May 7, 2007

Couch Potato & Wheelchair Rafting - Why Not?

Tip! I floated for hours. Apparently my previous river rafting experience was paying off, because I managed to miss the trees, rocks, riverbanks, and to stay dry.

Truth is, fear stops many people from experiencing a wilderness paddle. The canoes are tipsy� the kayaks are small� and what happens if you tip over? All these reasons are good reasons for not doing a trip down the river. But with leisure rafting it does not matter� you can be right in the middle of it all� safe and experiencing everything.

Eight man platform rafts can comfortably accommodate anyone that wants to experience a river. These smaller rafts give the wilderness intimacy of a canoe� but the safety & space of a boat. Rafting has normally been branded as the “whitewater adventure”� the “Dare-Devil” extreme. But leisure rafting offers a great way for friends of no skills to safely experience some time on a river together.

The Grand River Rafting Company in Paris, Ontario specializes in leisure river rafting for everyone. Their theme is “Experiencing Everything Together” and they do customized guided trips for families and friends. Their goal is to offer rafting trips that leaves a wilderness memory for many months past. Knock at the door of grandriverrafting.ca to see what they can offer.

Tip! River kayaking is a great way to start getting in shape for the beach season. With all the rowing and working of the arms, you will be on your way to buff beach perfection in no time.

With leisure rafting, the guides pilot the rafts and know where to go� the rest of the group just paddles or drifts. The boats are so stable that you would have to meet “Jonah’s whale” in order to tip over. But best is the air-cushion comfort of staying dry. It’s like your own couch� but outdoors.

With wilderness leisure rafting, people can safely experience floating through swifts and pools� like gliding down a water slide. They can catch the opportunity of seeing wildlife unaware. They can fish the pools where the big ones are� everything is taken in by just drifting by.

The panoramic view is fantastic� like a 3D screen with everything coming your way� and no advertisements! This is the “IMAX” of sound, color, fragrance and taste� but without the building. Sitting in front of this huge outdoor window does something to the “spirit house” within.

Tip! My first river rafting adventure had involved four of us. I advertised it to my friends as an adventure-disaster, sure to get them wet and cold.

These words capture it all:

“When the trip is done�

When the paddle is laid down�

When the shore is touched�

There is a difference�

Even if it is only for the moment of being there.”

With rafting� weight, size & agility does not matter� it is the will to have fun.

Garth Pottruff was raised in the Grand River Valley and studied forestry. He has also done many guided canoe trips in Ontario’s Quetico and Algonquin Parks. He is a certified ORCA canoe and kayak instructor.

Tip! Adventures that has a rafting and kayaking camp located on Calumet Island in the Ottawa River.

In the 80’s he resigned from his forestry career to return to the family farm in the Grand River Valley. His goal was to give his four sons the opportunity to experience the disappearing rural lifestyle.

He has since spent 20 years in management… and now works with his son’s outdoor learning adventures called the Grand River Rafting Company. This venture is right down Garth’s alley… because it specializes in guided learning adventures. Their uniqueness is the use of small eight man rafts as floating classrooms to explore the history, plants and wildlife of the Grand River Valley.

The rafts that Garth uses has opened up a new world to many that would never venture out on the Grand River. He is always open to ideas to assist people in enjoying and having access into this beautiful valley.

Tip! The Grand River Rafting Company in Paris, Ontario specializes in leisure river rafting for everyone. Their theme is �Experiencing Everything Together� and they do customized guided trips for families and friends.

To contact call toll free 1 866 286 7722 or http://www.grandriverrafting

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