We had never been to New Braunfels before, but knew enough that the attraction was tubing on the rivers. It was an adventure of a day from being turned down at the tube rentals places for the children being to young, swimming under a bridge feeling like hobos, kids falling asleep at the wrong times for brief periods ……. to a much turned around day of floating down the Comal River*, and having a most excellent dinner at The Gristmill River Restaurant in Gruene. The unplanned day turned out to be a wonderful one!While tubing however, Morgan and I had a near death experience on a chute**. Morgan was on my lap, and Schuyler was tied to our tube (in her own tube). We got caught in an eddy and were forced against a wall when our tube flipped over (and we were briefly caught underneath). It was a very powerful current, and once free of the tube, it kept banging us against the wall (which apparently was hollowed out underneath and could have sucked us under). And although Morgan had a life jacked on (I didn’t), she was still clinging on to me for dear life - pushing me down - while I was trying to catch breaths and hold her up even further out of the water to ease the terrified face staring at me.
* On the Guadalupe River you apparently have to be six (although we know kids who haven’t been), and we found an outfitter (on the Comal river) who did not seem to have any age restrictions.
** The outfitter explained that other than a very docile river trip they did recommend that we walk the first chute because their was no lifegurard on duty (off-season weekday). We went down the chute with much apprehension (from Schuyler and Morgan), and after successful attempts by everyone else in our party, and feeling very confident in the 15 skilled fireman training in the water who encouraged us and swore they would be there - we went down. Since we got stuck in a calm part of the river first, the fireman were already out of the water as we did make it safely down the chute. One fireman was still there to help Schuyler safely to shore, and I am sure the others would have helped Morgan and I if we really needed it. Morgan is now traumatized by the river which I hope she grows out of. And Curtis assured me for days of his undying love (so sweet)!
2 comments:
Wow. Glad every one is okay after that river trip. On one of the trips to Moab, a ranger stopped our cars strapped with inner tubes, and asked us if we had life jackets. We didn't. Then he explained that they average 10 deaths a year from people floating down the river, and that the deeper water flows faster, and that's how people get lost. We had a fine time on the river, and once we reached the end, several of us were nearly sucked under when we tried to get out. I'm wearing a life vest the next time I go. Again, glad everyone is safe and sound.
Thanks. Yes, I am wearing a life jacket next time too!
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