travel: rafting the Ottawa River
When I was 17 I told an acquaintance that my life’s plan was to become an actuary, work for 15 years and then quit to travel the world as a whitewater rafting guide. He asked me why I didn’t just become a whitewater rafting guide straight away and I couldn’t give him a solid answer. My recent weekend rafting excursion to Quebec brought back the old dream and I still can’t give a good reason why, right now, I’m tied to a cubicle day-in and day-out instead of paddling the rapids. It was the most fun I’ve had in a long time.
Davidson, Quebec
On Thursday Matt and I and 4 of our friends hit the road for the 9 hour commute to Davidson, Quebec where we would be rafting 2 channels of the Ottawa River rapids with the guides at Esprit. After a dinner of delicious cipaille (no picture, I devoured it in no time) at a local restaurant and some s’mores by the campfire we settled into our tents to get a good night’s rest for the next day’s rafting adventure.
Davidson, Quebec
This is my second time rafting the Ottawa river and it has some of the best rapids in the world. If you’ve never been rafting before, I highly recommend it. It’s exhilarating in it’s own way. The nerves start to build up at the top of the rapid as the guide tells you what to do in the event you fall out of the boat. And then you see the rapid and you start to get excited. And then you’re paddling right into a wall of white. And then you’re hit with so much water in your face you can hardly breathe. It’s pretty much unlike anything you’ve ever experienced.
All these pictures are from 2008 since no one in our group bough pictures from this years rafting trip. But It’s pretty much the same.
That was me in the back right.
We were lucky enough that the water was quite warm (about 80*F) however the air was relatively cold and breezy. We were shivering when we were out of the water so when the guide told us at certain points that we were able to get out of the raft and swim, I was more than happy to dive in.
I love doing outdoor activities on vacation (as you know from my New Hampshire experience) and rafting is definitely one of my favourites. I’m hoping that we can make this trip an annual thing because it is so much fun! Maybe next time I’ll try the white water kayaking 
On Saturday, after another night of camping, we headed off to Ottawa before heading home on Sunday. Most of the group was exhausted from rafting, drinking, and lack of sleep so they crashed for the afternoon, but a few of us wandered the city checking out the Byward Market and Parliament Hill.
All in all, pretty kick-ass weekend.
How was yours?
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Boy I stay away for a couple of weeks and I miss meeting you! Depending on your route you probably drove within 3.5km of my house!
As close as all the white water rafting companies are to me I’ve yet to go
Do it! That sounds like quite an adventure. My weekend wasn’t nearly as exciting.
How fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I want to white water raft SO badly and we are trying to plan a trip this fall!! I’ve never been but it looks like a BLAST!
Those rapids look challenging! I went whitewater rafting for a week in high school, and it was such a great adventure. Thanks for stopping by–I’ll back!
oh my gosh, look at you go girl!
loved the last picture too! I have never been rafting, but always wanted too.
glad you had a blast! good times for sure!
That is amazing!!!!
My weekend was good. Not nearly so kickass as yours though! It’s that cute bikini body got you out there having the time of your life, isn’t it?
xo
Oh my gosh!! That’s intense! (or in-tents!! hardy har harrrr
ok..sorry) but really, that looks like so much fun! Even though I’d be scared outta my mind, thats definitely on my Bucket List. 
Oh my…you are making me really nostalgic now.
I completely agree – I hate being stuck in an office all day…I just want to write and read and travel and be inspired.
I want to go to Ottowa soooo bad! I’ve been once before but now one of my best friends is about to start teachers college there. I would love to visit her!
You’re so brave! I din’t think I had the guts to do that, but the pictures look amazing!