White Water Rafting

Apr 11th. We managed to book up to do some white water rafting the previous evening, Unfortunately our first 5 choices were fully booked but we did manage to get one tour on the Barron river. This river is actually crocodile infested but lower down than the rapids. The rapids are Grade 3 (it goes up to 6) so it will be a nice warm up for the harder stuff in NZ. We get some training on how to paddle and then we set off down the Barron river. I agreed with Martin that the first one of us to fall in the water owed the other one a beer. He was adamant that he wasn't going to fall in. Things go OK through the first few rapids with a few bumps but we are doing OK. We head to the major rapid (Rooster Rocks) where there is a large drop. Our raft becomes 'wrapped' (stuck on the rocks) right in the middle of the flow of water in the rapid -Martin is chucked over the side (I start laughing as it is 1 beer to Chris), Then Anita, the girl at the front is chucked out and the raft lurches forward so I get the brunt of the rapid on me (1 metre cubed of water weighs 1 tonne). I get washed down out of the raft and chase after the others. In total 5 of 6 people get chucked out - but we are rescued downstream by the other boats. It is a little interesting as you aren't quite as bouyant as you think you are as the water pushes you under for a while. All great fun though - can't wait to get on some Grade 4 rapids now.