I Went Whitewater Rafting and Lived to Tell the Tale

   I had a lot of feelings during my rafting trip. The first was fear, then excitement, then the absolute pleasure of freezing my hypothetical balls off. Once we arrived at the drop off location, it started snowing. Yes, snowing in June. I can check that one off my bucket list. They gave us wetsuits (I admire my scuba certified family more now) and big water-resistant smocks. We went over all our safety information, and got in the raft. It then started snowing harder. Sheets of white came down in front of us for at least ten minutes, probably more like fifteen. But I have to say, it was so worth it. The snow was absolutely stunning. Our tour guide said he'd never been on a trip where it snowed so much.

   I went with my friend and co-worker Briar, and our group was made up of two older couples and our tour guide, who was adorable if I do say so myself. Briar can confirm this fact. Of course we got a selfie with him, but we both looked pretty horrible after the ride.
   Highlights of the trip were the snow and coming about twenty yards away from a huge Mama moose and her calf on the river bank. Our tour guide admitted he was "scared shitless" once we had safely passed. The moose could have reached us in three steps, and the fur on her back started to stick up like she was going to charge. It was awesome!!
   There were a lot of spots where the water was very calm and we weren't paddling and everyone was quiet, and I felt all the feels. It was so surreal. This is my life! I kept saying to Briar, "I am on a river in Wyoming, thousands of miles from home right now. What is life?!" The mountains were so incredibly beautiful, there's just no way to describe it all. I got quite wet, muddy, ruined my good sneakers, and was actually worried about frost bite in some parts of the trip, but it was so worth it, and I want to go again!
 

   After rafting, I finally got a hot shower (Ahh!) and then Briar and I went to town. After errands, we went to the movie theater for a double feature. For me, The Fault in Our Stars again. For her, How to Train Your Dragon 2. Then we met back up for 22 Jump Street, which was flawless and hysterical and highly recommended.
   It was about 9PM by the time we got out of the theater, and Briar just wanted to drive around a bit. The sun had just set, so the sky still had this yellow-green glow to it. Somehow we ended up on some highway, driving into nothing. All the mountains somehow got behind us, and ahead of us the earth was completely flat. It was crazy. We were both in awe. We cranked up the radio and cracked the windows and drove into nothing as the sky grew darker and darker, and it was what I always wanted summer to be, at home or otherwise. It was so refreshing and relaxing and rejuvenating, and it was the perfect end to a long, ridiculously fun day.
   Yesterday reminded me of why I wanted to be here in the first place. I am ridiculously homesick, especially after a Skype session with the whole family on Monday, but I'm trying to enjoy every moment out here. There are a lot of frustrating aspects of this job and the location in general, especially since I don't have a car out here, but the positives still outweigh the negatives.
   More than any feeling, yesterday I had so much gratitude in my heart. I am so grateful that my parents pushed me to do this, I am so grateful Briar and I get along, and I am so grateful I finally put on my big girl pants and geared up for an adventure.

A crappy cell phone photo of the flatness in front of us on our drive.