Hi all,

So decided what to do last night and booked it....white water rafting down the Shotover River...was meant to be a grade 3 bits a 4 rafting session (they go up to 6 apperently)

Well this morning woke up early as the seesion stared at 8.15am. It had been raining most of the night. The drive to the rafting station was pretty scary with the road hanging to the side of the cliff going up the valley.

When we got there the head instructor said the water was really fast and fastest it had been for several weeks due to the rainfalls. Showed us a line on the rosks, with the water just beneath it and said when water goes above it sessions are cancelled and he had alreday radioed the head office to cancel the afternoons session. Said we were goignt o go, but most would now be level 4 with touches of 5!!!! Offered anyone who wanted to opt out their money back a few took this, mainly the Japs...and I though they were good at Kamikazie????

So off we went.....no photos as you can guess (Have got some they took and have bought - may try to take piccies of them and see how they upload)

The trip was truly awesome...lots of rapids, water everwhere and scary and exciting at the same time. Scenery fantastic as the gorge was also used in the "Lord of the Rings" films. Took some of it in, but too busy paddling for my life to sit back and enjoy.... was a different feeling as in my worklife I was always up S**T creek WITHOUT a paddle.

1.5 hours of rafting, then back to base for hot showers, a sauna and hot food...... a really cool morning, especially as its been raining here most of the day, so an excellent chooice of something to do.

Smiffy