ago (on Thursday, June 12th, to be exact), but with nothing but time on my hands, I don’t seem to get anything done any more.

I’ve been wanting to do this since I first read about it when we moved here 3 years ago, and it finally happened. A couple of girls I used to work with took the day off, I was already off (see the post about losing my job!!!), and we took the convertible to Rockin R in New Braunfels where we rented 4 tubes. One for each of us and one for our coolers. With the beer.

The water was a little cool as we were getting in, but once we were in our tubes and were holding our first beer, the fun began. At some spots we were moving so slowly, we had to focus on landmarks just so we could tell if we were moving at all. Our entire trip took about 5 hours, and during that whole time there were only 3 or 4 spots where the water moved a bit swifter. And thanks to the first one of those, I’m still reminded daily about this event.

A big part of the US was under water around the middle of June, but as usual, it was too dry here, and the river was pretty low. So we floated along the river, chatting, laughing, enjoying the sun, the beer, and the cool water around our butts, it was WONDERFUL. I don’t think heaven could be much more beautiful – (but there, we probably would not have run out of beer half way through…).

And then we made it to the first spot where the water moved a bit faster. Calling it ‘rapids’ would be an exaggeration, but we were clearly moving now, and the water was very low. But since I had never done this before and had not realized the concept of low-hanging butts colliding with barely water-covered rocks, I smacked my butt/hip full force on one of those rocks. And before I could do my analysis and draw a conclusion, and could pull up my butt, I hit again. That time higher up and I tore my suit and my skin. Now this happened shortly after our trip began, but we were having such a great time, and I didn’t want to spoil if for myself nor the other two, and things weren’t too bad with my injured parts hanging in the cool water, we continued.

And the next time we got into somewhat swifter waters, I had learned my lesson and pulled my rear up – and it worked. Well, it would have worked, but the water was so totally shallow, that the front of my tube got stranded on a rock, while the water kept pushing the back of it. And lifted it. With me inside. So we flipped, I lost my tube and haven’t seen my sunglasses since, either. Luckily, Amanda was already a bit ahead of me and caught my tube, so I was able to catch up.

My back was hurting quite a bit, especially when I tried to move, but we were having too much fun – besides, we were not anywhere close to the pick-up spots, so I really didn’t have a choice but to go on. When we did make it to the final pick-up spot, I could hardly get out of my tire or walk. That right leg just didn’t want to cooperate.

I have a pretty high tolerance for pain, but I hadn’t hurt this bad since natural childbirth (I played the role of the mother) and falling-down-a-flight-of-stairs-and-breaking-my-wrist. I couldn’t lift my leg up high enough to get it into a pant leg, and I couldn’t bend down far enough to help with my hands. But when I woke up the following Monday – 4 days later, just when I had planned on seeing a doctor, I was so much better. By now, almost 4 weeks later, things are even better than that, but I can still feel it. I must have hit pretty darn hard.

But it’s ok – the next time I get the opportunity to go, I’m going. It was such incredible fun, and now that I’ve learned to a) lift my rear, and b) bring more beer (hey, that rhymes….), it’ll be even better. Of course I couldn’t take my digital onto the river (good thing I didn’t!!!) but I bought a disposable and the pictures are here. Thanks Grace and Amanda for a fabulous day!!!