Any other River Running Mammas out there?

[RiverMamma]

I am a River guide, but not working this season cuz I'm busy being a new mom! Would love to find some other River Rat moms out there, I know of one... would be great to have a tribe of kayakers, rafters & such!:

[RiverMamma]

No other boater mammas? Really???

oh... when did I get moved to fitness & weight managment? Who is going to find me here? Boating isn't about exercise, it's about having fun!!!! I mean, yeah, I'm fit when I'm working... but that's not what it's about! what happened to FYT anyways?

[Norasmomma]

Me, me!!!! I LOVE rafting my DH and were owners of a company for years, last year we decided with our partners to sell because we were sick of the client aspects of it, customers had taken all of the charm out of it.

I live in N.C. WA so our season is purely snow melt based. We can do little family floats this time of year. I haven't hardly gone since DD was born 2 years ago. Since we sold our business we lost our free raft privileges and only recently have gotten a raft(of course after the season). UGH... I only went 2xs since DD was born and didn't go once this year.

My Dh has been a guide for about 12 years, we both grew up on our local river, WE LOVE IT and can't wait to take our little river baby out(she LOVES the river too, not surprising). I am purely a raft girl, I dislike hard shells, but will go out in our ducky boat. Hard shells make me feel too confined, DH has kayaked and has one. I like the big raft. We mostly do class 3-4, I've done one 5 in my life, but that was really a one time thing, especially now. We've kinda lost touch with some of our rafting buddies because well we are parents. I am really excited to be a private boater and now have to deal with any more clients, they can just be so frustrating.

I'll join your tribe, boating is my thing.:

[RiverMamma]

Yeah!!!: We need more River Mammas out there! What company did you own? in WA? Yeah, I'm a rafter too... duckies are fun & I would Love to get a canoe someday, but kayaks friggin' hurt! Besides, I like to take the kitchen sink, the lounge chairs & the cooler ful of beer! I think you guys were smart to sell out... goodness knows I couldn't run an outfit! And yeah... I wanna be a private boater when I grow up! So what kinda boat did you get? My boat died a fiew years ago, so I have to borow. I actually did a trip last month with some mamma friends of mine, & while I was running the shuttle my boss drove up to the put in to try & mooch some beer off of my friends for borowing the boat cuz "that's the way we roll arround here." He is such a fruit cake!!! (I used to work with him when he was just a guide, & we're buds.) Anyways... yeah, I had to... go boating that is. That was the whole reason to introduce DD to a bottle. (I can take her with me where I work right now & wouldn't be seporated from her for any other reason.) I manged to get on the water 4 times this season! The first time was when DD was 7wks, we went to AZ for family stuff, so I had to swing down into the Salt River Canyon for a visit. I hopped on a friends boat for a morning as a bow flower (I was still bleeding, I bled for 12 wks,) and didn't touch a paddle. DD hung out with Daddy & my boss (the same one who was trying to get beer out of my mammas!) Then I got on Browns Canyon of the Arkansas 3 times, once w/a bunch of friends, once with my Dad (he's a boater too, but hadn't been on the water in 7yrs!) and once with just the mammas...that trip was good for my soul! We had been planning all summer that we were going to go do a family float on the Rio Grande tomorow with some other boater mammas, to get the DH's & DC's on the water too! Then, one after the other all the DH's decided that they had to work instead,: like at the last minute too. So we are going to take my little dory down to the local swimming hole instead. You were lucky to find a good boater to mary our DH's arn't into it at all, & just put up w/ the fact that we are boaters. And yeah... DD is defonitly a River girl! Picies even. I worked all through my first trimester, poor kid doesn't have a chance but to be a boater... & a musician too, but that's another story. Anyways, yeah, I think that us River families need to stick together, (I never fit in with the party croud anyways.) Sorry about the lengthy ramble... just excited to find more River Mammas! I need to get RiverUndine on this thread too, she's one of us.
ps. I LOVE free flowing, snowmelt dependent rivers!!!: They are my favorite!!!Are you familiar with the Salt in AZ?
pps. the are some River picts of DD & I on my link.

[Norasmomma]

Well we were owners of Osprey River Adventures(NOT Osprey Rafting CO, there's 2 Ospreys in WA). My DH and I have been together for 14 years and actually got into boating together, our good friend got DH to start guiding and it just clicked. I am familiar with the Salt, but I have rarely rafted out of WA, I've done the Thompson up in BC and have also been on a J-rig on the Frazier which runs into the Pacific in Vancouver, BC. I also have done the Owyhee in S.E Oregon, it is like a mini Grand Canyon with it's colors and canyon areas, it is an awesome multi-day trip, with hot springs, so beautiful.

