Annual River Float Trip

We have a tradition that started 3 years ago on Jeff's birthday. He asked for it and we floated down the river by Mack's Inn at Island Park. Now anyone who has floated this remembers that there are no rapids, not much excitement and very little danger. It's perfect for little kids. The first time we floated this river we were caught in a storm and it was very exciting and scary for the kids etc. I'll tell that story later. Needless to say we make our own fun, so the big kids (including Jeff and Mary) have a good time. This year when we were dropped off at the bridge a driver jumped off of it. Maybe next time. Kris jumped in right away. She and Nat are standing in front of the bridge. This float takes about 3 hours, usually has a little rain at one time or another, but can take up to 4 1/2 hours, which is how long we took.

 Hear we go, with most people relatively dry.

The first stop is this rocky spot about 6 inches deep. You can look like you're walking on water. We chose to do cartwheels and Jeff did a front roll, impressive.

 

Rowing and more rowing. It helps to have 4 competent rowers, competent being the key word.

Olivia wanted to go in and so Kate went in with her real quick.  I think she is regretting it.

 Natalie showing off her swimming lesson skills. This is the dolphin.

 Our next stop is the skipping rocks area. It's another shallow spot that Kyle ended up just floating the whole time.

 Our favorite spot this year was new. Since last year someone put a tree swing up . It was the highlight and we pretty much spent most of our stopping time here.

 This is called swing out and come back without getting wet. Do you think anyone let me get away with that? Oh no.

 

 The Mule deer that crossed our path.

 Our next stop started with Kyle finding a fish stuck in the brush. It got away, but Kristen wanted to explore a little longer than we wanted her to and we floated further and further away as we are calling her until we were too far and one of us would have had to swim back and get her. This kid who we don't know but we call our rescuer picked her up and delivered her to us, which was very nice.

 

Kristen also got a leach. She just nonchalantly said," Hey, I have a leach." and pulled it off and threw it in the river. It started bleeding of course.

 Another thing we do when it gets deep and we need a little excitement is dive, flip or jump off the raft.

What was I thinking this water is cold!!!


This is a Jack Knife Dive gone bad. Not enough bounce on the raft and pretty much went into the water life this. Jeff wouldn't let me erase this picture.

 At the end Kyle just rode behind the boat for at least an hour.

The last little while we walked because it was so shallow.

 Camping at Buffalo has been so fun because the kids can float all day. We also have to have pie irons for dinner. We were introduced to them by our old camping friends the Pfosts. You take a piece of white bread, put pizza sauce, pizza toppings with tons of cheese and then top it with another piece of bread. Put it in a pie iron, which is two cast iron dishes that seal together and you cook over the fire. Soooo delicious.