“Say, Tom, I’ve just setup our rafting trip with Songer Whitewater.”

“Sounds swell, Joe! What do we do on our arrival”?

Anyone Can Go Rafting

“Well, that’s just the thing I wanted to discuss, Tom. Whether it’s your first time rafting, or your 147th, there are a few things you should know about checking in for your trip.”

“Why, I never woulda figured.”

“Let’s take a close look at the confirmation for our trip time. This is the time that our trip will leave Songer’s base camp and head for the river. We need to check-in 30 minutes prior to our trip time, so we’d better have the gals ready.”

“If there’s a mirror anywhere close by, we’d better get there 45 minutes prior!”

“Hahaha! Tom, you’re a firecracker.”

“Thanks, Joe.”

“Also, if there’s a meal package with the trip, we should arrive 1 hour prior to departure. We do have a meal package, Tom, so we’ll arrive 1 hour prior to departure.”

“All right, then. It’s settled, Joe.”

“Swell, Tom. We’ll walk into Songer’s Outfitter Store to check in. Each person in our group will need the correct liability waiver forms to fill out. Adults and youth fill out different forms.”

“You mean to say the kids’ll have to give their John Hancock? Who’d a thunk it!”

“Now, say we were bringing a youth group…”

“You mean like Bobby’s Wee Wolverines Troop, Joe?”

“Why, sure, Tom. Or Julia’s junior sewing circle. Young girls can enjoy rafting, too.”

“You don’t say?”

“Well, of course. The point is, if we’re bringing youth groups, we’ll need forms completed by parents prior to arrival. These may be downloaded from the Songer website in advance.”

“What’s a website, Joe?”

“That’s a discussion for a different day, Tom.”

“Nuts.”

“After we complete our waiver forms, if needed, we’ll be able to rent wet suits. If anyone is wearing eyeglasses, we’ll need to purchase what’s referred to as a retention strap. We want everyone to be able to see the scenery on our trip, after all!”

“You’re tellin’ me than any four-eyes can go river rafting? Well, ain’t that a flock o’ crocodiles!”

“Now, we’re going to lock all our valuables in the trunk of the car, and Songer will hold on to our keys while you’re on the river. We won’t need any money out on the river for hamburger sandwiches or bric-a-brac.”

“Ah, the great outdoors, Joe!”

“You said it, Tom. Shortly, our trip leader for the day will come and introduce themselves. If there is any medication we may need (epipen,

New River Gorge Fayette Station Rapid

asthma inhaler, heart medication, etc) we’ll bring it along, and our rafting guide will have a dry place to put it.”

“What about gum?”

“Yes, Tom. Gum, too. You can chew as much gum as you’d like.”

“Nifty.”

“Once everyone has checked in, we’ll walk a short distance to get our flotation vests, helmets, and paddles. Then, we load the bus, and it’s off to the river we go.”

“Joe, are there sharks?”

“Nope. When we return, the check-in staff will be there at Songer’s base waiting with our keys all laid out and ready. Once we have a chance to clean up, we’ll have plenty of time on the deck to review our pictures, which were taken at one of the major white water rapids. Then, we’re ready to watch our rafting video on the big screen television.”

“That sounds swell, Joe.”

“It is, Tom. It’s the swellest thing you’ve ever done.”

“Say, Joe.. how’s a stand up fella like you figure so much about this whitewater rafting business, anyhow?”

“Well, Tom, that ‘website’ contraption I mentioned earlier- we should talk about that.”