Golly: HAPPY RAFTING!!!

This is simiar to what we were riding in. This was the most difficult part of the river where most people get stuck.

The crew!!

Heading down stream!

The view we had at lunchtime looking back upstream!

I was supposed to go to Kobe for the HPE long weekend to see the gf, but instead made a promise with the other JETs to go rafting at Yoshino River, on the border between Kochi and Tokushima Prefecture. Saturday, picked up Dom from Noichi and we went into Kochi City to Aeon to pick up some shit for camping after we went rafting. Luckily my predecessor left his tent here so i didnt have to buy one. Found a classic sleeping bag called the "Mummy Schlaff 600" for 900yen (10 bucks), so i bought it. Come on, i had to!! Drove back to mine for a few cheeky beverages and then crashed as we had an early start driving the next morning. Picked up Erinn on the way and headed for the Happy Rafting Base. Got there and had to wait awhile for those who were lost. Then we had to put on a tight fitting wetsuit and coat then headed for the rafts! divided ourselves into teams of 7 or so then headed on down the river. needless to say the water was pretty cold but we eventually got used to it! At the halfway mark we stopped for a cheeky bagle and some hot tea to cool oursleves down before heading back down the river. Somewhere along the way, everyone was rock diving and there were a few classic backwacks and asswacks!! i still can imagine the pain Jay wouldve gone thru....ouch!! After the 12km we drove back to the base and then proceeded with the BBQ and drinks!! a few of us stayed us to drink while others (who had no money left) crashed. Had some interesting conversations on whos country's better then eventually after all the Japanese sake that was being passed around was drunk, we decided it was time to crash ourselves. found my way to my tent, probably woke everyone up, and snuggled up into the Mummy Schlaff 600. Woke up the next morning on Monday (again probably waking everone up again....sorry) and then after most of us had packed our tents, i drove back home to watch a couple of vids and chill out. I definitely want to go rafting again next year!!!