WHO
- Kyle, Nathan, Nils, Logan, Sean & Myself
HIGHLIGHTS
- Nathan throwing a beer like a 4 year old to Sean in the 2nd raft, except it only went 3 feet and directly into the river.
- Nathan realizing he threw a beer like a 4 year old, and immediately jumping into the river with a crazy look on his face.
- Being on the water all weekend
- Bro'ing it up, and bro'ing it down all weekend long
- Getting to pee every 12 minutes off the raft with no one making comments about it.
- All the delectable meals
- Camp lasagna, steak, cheesy potatoes, breakfast burritos, salami and cheese wraps, apple pie
- Saturday night thunder and lightening (most intense I've ever experienced)
UNPLANNED EVENTS
- No Advil
- No shareable sunscreen (because Kyle is a JERK)
- No rain gear, Sean came up big with all his extra gear
- Cold AF rain on Sunday for a few hours
- Kyle losing his sunglasses 5 minutes into the trip
TIMELINE
Sean went out to the John Day River on Thursday to scout the section we were rafting. Nils and Nathan picked up the raft Friday morning and took their sweet time meeting up with Sean. Kyle drove over to my house, and we made a pit stop for ten 30 packs of beer before we picked up Logan from the airport. Logan got stopped by airport security because he was running through the airport and almost ran over a child. They said he looked suspicious, so Kyle and I waited in the car for 25 minutes at arrivals. We then met up with everyone at the drop point at the river.
DELAYED START
Since we got a late start packing up and getting to the drop in zone, we had to quickly drive from the drop in zone to the take-out section of the river. It's a bit confusing but it was about 40 miles away to the take-out. Nathan drives his truck 20 mph under the speed limit at all times, so I made the decision we needed to leave his truck at the take-out zone, and I would drive back to the drop-in zone. Initially we had it planned the opposite way. Once we got back to the river everyone was a few beers deep waiting to jump on the river and start the trip. We paddled for about and hour pounding beers as we floated down the river and to our first night's camp.
FIRST NIGHT
After setting up camp, we got a fire started with the sole intention of cooking some delicious food. On the menu; Steaks, mashed potatoes, and I can't remember what else. I think that was it, but it was delicious. We drank toooo much too quickly the first night and a few of us had quite the hangover Saturday morning. All in all great start to the weekend, just wish I wouldn't have mixed beer and liquor for my headache the next morning.
DAY 2
Continuing our weekend of camp food, waking up hungover we produced breakfast burritos complete with eggs, bacon, cheese, and salsa. Packed up camp and paddled for most of the day. Stopped for lunch and didn't have any sunblock. Of course we go super burnt because Kyle hates to share, and wouldn't give us any of his sunblock. He had a ton of it and still wouldn't share. WHAT A JERK. Made it to camp and everyone was pretty worn out from being on the water/in the sun all day. Nathan and Nils went for a run up a bluff to get an awesome view (see Nathan deep in thought).
That night we made camp lasagna under the special guidance of Sean. We made a shit ton of it, and had leftover's for breakfast the next morning. It worked out really nicely in the cast iron dutch oven.It was a pretty early night after all the food. Everyone sat around the fire with a satisfied quiet. We put in a good day of drinking and work. In the middle of the night, it started raining and we all witnessed some of the loudest thunder and lightening of our lives. We could feel the vibrations alllllll night long....but seriously, shit was crazy.
SUNDAY
We warmed up the leftover lasagna for breakfast and everyone chatted about how loud the thunder and lightening was. We decided to get an early start on the river, since it was going to be a long trip back. Rain was threatening, so Sean gave us all his extra waterproof gear. Everyone had something waterproof except for Logan. It rained for about and hour and it was extremely cold for awhile. I think Logan shivered endlessly the entire time. Sean and I also pounded the beers heavily to make up for my hangover on Saturday where I wasn't able to drink as much. All in all, I had an awesome time on the river for my bachelor party weekend!