It’s the Fifth day of the Bellyak Progession Clinc. We are back at Pigeon to have a couple runs down the river. We were told to carb up and have our energy on point today, I’m overjoyed, you don’t have to tell me twice to eat a lot.
Pizza in hand driving to the river I’m feeling excited for the day, but an argument happens that takes my head out of the game before even getting in the game. Feeling a little nervous and upset is not a good combination to hit a 111+ whitewater. Realizing I need to really focus on Bellyaking makes me realize to not sweat the small stuff. External forces happens that are out of control and can distract from what your currently doing. I found to focus on the now and the rest will figure itself out.
All geared up we hit the water! This river is still booming with people everywhere ready to have a fun day of white water rafting. As we eddy out to keep the group together I find out raft’s are bigger up close and not as squishy as they look. Being run over by a raft shows me I got to keep my distance from them because this was not fun. As we go down the river we keep practicing eddy outs and remounts (sometimes not by choice). The river feels familiar which aids in the comfort level and we are all having a good time cruising down. We eddy out a lot to keep the group together because this must be a big day for the camp. Rafts float down the river one by one so it makes it a little more difficult to keep together. Though I love the speed of the river; it makes it so easy to lean into where you want to go. We practice our skills and we are already at the take out, the current really keeps us moving.
We regroup at the car, eating snacks and hanging out quick we decide to go up and hit it one more time! Loosing two of the crew not down for a second round we have a small group of the five of us. We decide to just go as fast as we can to keep ahead of rafts and to just keep going! This was so fun, the first time to really just cruise down. We paddle the whole time keeping up a fairly fast speed, and seemingly the water seems to be faster and stronger than the first run. This time I follow my own lines, and crushing it! Mostly because I would end up in some of the biggest part of the rapids this way but knowing the skills to apply I breeze through them, smiling the whole time. This was such a rush of excitement for all of us to just crush it! I’m so proud of how far we’ve come and what I realize is when you’re not afraid, you can do anything.
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