Have you ever planned an outing that turned into a truly extraordinary event? Ken and I had the pleasure of going on a jet boat tour with Hells Canyon Adventures on their full day Kirkwood Tour yesterday. Talk about the perfect day! We arrived early so were able to hang out and shmooze with ‘Captain’ Butch and Joe, his right hand. Butch made the rapids look easy to navigate (HAH!) and, with 18 years’ experience, can read the river in all her moods. He is also knowledgeable about the geology, geography, settlers, wildlife – in short, not only was the trip a heck of a thrill ride, it was also educational and interesting! Stopped for lunch at the historical Kirkwood Ranch (it’s on the National Historical Register) and wandered through the museum, around the grounds, and took lots of pictures. And the rapids themselves (some are Class IV!) – holy CATS – scary and wonderful and I’d do it all over again tomorrow!
Seriously – if you’re looking for something that’s different and exciting, I highly recommend Hells Canyon Adventures. I think getting a bunch of people together and chartering one of their boats would be SO much fun and something you’d never forget. Next time Ken wants to try rafting (yikes!) but we will definitely be going back. I can’t wait!
(Did I mention we got to see a fisherman bring in a STURGEON!?!??? Coolest thing ever; they are the weirdest combination of SO ugly and yet, strangely, so beautiful – I’d never seen one that close before!)
