Day 15 –Sunday—6/28: Andrea and Sam Kayaking while Sarah and Ryan whitewater raft the class II+ rapids of the Rogue River, OR

Today was the most adventurous day for Andrea and Sam.  While Ryan and Sarah got to ride again in a regular whitewater rafting boat, Andrea and I both had our own inflatable kayaks to navigate the Rogue River rapids.  It was awesome and exciting.   All 4 of us were on the river at the same time—the kayaks just in front of the rafts.  It was really fun to shoot the rapids in the kayak.  The guide would go first and we’d follow his line through the waves while trying to avoid rocks that he pointed out.  You have to paddle hard and continuously through the rapids.  As I was finishing one of the class II rapids, I fell out of my kayak and into the rapids.  It was hysterical—especially watching it later on my GoPro.  I was able to keep holding onto my paddle and to get back to the kayak quickly and back in to it.  On a later rapid, Andrea got stuck on a rock and then was flipped out of her kayak.  It was fun to watch her spill as I went by her in the rapids :0.  We really had fun.  The kids were in a boat with just 2 other people.  The guide on their boat loved kids and was great at showing them a good time.  He would spin the boat through some of the rapids and have them go backwards through others.  The kids jumped out many times into the 65 degree water and they’d free swim down the river.  One of the coolest things we’ve ever seen was during a calm part of the river, we were all watching a large osprey (eagle-like bird) in the tree at the edge of the river.  Suddenly, it flew right over our heads, circled around, looked down and saw a trout and divebombed it only about 30 yards from our boat.  It smacked the water hard like a pelican does.  Then it flew away with a 5 inch trout in its talons.  It was incredible to watch from such a close distance.  Raw nature at its finest.   We love adventure and wildlife.   Today was a great experience for all 4 of us on the Rogue River!  Tomorrow we’re off to Crater Lake for the day.

At the Rogue River

Andrea on her white water kayak

Ryan jumped in to the kayak and Sarah floated during the calm between rapids

After a great adventure! 

Andrea and Ryan - he was enjoying it, but he was pretty cold