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| Photo Courtesy Nouveau Monde |
What runs and never gets tired? Water.
Never did the answer to a riddle ring truer than a couple of weeks ago, when I found myself riding the rapids of Rivière Rouge in western Quebec, about an hour and a half away from Montreal.
I was with six other people and a guide, and we were approaching the second of seven big rapids when I asked myself what on earth I was doing here. I remember needing a break from the city. I also remember wanting some form of challenging exercise and to be outdoors, of course. But canoeing or hiking didn't come to mind. Whitewater rafting did. And so here I was, in a self-bailing raft with perfect strangers (perfectly nice but strangers nonetheless), moments away from descending into a rapid. What to do? Just paddle through it.
The result was a major adrenaline rush that lasted seconds. Real time at its purest, we were stabbing our paddles through unrelenting waves of water coming from all directions. Most of us on the raft would get through, except one: me. I was in the water. Within seconds, my fluttering feet and lifejacket did their job and immediately brought me to the surface of the river. As I felt the momentum of the current pushing me forward, I was met by the safety kayak person, who guided me toward a guarded beach area right off the rapids. Paddle still in hand, I caught my breath, adjusted my helmet and waited for the raft to pick me up. I was ready for the next one.
Most of us would make it without falling in, except one: me.
The next five rapids would be just as challenging, if not more so but I, like most of my fellow rafters, got to experience them the way they were meant to be experienced -- from inside the vessel.
Overall, the day turned out to be magnificent -- beautiful scenic stretches of lazy river combined with nicely spread-out whitewater rapids. I had signed up for the full-day excursion, which included four hours on the water, equipment, lunch and supper. The time on the water was split into two sessions: two hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon.
Quebec is home to a couple of whitewater rafting outfitters. Nouveau Monde/New World Rafting has been in business for some 25 years, and offers classic and family rafting, kayaking lessons and even sportyaking. They also have activities for landlubbers, including mountain biking, camping and paintball.
Obviously, there's risk involved in rafting. We were prepared and reminded of what was to be involved and expected several times before, during and after each run, and a certified guide was assigned to each raft. Ours, Karen Lacombe, was in her 18th season and probably knew more about the river than most. The guides' enthusiasm and love of the sport was infectious, and let's face it: when you're hurtling down rapids at breakneck speed, you can use a little positive energy. As one said when we boarded the bus at the end of the day, "it's all about the river, man. It's all about the river."
Nouveau Monde operates from mid-April to the end of September. The Classic Rouge is Nouveau Monde's most popular rafting trip. It includes a full day of rafting, professional guide, safety kayaker, raft, paddle, life jacket, helmet, lunch and supper. Cost: $99 per person Sunday to Friday and $105 Saturday. For a complete price and adventure activity list, call (800) 361-5033 or visit www.newworld.ca.
If you're coming from Tremblant, contact the Activities Centre at (819) 681-4848, or go to www.tremblantactivities.com. |
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