Rafting Tragedy

I have fruitfully completed eight months in the new organization, which is one of fastest growing organization in Portland, Oregon. A rafting trip to White Salmon River in Washington was arranged by our company to celebrate its anniversary.

White Salmon River is one of best place for River rafting in Northwest. Rafting or white water rafting is very exciting, adventurous, thrilling, dangerous and extreme water sport activity. Paddle the raft on the wild stream of water surrounded by the rocks, greenish giant tress, unexpected whirl-pool, unknown deep, cold water temperature of 4 º C (39 ºF) during summer, crystal clear transparent water, still lot cannot be expressed as words. Wow, it was an awesome wild trip and enjoyment for lifetime. As our trip was guided by an expert in rafting, I had a hope that it would not be much risky.

To know the details of rafting trip you can refer this site.White Salmon River Rafter

Let me move on to the topic “the tragedy”. I was afraid, because I am not an expert in swimming. But my colleagues gave me confidence to go ahead with rafting. Finally, I got confidence to paddle on wild-wild Northwest River. We were ready for rafting with all equipment's, nylon workout shorts, T-shirts (no cottons), skin-tight swimsuit, life vest, paddling socks, paddle and helmet, of course with inflatable raft and an experienced guide. Everything was just perfect to float on the rapids. Now all we need to do was to jump into the raft and be ready for comment from our captain to paddle. Our guide taught us couple of techniques about paddling and how to steer the raft. Also he taught us the technique of rescuing victim who fell down into the river drifts.

For example, if someone falls into the River, he should be swimming at least
without bumping the rock. Rescuer will extend his paddle to the victim to grab. As soon as victim grabs the paddle, he should move towards the boat to grab the rope rolled out on the boat. Then rescuer will hold the shoulder of the life vest of the victim and pull him up into the boat.

After precautionary and rescue sessions, we started rafting. The softest feather like River seems to be mellow, rich in purity, poor in sound and wild in its speed. We were following guide’s comment to paddle right or left or reverse. Gradually river became wild, narrow, wind and with deep whirlpools. Water flow was violent, as water descent. Guide was asking us paddle on and off. During the rafting we passed through a cave. As River changed its soft face to terrific, guide warned us that this is the difficult part and to keep eyes open, listen to his instructions and act accordingly. We understood that going forward, rafting would be exciting at the same time very dangerous too.

This was crucial piece of the rafting. I was holding one of my feet under the boat’s foot so it helps me to stay in the boat even if boat swifts while holding the paddle on both hands. Everything was smooth so far.

There was a sudden turning point. After sometime, our boat was travelling very fast. It took us its way and with water stream. It was quite uncontrollable. Water drove the boat towards the directions it flows. We realized in few seconds that our boat was moving towards the rock in front of us. Everything happened just in a blink. Guide was shouting and informing us that a rock in front of us. Everybody was aware and ready to prevent the bump. Guide was instructing us to pay attention and paddle reversely. By that time, to hold the paddle tightly and push it into the water to turn the boat left hand side, boat went off and bumped the rock hardly. Our effort was in vain and ineffective.

Our carelessness broke our excitement within few seconds and took us into different direction. Our eyes turned pale, wide open and blind. Mind was thinking to avoid more damage, prevent from injury, to save our lives and at any cost wanted to stay on the boat. Boat hit the rock and as I was sitting in the rear row, I was pushed and forced to hit the person in front. I lost my control and balance. I couldn’t prevent myself falling into the water. My both legs were on the boat and body was falling down into water. I fell down to the river side. I didn’t know how deep the river was. My right hand touched the water first, then my head. Luckily there were no rocks.




Though all these things were happening, my legs were on the boat. My body till hip was drowned into the river. Now my left leg lost its grip from boat and came out of it and sunk into the water. Total body went inside the water, except my right leg. As I drowned into the river, I did not know what is happening out. My entire body was hanging on my right leg. The body weight stretched my knees, which was rolled over the raft. I did not want to release my leg from the boat. I was lifting myself from the water, holding a leg into the boat. It increased the stretch on my knees.

My effort was worthless, I could not lift me. Even my crew members were trying to help me by pulling up. They were extending their hands to me. But I could not grab them. It was little far from my hand. My knees started paining. I could not lift myself and decided to release my leg from the boat. I could not do either. I was totally struck. No solution striking in my mind. I knew that somehow I should release my leg out of the boat. I decided to shake my body. It worked for me. Gradually my leg was coming out of the grip and finally came out.

