Canoeing With Teenagers......on the Wanganui River

Jenny P's Page

	Jenny P aged 15

It was gynormous, the greatest ride of our lives. The waves came over the bow. Ahead of us was a huge rock. Heading straight towards it we knew we could do nothing. We panicked, our deafening screams echoed round and round the canyon walls. We braced ourselves for the impact.....

Well, that's not really what happened. It's what us kids thought would happen judging by our parents' description. It's what we all wanted to happen.

But NO!.... We had to choose the season when the river was low. We had to choose the season when the river was slow.

Instead, what we got was a nice leisurely cruise with the odd drop of water sprinking itself over the bow. There was a big rock ahead but the river's currents manuvered us around it. We couldn't just sit back and relax, but we weren't screaming our brains out either.

It was fun though. All of had fun except for the tiny caterpillar which was keeping me company. It's tiny life terminated when one of the few waves swept over the bow and deposited itself at my feet. I'd even named him. I'd gotten quite close. His name was 'Little Caterpillar Dude'. A good friend of the family he was.

We made it safely past the rock. The people in the front of the canoes thoroughly wet, while the people in the back were laughing hysterically at our wet selves (well not quite, but almost).

But all in all, even though the river was low, the canoe trip past the rock was quite a ride.

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