Thursday 28th July

Thursday 28^th July.  Day 12.  Mile 186 – 213.  Pumpkin Springs

Only 5 Rapids today:

187-Mile Rapid (4), Whitmore (3), 205-Mile Rapid (7+), 209-Mile Rapid (7), 212-Mile Rapid “Little Bastard” (3)

We had 2 rapids in the first 2 miles, then 17 miles of paddling without benefit of a single rapid!  We stopped for lunch at 196-Mile Creek intending to have lunch then a trek.  We all huddled beneath the umbrellas and sat in the cool water at the edge of the river as it was too hot to sit in the sun and there was no natural shade.  In the event, the trek was cancelled as it was 102 degrees in the shade!!  

 We encountered 2 power rafts, one of which had a load of youngsters on board all dressed as pirates, it was flying a skull and crossbones and the guide was wearing a T-shirt saying “Captain Bob”.  As they came near our rafts they sprayed us with their water cannons.  The 2^nd boat stopped to chat to Tom our guide who knew their guide and they gave our raft a tow for about a mile.  This was a blessing as there were miles of flat water with little decent current to carry us along.  We tried out a new type of “mosey” where you paddle for 20 seconds then have 10 seconds break, but each pair of paddlers rotating so one pair is resting while the other 2 pairs paddle.  We found it much better than the standard "mosey" where everyone paddles together but one stroke every, say, 5 seconds.

We slept outside again but we did erect a tent as rain threatened and thunder rumbled.  I put my mat behind my tent so people could access a way to the river to bathe etc.  In the night I felt a lizard run across my foot and something crawled into my ear – that woke me with a start!!  Simon, one of the 3 English guys, rolled over in the night and put his elbow on a scorpion, which promptly stung him (Rosie had been stung by a scorpion on the first section of the trek when she went to the Groover without her torch and it got her between her toes – she said it was agony for about 2 hours, then calmed down).

The eczema/foot rot on my left foot is very painful and it is now beginning on my right foot too.  Dave strapped it up again for me (he is now doing a regular foot clinic as 90% of us seem to have foot rot). 

 Tom was our guide today and succumbed to requests to tell the clown ‘joke’ which went on for about an hour and which I found extremely distressing.  I told him that I agreed with the owner of Outdoors Unlimited who had given instructions banning the telling of that ‘joke’ and that I found it very distressing and it had ruined my whole holiday.  I later gave Tom a hug and told him to forget it as I was OK, but I doubt that he will tell that particular sick and disgusting tale on any future trip.