Our season is usually May-July, we have gone down on floats pretty much every time of the year. The raft we just got is just an old Momentum my parents had that they gave to us, it isn't even self bailing, but it will be fun for a float with our DD and the dogs. We still are getting another payment in a few months and are planning to buy an AIRE Tributary, the pro deal on them is really good, we'll be getting a 13.5, our rivers are pretty small(as are most here) and little boats helps maneuver through our pool-drop rapids.

When I was preggers I went twice-once on a whitewater stretch and one on a birthday cruise when I was 8 months and it was like 110, all I did was swim and float and watch my friends get drunk, lol.

The last couple years we have had some pretty intense high water and lots of debris, so for a bit there it's not safe to go. DH and I both have been feeling like something has been missing-um hello RAFTING. We miss it, and now that we have our little floater boat we can go a little, but we need our WW raft.

It's cool there's another mamma out there.

OT- I read your birth story on the C/S thread, I had a very similar experience with my DD(although I was in the hospital). I was going to have a waterbirth and everything went all awry, nothing seemed to go as planned and DD started having severe crashes with every push I had, and my uterus started to seriously fatigue. I totally can relate, many C/S are unnecessary, but they also do save lives(like myself and my DD) and you and your DD. I understand where you are coming from, as I have been there too.

[RiverMamma]

Hey.. bucket boats are good, that's what mine was, an old Legacy, little 12' bucket boat... I miss it. But yeah, AIRE's I Love AIRE's. They are defonitly my favorite boats! There is a 13.5 old school purlpe AIRE on our fleet that I WILL buy someday. I Love that boat!
Anyways, I'v never done any boating in the Pacific NW, allot in Idaho & Montana, & the South West. I worked the Rivers in Scotland for a season too. I would really like to see allot more international waters. My friend Jeremy (she is RiverUndine on MDC,) Is a guide as well & was talking to a friend this morning who has a company in India that does a guide exchange program (wish I had known that 6 or 7 years ago!) Aparently she also has a friend in Chile who owns "Bio Bio Expiditions" and has a 3yo & one in the oven. Jeremy was talking about getting her on MDC, cuz she is into NFL too.
Also Sonia, who makes "River Betty's" (the coozies that strap to your thwart so you don't spill you beer,) told us that they are expecting! I also have some River friends in Durango, CO who have kids now too.
You are very lucky you got to boat at the end of your pregnancy, aparently Jeremy did w/ her first. I puked off the back of my boat all through my first trimester:Puke while explaining to my customers that I really wasn't just hung over & that I had actually conciously chosen to concieve!: When I pulled out my PFD this spring, I found a baggie of crystalized ginger in the pocket!
Anyways, we didn't get our float in today, but we did have lot's of fun tootling arround our tiny swimming hole in my tiny kids dory. Jeremy's 3yo was Loveing it! She was pattling & ferrying like a champ! Not quite a float trip, but fun nonetheless.
So yeah... that whole c/s thing... I used to think that I was too old fashioned & was born in the wrong century. WRONG! Wow am I glad to be alive today, (in more ways that one,) and to have a beautifull healthy daughter!!! I am certainly greatfull! I was sadend reciently though, I got a call from my best friends DH the other day (they live in AZ,) they were due in the begining of Oct. But just had a preterm c/s at 35wks because of a Dr.'s mistake. She said she's OK, but I'm not convinced... my c/s was necicary & I'm still bummed about it, not to mention my DD didn't spend any time in NICU. Even if she's not botherd about it, I am.
Oh well, anyways, all's well that ends well I spose. I have actually been trying to type up my birth story (the lengthy detailed one I wrote 3 days post partum.) Hopefully I will have it done & post it in the birth stories soon.

[riverundine]

i'm here! thanks for the link, lish! i'm happy to have this thread started. someone ought to let the mods know that we need to be back in fyt. the "running" part of river running probably threw them off.
yeah, laurel is gonna be a natch, i think. and i'm pretty sure faith is my class 5 baby.
i want to chat more but steve just got home from work and wants to play cards...gotta go!
: yay river mamas!

