17 July 2008

Doodle - Vacation


It looks as if Doodlechris is remembering a fairly regular family activity. My daughter lives in Sacramento which has a very nice river running through it. On the upper Sacramento, you can enjoy some pleasant rapids for the adventurous. The people who get the summer lazies when the sunshines bright head for the lower Sacramento.



The method is simple. Two cars or trucks drive to the picnic grounds. One truck is dropped off and the driver is brought back to the jumping off point in the second vehicle. In our case, we rope four rafts together (two big ones for people, one small one for picnic food, and one small one to hold the weapons and radio), don the life jackets and we are off for a nice two hour family float to the picnic grounds.

The beers and soda trail behind us in the water to stay cold. The huge water cannons are loaded to spray people on the shore and in other boats. If you get too hot, simply fall in the river to cool off (This is not recommended at the beginning of the season -- that water is ice melt and hasn't warmed yet).

Another small word of warning usually ignored by the young folks: Do not get drunk on the river and make sure one person is designated driver to get you all home in one piece.

Once at the landing, part of the crew lays out the spread under the trees while the others deflate and store the rafts in the vehicle. Finish off the day watching the sun set on the river before heading home very, very tired, definitely full, and probably sunburned.


One small note about the video. Back in the early sixties, I made a trip to Las Vegas. The original Mills Brothers were on stage in one of the lounges. To this day it is one of best evenings of music in a small venue that I have ever been fortunate to experience. Modern Vegas simply doesn't compare to the intimacy of the old clubs and I truly miss it.

8 comments:

Alastriona, The Cats and Dogs said...

That looks like a very fun vacation. ~Socks, S & C

Maggie Moo said...

The beer and soda trails behind you? And it's cold when you get there? How neat is that! LOL...

And doodle Chris looks very happy and content in today's doodle.

Anonymous said...

Doodle Chris chose a fun activity to doodle about. I wanna go!

Mark said...

I'm not sure being impaled by a parasol through the skull is my kind of vacation.

Anonymous said...

Doodledude is looking a bit seasick.

Linda said...

If I didn't have a bad back and would probably throw it out just getting in and out of the inner tube, this sounds like a lot of fun - especially on a hot Sacramento day (of which I am somewhat familiar having lived just down the road in Stockton for many years!).

Kudos to DoodleChris on another fine rendering!

Travis Cody said...

That does sound like a great way to spend a hot day.

And the Mills Brothers with Dean Martin? Smoooooooooth.

maryt/theteach said...

Jamie, did such a vacation once in Australia but the rapids scared me to death! We had scones, whipped cream and rahspberry jam at the end of the trip! :)