Re-living History?

B and I went on our first float trip in September of 1995.  We met up with some out of town acquaintances (through Vet School), and had on taps a beautifully hot Southern Nevada day.  Our course was on the Colorado River from the base of the Hoover Dam to Needles, California.  A mere 25 miles and a fabled three hour tour.  Let's just say this epic journey involved a great start, a loss of car keys to the bottom of the river, then zero current, 12 hours floating, a gorgeous full moon, an attempt to go for help on the Paiute reservation, a rattle snake, the auto club and exhaustion.

So you could say we had mixed feelings of excitement and trepidation when getting ready for our first float trip since, this weekend.  We made a great early start, and got to the camp ground and river entrance in good time.  We were a little concerned when we looked at the river, seemed a little high.  Then we found out the river was closed to tubes, kayaks, etc due to dangerous water conditions.  We then gazed at the blazing sun on the prairie we were to camp on (at the end of the day) and thought yikes this could be a tough day.  Not only that there were tons of people in the small pool area compensating for their loss of river time, so it wasn't quite the family scene if you know what I mean.

 We scrambled in the parking lot and I was able to secure three camp sites at the Jellystone Park in the Wisconsin Dells!  We got back in the car and trekked.  Once there, found a beautiful wooded camp area, water park for the kids, and a not so flooded river area (with zero current, this time we didn't mind we didn't want to get too far away).  The trip was highlighted by great friends, B helping with a water rescue, and our first family (my first ever) camping experience.  We got to spend the night listening to a thunderstorm roll all around us, and the sound of raindrops on canvas.  Though we didn't have much sleep, we took our time coming home and admired the country sites all the way home.  So, this time some fifteen years later, we didn't re-live history, we had a great adventure, made the best, and have new stories to tell.

 (**note, don't go out on a kayak if you can't swim....double note, 6 large adults who can't swim and who don't have much balance to speak of should never go out on a kayak....triple note, once you tip, DON'T try to continually get on top of the flooded kayak or you risk panicking and ending up under it!),