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Club Events 2004 : 2004-08-02 : COC - River Float: Bowness to the Zoo

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*An Uneasy Float Down a Lazy River* Or *River Chickens on the Bow* Bowness Park: Monday morning…10ish... clouds hovering – gray, air cool. PFD’s secure, 14 people carefully entered the water on two large rafts with a smaller third to carry packs etc… so named the pack raft. Barking orders and dressing down slackers, two brave and fearless captains exerted control of their crews. Each leader narrowing their sights on getting to the zoo, crew and rafts intact. A perilous journey lay ahead. It covered water never fully navigated by either of the old salts at their respective helms. Eager rafters snapped to attention and paddled smartly as the nearly ceaseless volley of orders disturbed the morning calm. Finally, upon catching the current, provisions were laid out on one raft as the crew of the second raft was forced to work without reward. While kindness was being shared through the calm, giving nature of the first raft captained by Cheryl, the second raft captained by Mehran was busy hatching a wily plan as they paddled grimly. Generous gifts of fruit, raw vegetables and Miss Vickie’s lime and pepper flavour potato chips were passed from Cheryl’s raft to Mehran’s. The kindness was returned only with vicious snipes of the Alberta river chickens darting between the rafts, their loyalties lying with the highest bidder. Mehran forced his crew to work. It would later be revealed that this treatment would cause his crew to become mean and sharpen their cunning. While all of this was happening Cheryl’s crew was warily resting and enjoying the scenery. Uneasy feelings spread through Cheryl’s raft as her crew began to suspect the river chickens were being trained to act as spies and Mehran’s raft was armed and a devious plan already underway. As awareness of Mehran’s intentions increased so did the distance between the two rafts. Cheryl and her brave crew were often forced to navigate dangerous rapids and treacherous shallows in order to maintain a prudent distance from Mehran’s raft. As the day wore on the skies lightened and the sun came out to lift the spirits of both crews (as predicted by the “sub-weather witch”). Perhaps it was the warmth or maybe the hypnotizing drift of the current that led Cheryl’s crew into harm's way when Mehran’s crew signaled to join rafts. Seemingly without care or regard for her crew’s safety, Cheryl maneuvered her raft close to Mehran’s. At the very moment the rafts were side by side, an order was given to attack. Blasts of cold river water were sent over Cheryl’s bow by unseen water cannons, flashing paddles dumped water into Cheryl’s raft freezing the bums of her crew now soaked and stunned by this act of ruthless aggression. Cheryl’s peaceful and trusting crew frantically tried to return fire with hands and paddles but the effort was futile. Her raft and crew retreated; beaten, wet and cold. Once again the two rafts took different paths down the river. Mehran taking the easy lane and Cheryl the more dangerous route less traveled. At about Prince's Island Park, Mehran was forced to go ashore to tend to the needs of a crew member that had become overly taxed during the mêlée (or maybe it was just a pee break). Once seeing Mehran’s raft on shore, Cheryl, found her competitive spirit and devised a plan that would avenge her crew and forever put an end to Mehran’s evil ways. On they drifted, looking for the zoo pull out and the location of their last stand. The remainder of the trip down the river was guarded yet uneventful for Cheryl and her crew. With the shore in sight, Cheryl’s crew was on full alert. Like a well-oiled machine each member knew his or her job… get the raft on shore, get it deflated and prepare to greet Mehran’s raft. Once belongings had been accounted for and the raft somewhat ready for transport, all hands armed with water bottles were stationed on the bridge watching Mehran’s raft draw nearer. Mehran’s crew was confident and self-assured waving happily as they approached the take out point. Suddenly, as if the sky opened, Mehran's crew was drenched from above. As they floundered and struggled to get out from the under the deluge it became clear that Cheryl’s crew was to be victorious in this battle. The last skirmishes on dry land finished in a draw as both sides ran out of water. And so ended the battle of the Bow. A truce was established, and to celebrate, all provisions were gathered together and a great feast marked the end of the day. Despite the cunning and underhandedness of Mehran's crew all was not lost and everyone parted company under a banner of peace to float the Bow another day. -- Shaun

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An Uneasy Float Down a Lazy River
Or
River Chickens on the Bow

Bowness Park: Monday morning…10ish... clouds hovering – gray, air cool.

