On the second day in Turrialba not satisfied with just swimming in a waterfall we were ready for more cold water and took a white water rafting trip on the Pacaure river. It is one of the few rivers in Costa Rica that remains dam free, something that hs been done to most other major rivers for hydroelectric power production. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacuare_River.
Linda was pleased with her Zapotista presents from Mexico that we gave her at breakfast.
Turrialba sits high up on the Caribbean slope and the Pacuare river run from here down to the Caribbean sea, it would have taken 4 days for us to do this by raft apparently. The area is still relatively forested but there are large areas used for coffee production and also for growing ferns for US florists.
The river was very beautiful, and if we hadn't been flying through rapids the whole time we probably would have seen a lot of wildlife. We saw a tiger heron at one stage as we were just entering some white water and we heard toucans in the trees above.
some of the rapids even had waterfalls cascading onto to us as we frantically paddled
mind the rock
splash
kapow
splosh
kersplung
Whoosh - this was probably shortly before Fiona and Ellen briefly left the boat. Fi and Ellen both managed to fall off the back of the boat in the middle of quite a serious rapid. The guides were excellent and managed to catch everyone (with the help of Mike!), although Fiona did lose a sandal strap in the process when our guide Chalo, formerly ranked 3rd at kayaking in Costa Rica, made a grab for her as she left the raft!
It all happened so quick I didn't know what had happened but found myself and Ellen in the water so made a grab for her so we were at least in trouble together! I felt like I was in a 999 rescue program (without Michael Buerk doing the voiceover) and was worried to see us being swept toward a huge rock at high speed, I tried to quickly remember which way round I should be facing in the river to prevent broken feet and legs then quick as a flash were back with the raft and I was like a cork out of a bottle as Mike pulled me back on board and Chalo rescued Ellen as we bombed into the next rapid with only Ralph and Larry paddling, phew!
paddle
Row
Rafting casualty sandal.
We were very impressed with Carol, Linda's sister's efforts as she was terrified the whole way round but came out smiling. This made her braver than those who fell off the boat.
Linda brought us both teeshirts from New York State, a fantastic tie-dyed one from Woodstock - peace man and one of a railway station owned by her friend Verna!
Linda should be canonized for her transportation of a nice new pair of hiking shoes for Ralph, here is the official handover ceremony.
Back on dry land, dinner in Turrialba after a hard days rafting. Next stop....the Pacific coast for Manuel Antonio national park.
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