[RiverMamma]

so how do we do that? ge back to FYT?

[andisunshine]

Hi, ladies! I am a rafter at heart although I haven't done it for a several years since the company I worked for got sold off. I rowed a lot of cruise ship tourists. We used paddle-assist rafts with stern-mounted oars since the clients were mostly older, out of shape and accustomed to being coddled. They didn't have to paddle if they didn't feel like it. I am one day hoping to buy my own raft for DH and I to go with the kids. DS1 is three and DS2 is three months, so it will probably be a while.
We live in Juneau, Alaska, where the Mighty Mendenhall flows. A glacial river, class three on a rainy day, lol! My first trip ever was on the Tatshenshini with my grandparents. It was an awesome backcountry trip that lasted two weeks. I've been dreaming about going back ever since. I also lived in Durango, CO for five years. Tubed the Animas many times through town, went on an actual raft a few times with my riverguide friend. This was before I got my job rafting the Mendenhall, which lasted for five seasons. I also went on the Westwater in Utah a couple times with my guide friend and all the guides on a company trip. That was a blast! Boaters left to themselves without clients have so much fun!
River running is in my blood. The Tatshenshini River flows into the Alsek, then into Dry Bay where my great grandmother was born. The Tlingit people used to pole upriver for subsistence fishing. My grandparents are linguists and anthropologists, their friend owns a company that used to employ them to provide the cultural aspect of the Tatshenshini on trips. They aren't as young as they used to be so they don't go anymore but they used to do several trips a summer and take one or two of us grandkids with them. I really want to do that one again someday. It would be awesome to take the kids.
So glad to see some other mamas that raft. DH is afraid of taking the kids on a raft for fear of them drowning. Honestly, I can see his point but I still want to go. It's not like there wouldn't be PFDs. I remember my old boss bringing his two year old down the river, but then again his wife was a kayaker.

[Norasmomma]

Welcome andisunshine-my family has been nervous about us taking DD, but she has a PFD and is a natural watergirl, plus I'd take her on a float, not a WW trip. My grandma hates the fact that I raft, she always is trying to get me to do something else with my time. Whatever, she does nothing but complain about everything.

My friend did a lot of guiding up in Alaska outside of Girdwood, I don't remember what river it was, but they did a ton of fishing trips, the Talchitna or something? Can't remember.

It would be nice to get this moved back to FYT. Mods maybe it could be done, it's not really a fitness thing, more of a leisure activity(or business).

[RiverMamma]

Jeremy (riverundine) said that she pm'd a moderator, or something to that effect. So hopefully we will get moved soon. Anyways, yeah!!! Welcome!!! I'v always wanted to get up to AK, our dog's name is Alaska, (she's our first daughter) we were headed for AK when we got her. We didn't made it that time, but we will someday.
Yeah, we plan on doing the Family float thing for a fiew years. I was 4 before my dad took me on whitewater, and he waited till I was 6 to take me on class 4. I figure that's a pretty good timeline. Yeah, both Jeremy & I have little 3rd generation boaters... I think there is something to be said for that "in the blood" factor.

[RiverMamma]

I know it's off topic, but I would Love to hear your c/s story too andisunshine.

[andisunshine]

Originally Posted by RiverMamma

I know it's off topic, but I would Love to hear your c/s story too andisunshine.

I'm open, what would you like to know?

[riverundine]

hey water girls!
the mod of fyt said she'll happily move us back. should occur soon.
so happy to have a river thread : ! where's the smilie hugging the river ? or floating downstream in her pfd?

[Norasmomma]

Well I just went to an awesome wedding that was predominately boaters and skiers/boarders(most were both). You gotta ride the water when it's frozen and when it's flowin. It was really fun connecting with some friends from the past river running days and seeing their families. I hope in a couple years that we will be taking some trips to the Tieton River in S.C. WA, it's a dam released river that is the only thing flowing in the state, they let it flow for agriculture(mainly apples), but it creates an awesome little class 3 that is FUN and crazy busy. It also creates massive chaos because there are some newbie boaters out there that don't know what they are doing. When DD gets bigger maybe we'll start celebrating her b-day down there.

Glad to hear that we'll be moving back to FYT, see ya there.

[RiverMamma]

Originally Posted by riverundine

hey water girls!
the mod of fyt said she'll happily move us back. should occur soon.
so happy to have a river thread : ! where's the smilie hugging the river ? or floating downstream in her pfd?

