Canyoning and Rafting

The second day of credit flexing was a water day. This morning we were going 12 mile Canyoning. We were met at the arranged pick up point by the most clapped out van you had even seen. Driven to the middle of nowhere the mixed group had to get changed either side of the van! This was in contrast to the shiny new kit and no expense spared we had become used to on these trips. Suitably kitted up in ill fitting wetsuits, helmets and climbing harnesses we proceeded to walk into the top of the canyon. I don’t know what the couple that met us the other way made of the bizarre procession that confronted them. As it turned out this trip was probably the biggest buzz of all the activities. We came to a small clearing in the trees and a anchor point with a rope disappearing off into the valley, the guide pulls out a pulley and line clips it to the rope and asks who’s first? This flying fox was probably better than the cave one as you could see what you were flinging yourself off to cross the canyon. Once we were safely to the other side there was a brief abseil before we got rid of the climbing harness and started the canyoning proper. Remember when jumping off heights into water try to land on the backs of your thighs and keep your legs bent. This half bomb into the water means the water slows you down rather than the rocks underneath. There are a number of ways of descending waterfalls. You can float up to them feet first and be sucked over and then under by the current. You can flow over them superman style to be caught by your feet, lowered then dropped. You can always jump! Just to the right there, not too right or you’ll hit the rock, take a big step or you’ll hit the rock don’t think about it or you’ll hit the rock just jump. You mind goes to those circus dives into paddling pools when you’re standing at third storey height being counted down. I would highly recommend this half drowning exhilarating experience to anyone willing.  “… you may loose a limb or consciousness or your life … we don’t like to lose customers but it can happen… things in the water that will kill you… once you start downstream the only way to get out is to carry on…” our cheery guide was telling us on the way to the Queenstown Rafting as he was trying to get the bus load of worried people to sign the waver. He also told some jokes, mainly at Australia’s expense “What’s the one thing wrong with Australia? It’s above sea level” and introduced us to some of ‘his’ carvings as we wound round a road that Peruvian’s would be jealous of for wheels to long drop proximity. The humour continued down the rapids with our allocated guide, there were a number of rafts all going down together with a safety kayak bouncing between us. Apparently a grade 4 rather than 5 as the water level was not right but thrilling enough anyway. To add to the excitement our guide decided to race and chase the other rafts between and through the falls and rapids. The final rapid arrived after a 150m long tunnel cut by the gold miners long before (part of the danger in the river was the old mining kit strewn across the unseen river bed). We came bursting out into the light and straight into the rapid for the last shot on the Shotover river. In contrast to the morning there was even an option of a sauna post rafting before being returned to Queenstown. That evening feed was at the British ‘PJs Fish and Chips’ some of the accents and attitudes of the custom in that place make you proud to be a Brit abroad.