...when my school offered a free whitewater trip, I jumped at the opportunity. When we got to NOC, which is just outside of Asheville, NC, we were given two choices; a raft, or a ducky. I chose the ducky because it was presented as being more fun and a little more dangerous. I thought it was a two-person deal. Turns out a ducky is just an inflatable kayak. Which means one person. Which meant that I was in a kayak. On a river. In the middle of a bunch of male athletes. Alone.
Oh, my. Emily, honey, how do you get yourself into these messes?
I had the hardest time learning how to steer at first, and since I have very little upper body strength it was quite a challenge to maintain any amount of control. But eventually, with the help of the guides and the encouragement from all the boys who were way better at it than I was, I got the hang of it. By the second hour, I was having a blast.
Yes, I was way out of my comfort zone, and my arms ached for a week afterwards, but it was great. Even when I flipped my kayak over on one of the rapids and almost got washed away, only to be saved by one of the super adorable, super ripped guides. :]
