Salida, CO is a little, artsy town where a couple of my best friends from college grew up. Each year for the past few years they've returned to Colorado for occasions and I've driven out to be with them - and loved this town. The Arkansas River runs through it and provides a great atmosphere for restaurants and pubs along the river. It's also home to the annual river boating festival FIBArk (First In Boating on the Arkansas).
This year some friends of mine wanted to go out to FIBArk and partake in the festivities and knowing my enjoyment of Salida and also having seen various pictures or comments relating to FIBArk, I thought it was a great opportunity. A car full of ladies packed up and drove out to Salida where we became immersed in the river boating community - free style kayaking, rafting, river paddle boarding, and people just enjoying being out in the mountains, the energy and excitement were strong.
We spent our first night dancing, the next day we watched a parade, races and just enjoyed the quaint restaurants of Salida, on the final day we went rafting. Not only did we go rafting, but we went rafting for all of $9 each.
One of our friend's fathers was once a raft guide and because of this, we were able to just rent a raft and allow him to guide us down the Arkansas. I believe it was Browns Canyon that we went through - which was full of rapids and took about 4 hours to get through.
It was absolutely incredible to be at the front of the raft taking the water head on. As we would crash into rapids the water would cover me and whoever else was fortunate enough to be in its wake and within minutes I would be dry once again. Between the mountains and on the water - two of my favorite things - it was glorious.
Only on a couple of occasions did I feel as though I might fall out of the raft or that the rapids were a little insane, but those were also the moments of absolute thrill and triumph.
The weekend was rejuvenating and even in reminiscing I feel refreshed all over again. Something about being with the earth and experiencing the creation is magnificent. I adore it.
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