Thanks Jeremy! I lobbied for a rafting smilie on the smilie thread in the Q & A forum. BTY, are you going to post your river history for the other lovely ladies here?

Originally Posted by andisunshine

I'm open, what would you like to know?

What happened? where you trying for a home birth? did you know you were going to have a c/s ahead of time? I was going for a home birth, so was totally unprepared for a c/s. Sure glad to be allive though!!! & DD too!!!: (cord arround neck up near the placenta... she was on a leash. I pushed so hard the cord began to detatch from the placenta!)


So I have it figured out how to appease the River Gods so as not to get trashed really hard in really big rapids (most of the time anyways) So the Jeremy... how does one appease the birth Goddesses so as not to get trashed really hard in the O/R after a 3 day labor? JK, lucky you though, ony one here so far w/ out a belly scar!

[RiverMamma]

Originally Posted by Norasmomma

You gotta ride the water when it's frozen and when it's flowin. When DD gets bigger maybe we'll start celebrating her b-day down there.

I'll figure out this multi quote thing someday! Anyways... yeah... I miss skiing!!!!! I havent been at all in 2years!!! And only once or twice a season in that last 4 or so before that! What ever happend to my 75+ day seasons? Someday... someday I will have time & money! I couldn't live without the River though. I think that was my compromise, give up the winter rideing to maintain the summer rideing.
Anyways, I have spent just about every B-day on the River since I was a kid, it's kinda my little tradition. This year I got on water the day before, but hey... close enough for me!

[riverundine]

Originally Posted by RiverMamma

Hey.. bucket boats are good, that's what mine was, an old Legacy, little 12' bucket boat... I miss it. But yeah, AIRE's I Love AIRE's. They are defonitly my favorite boats! There is a 13.5 old school purlpe AIRE on our fleet that I WILL buy someday. I Love that boat!
When I pulled out my PFD this spring, I found a baggie of crystalized ginger in the pocket!
Anyways, we didn't get our float in today, but we did have lot's of fun tootling arround our tiny swimming hole in my tiny kids dory. Jeremy's 3yo was Loveing it! She was pattling & ferrying like a champ! Not quite a float trip, but fun nonetheless.

I'd take a bucket boat. I'll take any boat at this point. Ummm...did I mention I need, desperately need/want/desire/dream about my own boat. It's coming. Sometime before I die. I know it. And maybe it'll be the Avon of my dreams. And maybe it'll be a 20 year old Ryken. Don't even care. I'm manifesting a boat that holds air and floats.
The baggie of ginger made me giggle .
And thanks for bringing the dory! So much fun at the swimming hole!

Originally Posted by Norasmomma

...feeling like something has been missing-um hello RAFTING.

yes. ITA.

Originally Posted by andisunshine

River running is in my blood. The Tatshenshini River flows into the Alsek, then into Dry Bay where my great grandmother was born. The Tlingit people used to pole upriver for subsistence fishing. My grandparents are linguists and anthropologists, their friend owns a company that used to employ them to provide the cultural aspect of the Tatshenshini on trips. They aren't as young as they used to be so they don't go anymore but they used to do several trips a summer and take one or two of us grandkids with them. I really want to do that one again someday. It would be awesome to take the kids.
So glad to see some other mamas that raft. DH is afraid of taking the kids on a raft for fear of them drowning. Honestly, I can see his point but I still want to go. It's not like there wouldn't be PFDs. I remember my old boss bringing his two year old down the river, but then again his wife was a kayaker.

Your grandparents sound like they'd be amazing to talk to, and even more fun to get on the water with!
DH and I went round and round about when I could take the kids boating. As Elisha mentioned, our dhs' are not boaters. Finally we compromised that our dds could go whitewater rafting as soon as they know how to swim. What motivation! Dd1 has been on the Truckee river and loved it. I can't wait to get her, and dd2 on a family float next year.

Originally Posted by Norasmomma

You gotta ride the water when it's frozen and when it's flowin.

That was what I lived by for years .

Originally Posted by RiverMamma

BTY, are you going to post your river history for the other lovely ladies here?

Was just about to do this, and now I hear the lovely Faith Ann calling for her mama...
We're gonna go take a walk to the creek...
Bye mamas :
More river later...

[fullofgrace]

Hi everyone,

Hold tight! You're going for a ride back to FYT.

[riverundine]

thank you thank you!!!