How a Snake River rafting trip can create lasting connections
“Hey, hi, hi,” Carol came up to me excitedly. She held her notebook tightly against her brightly patterned skirt, her hair a little messy. She looked at me through her reading glasses. “We have an idea,” she said matter-of-factly. I was elbow deep in a bucket of dishwater and dressed a little silly. My disco ball themed top matched the mood of the night. this is our last night Snake River Rafting Tour through Hell’s Canyonthis group of people had been laughing for several hours.
It’s a classic start to a journey and, in many ways, a classic evolution. As with many OARS trips, the group is made up of couples, trios and solo travelers from all corners of the United States. Their palpable happiness is a recurring theme on this trip. As the days passed, they became more comfortable with each other and their laughter grew louder. This is not uncommon for a person Multi-day river cruise. But as we donned our best costumes for the final night, the level of friendship (and silliness) rose exponentially. The end of the trip took a unique twist: the impact of the trip extended long after our last rapid. It starts with an “idea”.
That night, Carol had the demeanor of a toddler approaching an adult flippantly. I couldn’t wait to hear “the idea,” so I took my hand off the dish pail and turned to face her. “We’re doing a Secret Santa!” she declared. I’m sure a drop of humorous sweat rolled down my forehead at that moment. July? I thought to myself. “Now?” I asked doubtfully. “No, no, December,” Carol waved her hand in the air, dismissing my suspicions, and instead opened her eyes wide and smiled an even brighter smile. “Now, I need your address. Where do you live? All in all,” she pulled out a pen, opened her notebook, and was suddenly ready to create a handcrafted spreadsheet.
It turned out that while the tour guides were cooking dinner, the group was already making plans. Although they were excited about their burgeoning friendship, they wanted a reason to stay in touch. They come from many different corners of the United States and they use this opportunity to share where they are from. The rules were set: the gift had to be something your state was famous for. With that, Carol put all our names into the hat and we chose.
After the trip, when I returned to service, I turned four and a half months ahead in my planner to December and left myself a note: “A gift for Barbara.” I quickly Forgot about it.
Four months later, I returned home from a refreshing November walk with my dog. My mind is spinning: items on my to-do list and emails that need to be sent race through my brain. I nearly tripped over a package sitting on the porch. I didn’t immediately recognize the name. Who do I know in Washington? I thought to myself as I took it in and cut through the tape. When I pulled off the lid, the first thing I saw was the Whidbey Coffee label. I gasped and was immediately transported back to the Snake River. I remember Matt and Randy sitting in front of my boat sharing all the things they loved about living on Whidbey Island. They told me about the best parts of retirement. We swapped adventure stories. Memories of the trip pushed thoughts of my work to the back of my mind as I opened the box, which also contained a beautiful mug made by a local artist. I’m very touched.
I immediately made myself a cup of tea. Then I curl up on the couch and click through the photo album we shared from our trip. Even before I took my first sip of tea, I was smiling at the memory.
After the holidays, I asked some rafters about the exchange. “It was so fun to receive a surprise gift on my doorstep,” Carol shared. “The chocolates I received definitely didn’t last long!” She enjoyed the handmade candies, but added that she also enjoyed giving gifts to fellow rafters. I felt the same way: I relived my travel memories when I decided to ship the perfect huckleberry goodies to the East Coast for Barbara. The Exchange offers unique local wines, locally produced applesauce, cured meats and hand-blown glass. All made in the giver’s hometown. Edie went one step further and made each rafter its own mini fruitcake, a holiday tradition she talked about during the trip.
The ripples of connection didn’t stop there. Edie’s holiday travel plans take her through Scott and Bruce’s hometown, and they participate in some of the gift exchanges themselves. “We got to take a night to make up for it. It was so much fun! It just added to the memories of the trip,” Edie reflected.
It’s great to bond over the water, but what’s even more special is when groups can extend that connection back into real life through a simple idea like a Secret Santa exchange.
I still think about Matt when I take out my cup in the morning and it reminds me of the whole character. Suddenly, I remembered laughing at monkeys in space with retired scientist Randy; I was learning how to design adaptive toys; I was watching Kerry patch a hole in multiple fish. I was wearing a disco ball top, laughing at a ridiculous idea that turned out to be just an idea. A year and a half later, I remember everything with a smile.