I was totally sunk into the water. I got fear, how would I get into the boat. I came out of the water slowly and my face was up. My first thought was to grab the boat as soon as I came out of the water. When I came out, it was shocking to see the boat was not there. It moved 5 feet far and kept moving from me. Distance between the boat and me started increasing. Now crew members were extending the paddle to grab. When I was trying to grab the paddle, which was little closer, the boat moved further. I missed the chance. I was sinking into the water again but Life vest pushed me out. I panicked, as I was missing chances to board into boat. But I did not lose my hope. Boat was now 8 feet away from me. My friends were asking me to swim to get into the boat. My hands automatically pushed the water in and out; this action pushed my body forward. I repeated this three or four time. It helped me to move forward towards the boat and reduced distance between the boat and me. Now I was within the reach (3 foot from boat) and crew member extended the paddle again. This time I made it. I grabbed the paddle and moved towards the boat and got hold of the side rope on the boat. My team members pulled me in to the boat. Wow what a thrill! I re-boarded the boat and started paddling again.

Journey never ends...............

To know about Rafting

மழை மகள்

விழுகும் அந்தி மழையில் வந்து நனையும் தளிர் தழையே
நுதல், விழி, இதழ் வழி ஒழுகும் மழைத்துளியே

அலையும் இரு பரப்பின் இடைவெளியில் வந்து துளைக்கும்
சிலிர்க்கும் உடல், திறக்கும் இதழ் சிரிக்கும்
தளிர் உடல் குளிர் எடுக்கும் கை நடுக்கம்

குடை பிடிக்க மனம் தடுக்கும்
இடி இடிக்கும் உயிர் பதைக்கும்
தடையில்லா சுகம் ருசிக்க மழை இடையில்லா பெய்யும்

கொட்டும் மழை கூரை தட்டி கூத்தாடும், தாரை ஓரம்போகும்
கொதிக்கும் தரை குளிக்கும், வெயில் புளிக்கும், பயிர் பிளைக்கும்

தரை படும் பாதம் மழை நுரை கண்டு ஆடும் வெந்நரை கூட பாடும்
கை கப்பல் செய்யும், மனம் பயணிக்கும், உலகம் உள்ளங்கையாகும்
கொலம்பஸ் கோமாளியாவான், கோமள வள்ளி, பூமகள் அல்லியாவாள்

ஆம்பல் அவள் அழகை கான மேகங்கள் ஊடல் கொள்ளும்
மின்னலை தூதாக்கும், மின்னல் வரும், சன்னல் தொடும்
சன்னலும் மின்னலும் சரசம் கொள்ளும்
தென்றலும் தூரலும் உரசிக்கொள்ளும்
கூடலின் முடிவில் கூதல் தரும்

மழைத்துளி தொடும் கதிர் இறக்கும் மாய ஒளி பிறக்கும்
நல் வடிவான வானத்தில் வில் வடிவாய் வானவில் பிறக்கும்

தேகம் மெழிந்த மேகம் சோகமாகும் பெய்யும் மழையும் பொய்யாகும்
மழை நின்ற பின்னும் மரக்கிளையும் கண்ணீர் வடிக்கும்

கடன் காதலை முறிக்கும்

அவன்: பாக்கி மொத்தம் இருநூறாம், நான்கு வருடங்கள் ஆயிற்றாம். இப்போது ஒன்றே ஒன்றுதான் கேட்கிறேன்.

அவள்: நான் மட்டும் வைத்துக்கொண்டு வஞ்சனையாய் செய்கின்றேன். வந்தால் கண்டிப்பாக கொடுத்து விடுவேன் உனக்கு. ஆனால் வரவில்லையே.

அவன்: வரவில்லையா?

அவள்: ஆமாம் வரவில்லை!

அவன்: நீ வரவில்லை என்கிறாய் சரி, உன்னிடம் ஒளித்து வைத்திருப்பதில் இருந்து ஒன்றையாவது கொடுக்கலாம் அல்லவா?

அவள்: இப்படித்தான் சென்ற முறை வாங்கிய மூன்றையும் திருப்பிக்கொடுக்கவில்லை. இப்பொழுது மட்டும் எப்படியாம்?

அவன்: கள்ளியடி நீ! என்னிடம் கடன் வாங்காமல் நீ பெற்றவையை கணக்கிலிடவா? சென்ற முறை உனக்கு ஒன்றுக்கு இரண்டு அனுப்பினேன். ஆனால் அவை கிடைக்கப்பெறவில்லை என்கிறாய். என்னை ஏமாளியாக்கிவிடாதே.

அவள்: ஏமாந்தது நீயா? இல்லை நானா? என்று கணக்குப்பார்த்தால் தெரிந்துவிடும்

வருடம் - 1998 - 150 முத்தங்கள் நீ பாக்கி
வருடம் - 1999 - 200 முத்தங்கள் நான் பாக்கி
வருடம் - 2000 - 300 முத்தங்கள் நீ பாக்கி
வருடம் - 2001 - 50 முத்தங்கள் நான் பாக்கி

மொத்தம் 200 முத்தங்கள் நீதான் பாக்கி

தெரியாத உனக்கு கடன் காதலை முறிக்கும் என்று.