Gringo Overboard

I’d never been rafting before. The closest I think I’ve been is in my sixteen foot long Kayak floating down the Saugeen like an oil tanker that slipped off her moorings. The Saugeen is gentle and there are no rapids to speak of. The biggest obstacles in that river are empty beer cans and other paddlers who’ve somehow managed to become detached from their vessels. As a thrill seeker and adrenalin junkie, Gian Franco started this idea. I can still hear his energetic “come on man...it’ll be amazing...”

We walked back and forth between the rafting shop and the hotel about three times. I’d sent Nan a text letting her know about the rumours of certain death. She was encouraging and suggested I go for it. Not the dying part...the adventure part. I weighed that input but still sat squarely on the fence. Finally, now with Kiko in tow, we sat down to put our names on the booking form. Reluctantly I paced back and forth behind Kiko, Piero and Gian Franco. I was not sold on this idea at all. Somehow during the course of negotiation the guy booking the thing says “ok...so six guys?” The reply was a resounding “SI! SI! SI!” while I tried to figure out how I’d back into this.

I can say with relative certainty that I did not sleep the night before. In the morning as we waited for the bus I could feel my nerves grow. This really nice Mercedes bus wheels up and we pile in. One step closer to committed. The guy already on the bus says “...is this your first time?” Clearly he could tell as I clutched my borrowed backpack of supplies. “Yes...it is...and you?” I said. “No, I’m the instructor”. This was Johann, a 24 year old “dude” from Costa Rica living the life in Cusco Peru taking Gringos to their deaths. Johann was a brilliant spirit very full of life with a big smile, even bigger hair and that quintessential “STONER LAUGH”. He was very knowledgeable and very experienced. He’d be our support guy in a single Kayak. Carlos was our raft driver...another great guy. They’re efforts added some comfort until I turned around to see the churning brown waters of the Urubamba river below.

Soon we were in it. Piero, Gian Franco, Raul, Kiko, Larry and I were in this yellow rubber raft hauling down the river. No turning back now as we paddled and stopped with each of Carlos’ commands. This was going pretty well until we hit a rock and everyone but me stayed in the boat. One minute in the boat and the next I’m directly under it in the cold raging river. Surprisingly while under the water I managed to calmly, as far as I know, figure out where I needed to go to get out from directly under the raft. Within about 10 seconds I popped up and was immediately launched back in by life jacket at the hands of Raul. I was safe. If you’ll allow me this moment of profanity it was fucking amazing.

With my paddle back in my hand I was more into it now than ever. It was fun, exciting and exhilarating. I was now sitting up high in the back of the raft to maximize the motion. What I’d regretted I’d loved and would have done it again right away. At the end we were met with an incredible eucalyptus sauna, nice hot showers and lunch. It was perfect. Thanks to Johann, Carlos and specifically Raul, my rafting debut was brilliant.

The tour company was called Aqua Trek Peru. If you ever find yourself in Cusco...look them up.