New Zealand day 6

Today we woke up at about 7 a.m. because we had to go into town and check in for our river surfing group. We checked in and a bus came and picked us up. We drove out of town for about 40 minutes. It was a very scenic route with the river flowing almost the whole way and all the mountains cascading along the road. We passed the bridge that we were bungee jumping off. It was pretty high so that got us a little nervous.
We finally ended up at a little mock gold mining city, where they run tours at. The river surfing group stores their gear there. So we walked back to the very back and got suited up with wet suits, boots, flippers, helmets, and boogie boards.
My boogie board was a blue piece of styrofome! It was not the most comforting thing, to jump in a river that is about 15 degrees celcius and the only thing I have to hold on to is a boogie board. So I'm really nervous by this time. We headed up to the bus and went up the river about 7 kilometers. We all unloaded and the first thing we had to do was jump in the water to get our bodies used to it. This river is the water that comes from the mountains when the snow melts. So even with wet suits on it still feels like you're sitting in a bucket of ice. Sure enough you do get used to it and we were ready to move on to the lesson.
For about 20 minutes they show you how to turn and what parts of the river to stay on. The guide in the front has hand motions and he tells you which way to go and we all have to stay behind him so he can tell us what to do. Easy enough...
So we try a few moves in the water (very slow moving water) so we can get a feel for how it works. You have to point the board in certain directions and kick like there is no tomorrow. It was actually pretty physical stuff.
So everyone did fine in the practice so we were ready to go down the river. There were 3 guides, one to take pictures, one to lead the group, and the other to stay behind and help the stragglers. I was determined not to be a straggler. The guide in the front said anyone that is nervous come to the front. I'm not sure if I've ever moved that fast in the water before to get in the front. Maybe when I saw the jelly fish but it's a close race.
So I was right behind the guide and we were ready to go. It was smooth sailing for about 2 seconds and then bang! The water comes over the top of you and pushed you every which way. You're supposed to turn and go with the water, but it's pretty scary when you have really no control of where you're going or what you're doing. They forgot to mention to that you can't see the arm motions the guide is doing, when your face is underwater. haha so it was an interesting start.
I was no longer in the front but drifting toward the center of the group. There were about 10 of us and since we had no control of where we went, we were all crashing into each other. I pretty much piggy backed my way down half the river. Lets just say we all became very special friends in the river that day. haha.
So anyways, we pass the first set of rapids and I think hmm this is pretty fun, I'm doing okay. Kicking is getting pretty tiring because I just tried to kick my way out of everything instead of turning and flowing with the water, but it was good stuff. Then he says okay everyone line up we're going through maneater.
This rapid was incredible. It was a small drop and then we were all just lost from there. All I could do was hold on to my board for dear life. I hit the rapid and my board flew up in the air, and I was right on top of it because I was not about to let go. It flipped me backwards so I was under the board. Then it drags you under water, spins, you around, and all of the sudden you are out of the rapid.
That was pretty intense, it was hard to come out of that and go right back to trying to turn and stay on your board. So yep I became a straggler. The guide in the back had to pull me out of a whirl pool because I started to spin towards the middle of it. Then he went down a little ways with me. There was an area where there were huge rocks sticking out of the water. This is phenomenal to me because the river was about 8 meters deep so about 25 feet deep. So we get going and I'm kicking like a mad woman and just not going anywhere, so the guide pushed me away from the rocks.
It went okay. I made it. We went through a few more rapids and then the water was calm. So we floated on our boards for about 20 minutes. It was beautiful and relaxing. You didn't have to do any work because the river just carried you. We just rested on our boards. It was great because I was getting a massive cramp in my calf from kicking and the water being so cold.
One of the guides went and got a jet ski, and one by one he towed us around the river on a large styrofome looking thing. It was really fun. He gave everyone about a 10 minute turn. The river is fun because there's waves and bumps and twists. It was great.
After everyone got a turn we came to a point where we could go rock jumping. We had life jackets on and helmets so it was pretty safe. The rocks were 5 meters up, 12 meters up, 17 meters, and 23 meters up. There are about 2.3 feet in a meter I think? Something like that. So we all did the 12 meter rock jump. Meribeth went first. I was supposed to go next but I wanted to see a few more people do it. It was my turn and I got to the rock and said okay someone else go then I'll go. So another guy went then I got back out to the ledge.
It is a crazy feeling thinking you are going to jump off a rock. It was about 40 feet up. So I got to the ledge, and I think my stomach left way before the rest of my body. I figured if I can't do 12 meters there is no way I can do 43 meters bungee jumping. So I sucked it up and jumped. Wow what an incredible feeling! there was about a 2 second hang time in the air which really feels about 2 minutes. It is so amazing. I must not have kept my feet all the way straight though because the back of one of my legs and my butt felt like I just got whipped with a belt. It stung pretty bad, but a minor consequence from teh amazing feeling it was to jump off the rock. I went back up and did the 5 meter one but that just wasn't the same.
so next we moved on to the water slide. They have a large water slide that you get on your board and slide down into the water and skid across. I demonstrated how to go backwards so I laid down on my boogie board backwards. It was pretty fun. then the guide with the jet ski comes and drags you into shore where there is a ladder waiting for you.
Next we moved on to the rope swing. This is about 30-40 feet about the water and you jump on this little buoy and swing across the river. I didn't really get the whole swing across the river memo because I got on and jumped off the platform with the swing and as soon as the swing got close to the water I fell in. haha. The guide at the top said what was that?! So I had to have another turn. this time I swung all the way across and let go when I was pretty high in the air. hitting the water felt like someone just punched me in the ribs. I had to gasp for air a few times and it took a minute or so to catch my breath. I didn't really like the swing after that...
After that we unloaded all the gear and headed back for home. We got a cd with all the pictures that were taken.
When we got back to the hostel it was time for a nap. We slept for an hour or so and then decided to go for a drive. We drove to a little town called arrowtown but it was pretty much all closed up.
We went to a bottle shop and bought a bottle of wine becaus New Zealand is supposed to have great wine. then we got some cheese and crackers and headed towards the middle of Queenstown. We drank wine and ate cheese and crackers on the lawn overlooking a lake surrounded my mountains. It was absolutely beautiful.
We headed back to the hostel met up with some people we met and went out on the town. We went to a few bars and mostly hung out with other Americans. We tried a few New Zealand beers and hung out at a few different bars.
It was a great time. Meribeth and I fell in love with Queenstown. The next day it was time to jump off a bridge!