Whitewater Kayaking with NOC

We were up early to paddle this morning!  Lots or rain and stormy weather came through last night but it's beautiful today!!!!  I have to say that this is the best day EVER!  We loaded into the van and set off for Fontana Lake where we paddled and then practiced "wet entries".  In a wet entry, you turn upside down in the boat, pop off the "skirt" (that normally keeps the water out of your kayak", and exit the boat, upside down!

We practiced this until we were comfortable and it's a good thing, too, because by the time we finished the Whitewater portion of the day, Kelly and Sydney and I all rolled over and popped out of our boats in the rapids. "The first is the worst", Rachel said, but it wasn't bad at all.  It happens so fast that it was over before it started, thanks to that practice.   We are now all "wild women of the river"!

Rachel and Annabell were superb!  We loved their sense of humor and positive vibes.  They are wonderful people and we were blessed to spend a portion of our lives with them.  Thank you, NOC!  People make the difference and you have the best!

The girls were so disappointed when our kayak session on the river was over.  They wanted more of it!  They were challenged more today than they have been all week.  They overcame their fears and became more confidant, courageous young women today.  These lessons will most definitely carry over into their lives.  If they can do this, they can do anything!

Besides running the rapids on the Tuckasegee through Bryson City today, their other favorite part was the seal slide in kayaks into the lake!  I will have to post the video of hat later when I get to a big colputer.). Starting in the ground high above the lake, we sat in our kayaks and slid down the pine needles (with a hearty shove from Rachel), to drop down into the lake with a "boof".  That's the sound the kayak makes when it hits the water, and something kayakers strive for. "Sick boof, dude!"

Rachel and Annabell loved their Girl Scout cookies and they certainly seemed to get as much out of teaching the girls as we did. Ask for them if you go to NOC!  I am coming back...and bringing my mom!

We took the afternoon off just to enjoy the NOC campus and the sights and sounds of being outside all day long. It's probably a good thing we don't have any whitewater in Tampa, otherwise I would be diving into this sport with gusto!  My husband says I have too many hobbies and too much sporting gear as it is.  Until then, I will just have to rent!

We had a late lunch on the deck of the Wesser BBQ and gave out our awards.  The older girls bridged from Senior to Ambassador Girl Scouts today.  We spent some more time in the outfitter store, drooling over kayak gear, and then ate candy while watching people play with their boats in the river.  I loved how Rachel called it "the playground".  

We will sleep well once again tonight!  What a great day. We will never forget it!

Sue and I sat by the river on our final evening here at NOC. We watched as the stars came out for the first time all week and soon became too numerous to count.  We count ourselves very lucky for having the ability and opportunity to take these girls on such a grand adventure.