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Published: December 12th 2009
Day 1- Due to Durks tight schedule we had arranged to go straight from Nayapul to begin our 3 day rafting trip.
The sight of roads was very strange to us having been in the mountains for a while, but we soon got used to them as we sat by the dusty track for an hour and a half to wait for the rather late bus!
On the 2 hour journey to the start point we met our group and a few people naturally stood out as people we would get along with. There was a very brief briefing when we arrived about the safety rules and helmets and lifejackets, which looked in reassuringly good condition, were given out.
More importantly the guides prepared a feast for lunch and once all the plates had been washed up we gathered by the river bank of the Kali Gandaki and chose our rafts and captains.
Mile, PJ, Ryan, Durks, Lewi and I chose 'Bill' as our captain, he was a serious looking chap who we later discovered had a dislike for water! We practiced all the commands for paddling, but Bill seemed to only use two commands "All Forward Again!" and
"Stop!".
The first rapid that we hit was 'Little Brother', it was so much fun, we were whooping, being flung about, and were completely drenched in freezing water within seconds. It was clear we were going to enjoy this, so when we approached 'Big Brother' we were disapointed to be told the we had to get out of the raft and walk past this rapid. Later we understood as it was explained that a girl had died when she had been thrown from the raft on this rapid only last year and we didn't feel disapointed any longer.
The river serged through a beautiful gorge and the scenery around us was stunning. We were still able to catch glimpses of the mountains we had just left at certain points along the way, amazing to think we were up there only days ago.
We decided we needed a team name and in honour of our captain and a shared interest in Quentin Tarantino, "Kill Bill' was chosen. We rafted for just 2 hours that day slightly less than we had hoped, but when we pulled our rafts up a beautiful beach to prepare camp for the evening and
lewi and durks saw a football they were soon cheered-up. With instruction from the guides we constructed shelters from the rafts, oars,and a few pieces of rope - et voila - a bedroom!
Once again the multi-talented rafting guides knocked up a 4 course meal of popcorn, soup, spaghetti bolognaise, and hot chocolate and biscuits! Very tasty and incredible when you think this had all been stored on the raft with us! A momentus occassion took place on this nameless beach- Durks had his first ever cup of tea! And enjoyed it.
Despite the cool shelters sleeping on a sandy beach isn't as comfortable as you might think, especially when you are on a slope! But we had had a great evening chatting with everyone and looking at the stars.
Day 2- The Rapids we encountered today were much more dramatic and so much fun! This was what we had hoped for. We had just coasted along a smooth section of the river admiring the waterfalls and asking Bill if we could take pictures when he alerted us that we would have to start paddling again as we sped towards a big rapid. The next thing i
remember is Lewi and Mile flying over the side of the raft, and looking around wildly to make sure their heads popped up from beneath the churning water! It was pretty scary but once they had been safely hauled back into the boat we all got the histerical giggles and couldn't stop!
After another stop for lunch, yet another big meal, we were on the way again. The guides were just negotiating where to pick up some beers for the camp that evening when we glided over a small rapid and pop! out of nowhere Durks was in the water! it was pretty funny, but what was even funnier was watching lewi and PJ try to pull him back in!
This evenings camp was excellent, the beach was flat (better for sleeping) and the guides gathered wood for a fire. Dhal Bhatt for dinner, and Beers around the campfire, what more could you want? The guides sang some tradtional nepali folk songs, and then when asked to respond we sang, 'summer of 69' and 'wonderwall'. Oasis with a folk drum back beat, it was funny.
Day3 - The last day, time goes so quickly. Lewi and Durks their
front seats and Mile and I turn a turn. We had a couple of good rapid, and then the river flattened out and we crused along hardly needing to paddle, taking pictures of the beauitful views, and swimming! The water was freezing but felt really silky against your skin and was floated down river until we readed to damn and the finsishing point of the trip.
It had been a great experince, possibly there could have been less food and more rafting but i didn't complain too much! A bumpy mountainous 5 hour journey back to Pokhara and to the ever friendly and homely 'Hotel Deep Oasis'.
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Josho
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Merry Christmas
Hey guys, another awesome story thank you. It's Saturday and I'm sat in the office so it was a welcome distraction to the Kings Road monotony! Sounds like you are having an amazing time and hope you continue to do so - in case we don't hear from each other again before - have a lovely Christmas wherever you will be - India right? Michelle and I send lots of love to you both. Peace and Love peeps.