California, Tuolmne: Going with the Flow
By Teresa Rodriguez Williamson
Brought to you by Tango Diva
for more information, visit www.tangodiva.com
California, Tuolmne: Going with the Flow
By Teresa Rodriguez Williamson
I met Laurence at the Fillmore Jazz Festival. He has a river rafting expedition company and invited me on an upcoming tour. I took him up on his offer and joined his white water rafting adventure down the Tuolomne River in California. He named his company Bio Bio (pronounced Bee-o Bee-o) after the cherished river in Chile. Most of his tours are in exotic locations such as Chile, Patagonia, Peru, Africa, and Siberia. During the summer, he spends time at home, in Northern California. He invited me to join him and a few of his friends on a quick trip down the Tuolumne. I had never been white water rafting before, so I was a bit nervous because I assumed the other guests were great rafters and I would be the one to end up in the river. Fortunately, I was wrong. Everyone on the trip was new to the sport and we were all in the trusting care of Laurence and his lovely girlfriend Nicole. After a hair-raising ride down to the river, we had a chance to get to know each other. Our group included Laurence and Nicole – the guides, Inca their fearless puppy, Buck – our hero supply-boat driver, York from Los Angeles, Carolyn from San Francisco, Kate from Chicago, and me. For a few days, I was blessed with the opportunity meet new and wonderful people and learn to trust them while on the river. Their smiles, willingness to dare, and the deep cooperation between us was inspiring. For me, this trip was more than a leisurely ride down a pretty river. It was an opportunity to trust others, move beyond my fears, and live in the present.
After a few hours on the river, we set up lunch on the warm riverbed. I should mention that Forbes.com named Bio Bio as one of the world’s most luxurious outfitters–and now I know why. We were treated to savory smoked turkey, lovely cheeses, avocados, just-baked bread, fresh fruit, cookies, Chilean wine and imported beer. After lunch we rafted a bit longer, then pulled into camp. Buck and I went off exploring up another river tributary. We found a natural, granite water slide that we enjoyed slipping down into a pool of cool water. We swam in water teaming with trout, and climbed a huge rock, then jumped off it and flew into the deep waters below. I felt like Huck Finn would pop his head out at any second and join the fun! We laughed, swam, and enjoyed the sun’s warm rays until the shadows crept over the mountains.
All that exploring worked up our appetite and, when we returned to camp, Buck and I found a spread that looked ready to be photographed by Food & Wine magazine. We all gathered around, shared stories of our afternoon’s explorations and enjoyed delicious cheeses, crackers, fruit, salsa and chips while sipping fine wine. Dinner was a just as impressive – with stir fry chicken and veggies. We spent the rest of the evening drifting on the raft, sipping more wine, counting stars and laughing.
I was the lucky one and got to sleep on the raft. It was a peaceful night, under the bright stars of the Sierras. The morning came quickly and we enjoyed breakfast burritos and fresh coffee. Nicole is a massage therapist and on most Bio Bio trips, she’s available for hire. I was fortunate and got a free 1/2 hour massage. Just what I needed after spending the day using muscles I did not know I had! After the massage, we were back on the rafts to continue our journey west.
During this trip, I gained a new respect for nature and running water. Our wonderful, caring guide, Laurence, spoke about honoring the water and the river before we went down each rapid. Prior to going down the white water, he would say, “Now let’s give thanks to the river, take some of her pure water and splash your neck and wet your lips.” It was a sacred genuflection to the Tuolumne and I found it moving. “It’s a thoughtful gesture thanking the river for the opportunity to ride her, while respecting her power,” Laurence would say. “Don’t fight her power, if you get pulled under, relax, she will let you go at the end of the white water.” How true – not only in rafting but in life. Sometimes we just have to go with the flow and relax. Preferably with a glass of delicious wine.
To learn more about Tango Diva and Bio Bio visit www.tangodiva.com
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