There were a handful of highlights from the summer, but white water rafting down the upper Little Pidgin River in Tennessee easily stands as the event of the season. This section of the Pidgin touts a nice run of Level III and Level IV rapids. Visiting with us in TN were our friends Nozomi, aka “Annie,” who has been a close friend of Sachan’s since kindergarten and her dad, Otsubo-san, aka Mr. O…them there Americans seem to got a mess o’ trouble saying Otsubo-san.
Adding to the thrill of this experience was some extra fast water thanks to a wet summer and a great guide. And Elise, our guide, was awesome…I mean just luck at those pythons! Really, look at those things!!!!!
You might even be able to see her pet dinosaur sticking out of her jacket. There was a calm part of the river where the dinosaur came out to answer yes/no questions. Elise is, for the record, a professional rock climber when not leading trips down the river and telling the funniest chicken story I have ever heard. And LOOK at those arms! You saw them, yes?
Being on the high side of a rapid makes finding water to stick your paddle into a bit more difficult. For the record, I am not sure how I got stuck with the Devo-rejected helmet while everyone else got a cool one.
I have no idea what we are all looking at, but I am pretty sure the front of the boat being being submerged has something to do with the fact that only Elise was looking forward.
While the adults were having a great time riding the rapids and getting wet, the girls seemed to have the most fun seeing which one could scoot into the center of the boat the fastest as we approached the bigger rapids. This was done, much to our amusement, every time Elise would yell, “Down.” After each rapid, Elise would yell “high five” and we would all raise and smack our oars in a white water rafting tepee salute.
Sachan really perked up during a slow deep part on the river when Elise, Pam, Nozomi and Sachan went for a swim.
What’s that old song by Alabama?
Oh, Tennessee river and a mountain [girl], we get together anytime we can.
Oh, Tennessee river and a mountain [girl], we play together in mother nature’s
band.
Maybe Sachan ain’t such a city slicker after all…
Love the story and pics. When Samantha told me about the rafting trip I could still sense the excitement in her voice. It certainly was a highlight in her summer this year. Did your raft ever overturn? Becky
Great story. We’ll have to hit this one up next year. Maybe we could get Elise????
The only word for it—yee-haw! Hopefully you taught Mr. O that one!
I bet she could crush you with those arms- and probably with her feet, too.
Apparently one should not mess with Tennessee.
I taught Mr. O a wild variety of useful words and phrases, including but not limited to: peachy, yee-haa, piece of cake, easy as pie. I also clarified the difference between grilling and BBQ; as well as the four main types/regions of BBQ in the States. I also introduced his taste buds to grits, scrapple, homemade apple butter (your recipe!), mom’s homemade strawberry freezer jam, Dizzy Pig, Silver Queen corn, and a certain clear liquid for which TN is famously/infamously renowned for. I also had to teach him and show him wild turkey, black bear, cub, buck, doe, fawn, and copperhead. Oh, and pythons…had to teach him that. And YES! I feel confident Elise could kill a TN black bear with a flip of a single finger.