Ichetuchnee river trip

The day started with the group arriving by the Indian standard time, spending extra time taking photos in our apartment complex rather than at the Ichetuchnee, few navigation errors and off tracks by GPS. The ride was wonderful, with wild yellow flowers along the highway reminding me of my friends back home. (In India, flower names are common names for girls)

sonaki?

We started down the river around noon, quite late, so could do either canoeing or tubing/swimming/snorkeling while the park was open. We all chose canoeing, and off we went in pairs or alone in the canoes. I made a secret pact with my friend that we will jump off the canoe at the midpoint and swim to the south shore. Our canoe partners made another secret pact that if we jump off, they will form a new gang in 1 of the canoes n canoe off leaving us swimming. 

We had to carry the not-so-light canoe from parking to the river. At start, water was quite shallow and the current wasnt fast (I was expecting a huge n gushing river). The lady who pushed off our canoe promised that the current would pick up. The water was cool and crystal clear. There were ferny fronds throughout the water bed except for the deep spots. So I dropped swimming plans as there was no firm leg support to prop myself back in the canoe, and canoe would upturned if i hoisted myself in. There was no need to worry about alligators, though my partner looked out for snakes whenever we dashed to the ferny river edges and had to maneuver ourselves back to the mid-river.

There was a floating platform at the midpoint of the river, and this was my chance to go swimming. Once I dived off the platform, my opinion about the strength of the current changed considerably. The friend who had planned to swim backed out. Instead another guy, Amey, who learnt to swim in Krishna-Koyana, one  of the largest rivers in south India, jumped in. I was soon worn out, Amey continued to swim. While he was still in the water, 2 canoes toppled over..


Both guys tried swimming against current, and were tired. Amey was the ideal person for the "rescue mission". A friend held on to the upturned canoe with all his might lest the canoe went wayward.  My friend held on to our canoe while we rowed him against the current towards his canoe. Amey took over, the 2 guys lifted the canoe from the water, got all the water out, and helped my friend to get back in his canoe. This was the easier of the two "missions". The second was more difficult, because the guy in water was extremely tired and Amey had to lift the boat alone. But the guy soon bucked up, in fact, in the group, he reached the south shore 1st, and we 2nd. 


Hunger is the best sauce, and 17 rowers had the first hand experience of this saying.