Hi everyone,
So far we have not been river rafting or canoeing on this blog - most water transport has been motorised.
We've done the non-motorised version twice - once on the Breede River near Worcester, Western Cape and once on the Touw River in Wilderness, Western Cape. These two places are geographically removed by more than 400 km and the experiences were almost as divergent!
I'll tell you about the Breede river one first and leave the Touw river for another time.
We booked a one-day family and close friends canoe outing on the Breede river through one of the many canoeing service providers.
We were eight persons and followed a standard programme of a delicious breakfast at the service provider's base camp (situated off the R43 near the bridge over the Breede river).
Two to a boat sounds like fun but it is a serious relationaship challenge. Whovever sits in front is suppoed to provide motive power and steering is supposed to happen from the "backseat driver". Since both parties provide motive power but only one is supposed to steer, this creates the potential for interpersonal conflict. The steerer at the back is supposed to follow the rythmic paddling lead stroking from the front seater, while also steering. People with even good coordination normally finds switching between steering and rythmic paddling rather difficult, unless they are both experienced paddlers. If one is an acknowledged experienced paddler, they normally can call the shots based on the respect their experience earned them, that is until they make a mistake!!!
At some crucial junctures, like a tight bend or channel of faster flowing water, a guide would normally paddle ahead and would guide the rest of the group via easily recogniseable signals. The whole group is expected to follow the guide's instructions. But as in any diverse group, there are people who have difficulty understanding or following orders or instructions or have their own interpretations for the guide's signals. These are the fun times because it normally ends with a rowing couple ending up with a huge argument as they they to extricate themselves from the undergrowth or from a sandbank or other such obstructions.
The party can also consist of people that are super competitive and this tends to stir competitive juices across the whole group. This can lead to bottlenecks at narrow junctures with people then tending to use their oars for purposes other than rowing or steering :-).
All these things happened to our relatively homogenous group and the constant bickering made for a very loud group - chattering monkeys!!
This went on until around lunch because the river twists and turns more in the first half of the journey.
So, at lunch we would rest on the banks of the Breede river and the guides would put togeter some good grub for the hungry bunch. After eating our fill, resting our bodies and minds and deciding on strategies for the second half of the journey, we would be off to the base camp.
Note that there is no prize for the ones who get to base camp first but the post-lunch scramble for position seemed to indicate a race of olympic proportions.
My eldest son seemed to be gripped by olympic fever and set off at a pace that put some of the guides to shame. Now it is never a good thing to embarrass the guides but this realisation only comes with life experience and age and my son were, at the time, not old enough yet. So he and his girlfriend (now his wife) went off into the wild blue yonder while the rest of us stayed in touch with the guide. He was so far ahead that he missed to exit point by far. There was no-one to help him with directions either. The guides helped the rest of us to get out at the right spot.
This way, theGood Wife and I beat the youngster!!! No cheating!!! Just slow and steady - the tortoise and hare exemplified!
We reached the exit point around 14:00 and had afternoon drinks at the base camp before making our way back home.
It was an exciting and enjoyable day for all, even my youngest son! He was in his own canoe with a similarly aged partner (about 12-14 years old) and made the trip without trouble. The females in the group similarly had no trouble completing the day's activities. If you go bring and use a lot of sunblock because we live in a sunny country!!
Until next time y'all.
So far we have not been river rafting or canoeing on this blog - most water transport has been motorised.
We've done the non-motorised version twice - once on the Breede River near Worcester, Western Cape and once on the Touw River in Wilderness, Western Cape. These two places are geographically removed by more than 400 km and the experiences were almost as divergent!
I'll tell you about the Breede river one first and leave the Touw river for another time.
We booked a one-day family and close friends canoe outing on the Breede river through one of the many canoeing service providers.
 |
| Eight intrepid canoeing adventurers some with enough sunblock to ward off significant sunspot events |
 |
| The Good Wife with our meagre but dry belongings in front of our transport to Nekkies This was followed by us clambering on board transport provided by the service provider and being taken to the Nekkies Resort. Once there we were given a lecture on basic canoe handling and river safety. Then
we were helped into our safety jackets and we set off two to a boat on the calm waters of the Breede River led by three guides. Their duties were seemingly to see that everyone remains safe, do not get separated from the main group and to provide lunch.
|
 |
| A guide struggling to cover up his Tarzan physique at Nekkies! |
Two to a boat sounds like fun but it is a serious relationaship challenge. Whovever sits in front is suppoed to provide motive power and steering is supposed to happen from the "backseat driver". Since both parties provide motive power but only one is supposed to steer, this creates the potential for interpersonal conflict. The steerer at the back is supposed to follow the rythmic paddling lead stroking from the front seater, while also steering. People with even good coordination normally finds switching between steering and rythmic paddling rather difficult, unless they are both experienced paddlers. If one is an acknowledged experienced paddler, they normally can call the shots based on the respect their experience earned them, that is until they make a mistake!!!
At some crucial junctures, like a tight bend or channel of faster flowing water, a guide would normally paddle ahead and would guide the rest of the group via easily recogniseable signals. The whole group is expected to follow the guide's instructions. But as in any diverse group, there are people who have difficulty understanding or following orders or instructions or have their own interpretations for the guide's signals. These are the fun times because it normally ends with a rowing couple ending up with a huge argument as they they to extricate themselves from the undergrowth or from a sandbank or other such obstructions.
The party can also consist of people that are super competitive and this tends to stir competitive juices across the whole group. This can lead to bottlenecks at narrow junctures with people then tending to use their oars for purposes other than rowing or steering :-).
All these things happened to our relatively homogenous group and the constant bickering made for a very loud group - chattering monkeys!!
This went on until around lunch because the river twists and turns more in the first half of the journey.
 |
| Canoes take a welcome break at lunch! |
 |
| Lunch-induced relaxation on banks of Breede river |
Note that there is no prize for the ones who get to base camp first but the post-lunch scramble for position seemed to indicate a race of olympic proportions.
 |
| The olympian and his then girlfriend, now his wife ... |
My eldest son seemed to be gripped by olympic fever and set off at a pace that put some of the guides to shame. Now it is never a good thing to embarrass the guides but this realisation only comes with life experience and age and my son were, at the time, not old enough yet. So he and his girlfriend (now his wife) went off into the wild blue yonder while the rest of us stayed in touch with the guide. He was so far ahead that he missed to exit point by far. There was no-one to help him with directions either. The guides helped the rest of us to get out at the right spot.
 |
| The good Wife explains what will happen to the man who angers her!!! |
This way, theGood Wife and I beat the youngster!!! No cheating!!! Just slow and steady - the tortoise and hare exemplified!
We reached the exit point around 14:00 and had afternoon drinks at the base camp before making our way back home.
 |
| Bigfoot was here. All we are warned to leave behind were footprints! |
It was an exciting and enjoyable day for all, even my youngest son! He was in his own canoe with a similarly aged partner (about 12-14 years old) and made the trip without trouble. The females in the group similarly had no trouble completing the day's activities. If you go bring and use a lot of sunblock because we live in a sunny country!!
Until next time y'all.
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