Barb E., Goose, Marion (Nelda's husband), and David of Arabia, outfitted in life vests, were anxious to get their raft in the cool water of the Nantahala River. Water temperature was about 52 degrees. Other members of this rafting team were Karen (Goose's wife) and me (Nelda). Our professional guide, who sat at the back of the raft and used his paddle as a rudder to steer us in the right direction, was Rodney.
Goose and his wife Karen, hail from the panhandle of Texas. When the guide would issue a command such as, "Give me four strokes forward," it was the responsibility of Goose and David of Arabia, who sat in the front of the raft, to set the pace for the other paddlers. We all looked forward to the long stretches when we were told by our guide to "Take a break." During these times we enjoyed the beautiful surroundings and got to know each other better through conversation.
Manning the LD raft were Jude, Chet (Addie's son), and Bill T. on the left and Addie, Taylor (Valerie S.'s daughter), and Tony (Valerie S.'s husband) on the right. Jude acted as guide during the first half of their eventful journey. Tony took over from there. Although Chet and Jude fell out of the raft and Tony lost his hat, no one was hurt. This raft successfully navigated Nantahala Falls, although in an unusual way.
David of Arabia, during one of our brief stops to allow the other rafts in our entourage to catch up, sat pensively on the bank and breathed the crisp clean air. Along the bank were towering pines, kudzu, mountain laurel still in bloom, and mimosa trees with their fragrant pink powder-puff flowers. David remembered it this way: "Rodney had us steer to a moss covered shore and we stopped to wait for the three other rafts to round the bend. I climbed off the raft and lay on the river bank, staring at the top of the trees that lay around me. The water gurgled. The branches swayed. For the first time since
leaving Saudi Arabia, I felt at peace. Up to now, everything had been rush-rush-rush. Find a house, buy a house, pack your bags, go to Cherokee . . . everything had been hectic . . . but now . . . lying at the foot of a pine tree, I felt relaxed." We all experienced great joy, peace, and the warmth of true friendship on the Nantahala.
As some of us said our farewells on Saturday morning, we posed for pictures around YENDOR's car in the parking lot of the Holiday Inn after we had indulged in their bountiful breakfast buffet. Our crazy antics and laughter earned us a few amused looks from other guests, but we really did not care--we were having so much fun. Several of us proudly wore the Goose feathers which we received as a gift from Goose.
Front row (kneeling): Isaac (Valerie S.'s son) and Chet (Addie's son)
Second row (kneeling): Bill T., and Goose
Back row (standing): Barb E., Nelda, David of Arabia, Jaclyn, Sylvia, Taylor (Valerie S.'s daughter), Krista (YENDOR & Jaclyn's daughter), Valerie S., Addie, and Tony (Valerie S.'s husband)
To see more pictures of the Teachers.Net Get-Together at Cherokee
posted by my friend Valerie S.,
CLICK HERE
Don't forget to visit:
Mrs. N. Spires' Biology Page
Background music: Cherokee Shuffle
Courtesy of:
MIDI HAVEN
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