River Life

Dawn sends word from the Orange River on the border of South Africa and Namibia.  The kayaking trip was a complete success.  The timing of this four-day kayaking and camping trip was perfect.  Coming off of the group's first real separation during home-stays and then its frenzied reunion and activities in Cape Town, the river excursion gave the ladies an opportunity to reconnect, enjoy each other and relax a little.  

As some of you know, living the river life can't be beat.  There is something magical about floating along in your own craft, watching the birds and scenery pass and being a part of a team to set up camp, make dinner, fetch water, tell tales, and sleep and wake with the sun.  

The stretch was well suited to the group's skills, with a nice mix of lazy, flat stretches and more technical rapids.   This was an important bonding experience for the group and as Dawn put it yesterday, "The teachers are falling that much more in love with these girls -- learning about each other's lives, hopes and dreams for the future."  I know this group will only continue to grow as they experience more of southern Africa together and can't wait for new river stories and maybe even pictures.