August 11, 2013 Conquering the Rapids
After we did the zipline courses at Dahilayan Adventure Park in the morning, it's to brave the rapids of Cagayan de Oro. Due to the limited time frame we had, our package inclusion was the beginners course comprising of 14 rapids. We maximized our time given that we had an early connecting flight from CDO to Cebu to Surigao the next day.
We rode a jeepney with the raft to be used secured on top. We drove pass along the Lumbia airport, passing through Makahambus Cave and a made our way to a downhill road somewhere towards the starting the point. We left our things secured on a locked big bag at the office of Great White Water Rafting main office (www.riverraftingcdo.com). That's where our service dropped us earlier in the day. Moving on, upon arrival at the starting point, we were each given a life vest, helmet and a paddle. After our guides helped us secure of life vest, the group had a short orientation and prayer for safety. We were given some instruction like paddle forward, back paddle, and the notable high 5. Then it was time to take the 4 hours long adrenaline packed challenge.
We rode a jeepney with the raft to be used secured on top. We drove pass along the Lumbia airport, passing through Makahambus Cave and a made our way to a downhill road somewhere towards the starting the point. We left our things secured on a locked big bag at the office of Great White Water Rafting main office (www.riverraftingcdo.com). That's where our service dropped us earlier in the day. Moving on, upon arrival at the starting point, we were each given a life vest, helmet and a paddle. After our guides helped us secure of life vest, the group had a short orientation and prayer for safety. We were given some instruction like paddle forward, back paddle, and the notable high 5. Then it was time to take the 4 hours long adrenaline packed challenge.
Hep Hep Hooray!
We have a two river guides in our raft who spoke fluently in Tagalog (and in English) for my sake. I'm the only one in the group who is non-Bisaya. And to document our adventure, we had two good camera guys who paddled in their kayaks. Trust me, they knew the perfect angles for the shots.
I had my doubts for trying this one but there's no backing once I positioned myself infront of raft. I had my what if questions going on in my mind. I was thinking of my safety and I need to come to Surigao without a scratch.
We managed to survive the first rapids with instructions like standing up on the raft while being on the rapids. We had several fall bumping into each others back. No one fell into the water yet.
I had my doubts for trying this one but there's no backing once I positioned myself infront of raft. I had my what if questions going on in my mind. I was thinking of my safety and I need to come to Surigao without a scratch.
We managed to survive the first rapids with instructions like standing up on the raft while being on the rapids. We had several fall bumping into each others back. No one fell into the water yet.
There were some spots where one could take a swim. Water here was calm and still.
Surprises Along The Way.
The rapids had names to identify them. One of which is the Macabundol where Shaw fell into the water. He did not saw the sudden bumping of the raft into the big boulder. Sorry Louie, I was not the first casually as you thought earlier.
Our guide earlier asked us if we want to add fun to the challenge by having our raft capsized. No one agreed of course. Somewhere on a still water we were told to go on one side only. Then the surprise came. No one knew it was coming. Our raft turned upside down. I knew one of the guides pulled the ropes on the other end dropping us all into the water. Clueless we were but it was fun. The moment was perfectly captured on camera.
It may have been a beginners course but not bad. I think we surpassed our expectations as amateurs in surviving the rapids.
High Five
High five indeed for braving the rapids of Cagayan de Oro. I must say that should I get to CDO again and have the chance to do river rafting, then I'll take it to the extreme. I'll get the advance course next time. I surely had a fun filled afternoon in CDO. We add the cheers, laughter and adventure along the way. I love Cagayan de Oro.
We ended our rafting at Cabula area where the jeepney that brought us earlier was waiting. We removed our gears, had the raft securely tied on the roof of the jeepney and off we head back to Great White's office. From there, we changed to dry clothes, got our things back, had a copy of the pictures. Some of us bought souvenir shirts and mugs for reasonable price. Later, a complimentary service brought us back to the city center where we had an earlier dinner.
Ziplining in Bukidnon in the morning, water rafting in CDO in the afternoon, it was an exhaustingly fun filled day addition in our timelines.
Ziplining in Bukidnon in the morning, water rafting in CDO in the afternoon, it was an exhaustingly fun filled day addition in our timelines.
A man practices the art of adventure when he breaks the chain of routine and renews his life through reading new books, traveling to new places, making new friends, taking up new hobbies and adopting new viewpoints. - Wildred Peterson