PFD’s secure, 14 people carefully entered the water on two large rafts with a smaller third to carry packs etc… so named the pack raft. Barking orders and dressing down slackers, two brave and fearless captains exerted control of their crews. Each leader narrowing their sights on getting to the zoo, crew and rafts intact. A perilous journey lay ahead. It covered water never fully navigated by either of the old salts at their respective helms. Eager rafters snapped to attention and paddled smartly as the nearly ceaseless volley of orders disturbed the morning calm.

Finally, upon catching the current, provisions were laid out on one raft as the crew of the second raft was forced to work without reward. While kindness was being shared through the calm, giving nature of the first raft captained by Cheryl, the second raft captained by Mehran was busy hatching a wily plan as they paddled grimly. Generous gifts of fruit, raw vegetables and Miss Vickie’s lime and pepper flavour potato chips were passed from Cheryl’s raft to Mehran’s. The kindness was returned only with vicious snipes of the Alberta river chickens darting between the rafts, their loyalties lying with the highest bidder.

Mehran forced his crew to work. It would later be revealed that this treatment would cause his crew to become mean and sharpen their cunning. While all of this was happening Cheryl’s crew was warily resting and enjoying the scenery. Uneasy feelings spread through Cheryl’s raft as her crew began to suspect the river chickens were being trained to act as spies and Mehran’s raft was armed and a devious plan already underway. As awareness of Mehran’s intentions increased so did the distance between the two rafts. Cheryl and her brave crew were often forced to navigate dangerous rapids and treacherous shallows in order to maintain a prudent distance from Mehran’s raft.

As the day wore on the skies lightened and the sun came out to lift the spirits of both crews (as predicted by the “sub-weather witch”). Perhaps it was the warmth or maybe the hypnotizing drift of the current that led Cheryl’s crew into harm's way when Mehran’s crew signaled to join rafts. Seemingly without care or regard for her crew’s safety, Cheryl maneuvered her raft close to Mehran’s. At the very moment the rafts were side by side, an order was given to attack. Blasts of cold river water were sent over Cheryl’s bow by unseen water cannons, flashing paddles dumped water into Cheryl’s raft freezing the bums of her crew now soaked and stunned by this act of ruthless aggression. Cheryl’s peaceful and trusting crew frantically tried to return fire with hands and paddles but the effort was futile. Her raft and crew retreated; beaten, wet and cold.

Once again the two rafts took different paths down the river. Mehran taking the easy lane and Cheryl the more dangerous route less traveled. At about Prince's Island Park, Mehran was forced to go ashore to tend to the needs of a crew member that had become overly taxed during the mêlée (or maybe it was just a pee break). Once seeing Mehran’s raft on shore, Cheryl, found her competitive spirit and devised a plan that would avenge her crew and forever put an end to Mehran’s evil ways. On they drifted, looking for the zoo pull out and the location of their last stand. The remainder of the trip down the river was guarded yet uneventful for Cheryl and her crew.

With the shore in sight, Cheryl’s crew was on full alert. Like a well-oiled machine each member knew his or her job… get the raft on shore, get it deflated and prepare to greet Mehran’s raft. Once belongings had been accounted for and the raft somewhat ready for transport, all hands armed with water bottles were stationed on the bridge watching Mehran’s raft draw nearer. Mehran’s crew was confident and self-assured waving happily as they approached the take out point. Suddenly, as if the sky opened, Mehran's crew was drenched from above. As they floundered and struggled to get out from the under the deluge it became clear that Cheryl’s crew was to be victorious in this battle. The last skirmishes on dry land finished in a draw as both sides ran out of water.

And so ended the battle of the Bow. A truce was established, and to celebrate, all provisions were gathered together and a great feast marked the end of the day. Despite the cunning and underhandedness of Mehran's crew all was not lost and everyone parted company under a banner of peace to float the Bow another day.

-- Shaun

Photos

COC Details
COC List
Captain Cheryl, Steph, ?
Ducks chase Mehran's raft in background
Cheryl, ?, ?, Steph, Rhonda, Shaun, Ken
Shaun, Steph, Cheryl
Mehran's raft coming in
Steph helps deflate a raft

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