Raft the Rio Part 2

Well, we made it and contrary to the skeptics we did not sink. More on that in a moment.

The following article excerpts appeared in our local paper after the event:

RIO RAFTERS TRANSFORM JUNK INTO FLEET FOR ANNUAL EVENT

By Ashley Meeks ameeks@lcsun-news.com

LAS CRUCES -- Usually, an old Volkswagen bus with a pair of bloody-jawed sharks roped 

precariously to its roof would draw a few stares puttering down Picacho Avenue. But on Saturday, that was hardly the weirdest craft headed to the Rio Grande.

Rafters piled onto about 190 registered crafts, while hundreds more watched from the banks and 

bridges Saturday for the Southwest Environmental Center's 13th annual Raft the Rio -- the biggest ever, said executive director Kevin Bixby.

Sabien Tise, 18, of Las Cruces, stuck to the event's message, netting 700 plastic bottles to an old pallet to make the petite garbage barge "Archimedes," named after the buoyancy principle. "It only took a month and a half," said the 2009 Mayfield High School graduate, who leaves next month to join the Navy. "We thought, since we're in a competition about recycling, we'd put the message out there -- recycle, recycle, recycle." Drawing attention to the river was important too, he said. "That's what makes New Mexico -- the Rio Grande," Tise said.

And on that river, sailors fought a strong headwind and light currents in the up-to-7-foot-deep waters from La Llorona Park, beneath the Picacho Street Bridge, to a food- and music-filled festival at the Calle del Norte (Mesilla) Bridge. Crafts were cobbled together from gym mats, air-mattresses, livestock tanks, vegetable oil barrels -- and even a few refrigerators.

The Saturday of the “Raft the Rio” event was beautiful with sunny blue skies and some wind starting late morning.  In part 1 you read how our intrepid team got together and built the thing. Well on Saturday we had to assemble it and float it for the first time.

Already at 8:30am there was a lot of activity at the “launch site”. Trucks & trailers unloaded their cargo of crew members and rafts. The registrars’ busily had people fill out their paper work all the while rafters completed their work on their creations.

There certainly were some “interesting” looking craft. I’ll try and describe a few for you:

• ·         A step ladder with noodles (long foam tubes you use in your swimming pool) taped               to the bottom
• ·         Styrofoam panels glued together
• ·         Inner tubes tied together with coolers of “refreshments” placed close at hand
• ·         Over 140 plastic booze bottles duct taped together. It took the 2 crew members 7 months to drink their raft. I imagine they had a great deal of help.

The Trinity Lutheran Ark crew consisted of Andrew Lerdal and myself. Why us I don’t really remember. But Jeremy & Nicky brought the Ark & tools and other stuff in their truck. Nicky got us registered and took pictures. She also made the flag for our Ark. Jeremy & Andrew worked at completing the Ark. Eric & Teresa with daughter Megan brought the paddles. And a number of others such as Krissy, Matthew, Sarah, Ken & Jan, Verline, Don & Karen, Chickie & Ron and Eldon & Bonnie came down to see us off. At 10:15am the launch signal was given and our adventure began.

Andrew got on first then I followed. Would our creation sail us majestically down the Rio or would it be a disaster waiting to happen? It was somewhere in between. First of all I have to proclaim to those naysayers , those of little faith - WE FLOATED! HaHaHaaaaa! We were on our way.

For the next 2 1/2 hours we floated, walked, pushed and everything else necessary to get our raft down the Rio. I can't believe how uneven the bottom is. We floated for a time only to bottom out on a sandbar. When that happened we put our legs through the "Flintstones holes" and carried the raft. I have to confess that in theory this approach appeared sound but not in practice. The bottom is sandy but not hard packed so it was hard walking. Andrew did the lion's share of work on this voyage. Walking with the raft was exhausting. And so the journey went.

Now for some stupid reason I took my cellphone with me in a plastic bag. Tuck that piece of info away for a moment. We would float, walk, and watch the others around us. All the while we were dealing with the wind that wanted to push us into the shore. It was the cause of our "accident". 

The wind blew us into some trees/shrubs hanging over the river. That tree sucked us right in. It was while trying to get out of the grip of that tree that we flipped the raft entirely over. That was scary. I found myself momentarily under the raft. My glasses had fallen off my face (thankfully I had them on a cord around my neck). I swallowed a bit of water. All this took seconds of course. I don't know what Andrew did during this episode since we didn't talk about it later. I could not touch the bottom so I was swimming the best I could. Thank you Jeremy for providing old but very serviceable life vests. Remember how I told you Jeremy that you saved my life? I believe you did. At the beginning of the race we had fashioned life vests out of milk jugs. They looked the part but were impractical so we took them off. I had then strapped on a real life vest. I swim very poorly so I never go on the water without a life vest. Once I surfaced and got my bearings I noticed a little plastic encased package floating away. My cellphone was off and running. Now what? I decided I had to get it if I could. So I swam after it and got it. Then it was back to the raft. Once back I was exhausted. My heart was racing and I had a bit of trouble catching my breath. I was safe but tired.

Andrew and I floated into shallow water again so we were able to flip the raft over. Andrew was just terrific during this whole adventure. He was the perfect crew mate. Our raft didn't look so good now but it still floated. Later we discovered that the plastic bags holding milk jugs and other containers had gotten holes in them and were filled with water. The flag had come loose too so we took it off. At then

At the end of the race there were people to help rafters get their creations out of the water. Also at the end there was live music, free watermelon and places to load up rafts to cart them away.

It was "fun" and accomplished what I wanted. The congregation donated milk jugs and other containers and showed interest. Those who got together to plan & built the Ark enjoyed being together and had fun together and the raft finished the race. What more could you ask! We are already talking about next year.


Watch a video about the race. The Ark is visible right before the end. Just look for the Viking helmet and the pudgy guy in the hat.

Will It Float?

This coming Saturday the 13^th Annual “Raft the Rio” event takes place here in Las Cruces. The following article appeared in the local news.

“Fun for participants and spectators alike, Raft the Rio is an annual "race" and festival hosted by the Southwest Environmental Center designed to celebrate the Rio Grande.

The thirteenth annual Raft the Rio will be held on Saturday, June 12, 2010 on the Rio Grande, near Las Cruces. The family-friendly event is open to individuals and teams of all ages willing to get wet and have fun. Creativity and the use of discarded materials in building rafts are highly encouraged.

The three-mile rafting adventure will begin at La Llorona Park beneath the Picacho Street bridge, and end just upstream from the Calle del Norte Bridge (“Mesilla Bridge”). There will be refreshments, food vendors and live music at the finish line.

Prizes will be awarded to homemade boats in the following categories:

• First to finish
• Least likely to finish (must be floating at start of race)
• Best use of recycled materials
• Most spirited (most enthusiastic crew)
• Best theme (most thorough application of a theme to vessel and crew)
• Champion of the River (best promotes appreciation for the Rio Grande)

This year there are two divisions: Kids and Open. Prizes will be awarded in both divisions. The Kids Division race begins at 10 a.m. sharp, followed by the Open Division at 10:15. To be eligible for the Kids’ Division, at least half the sailors on a boat must be under 13 years of age.

The river is expected to be full, due to releases of irrigation water from Caballo Reservoir. Teams may register at the starting line beginning at 8:00 a.m., or in advance by contacting the Southwest Environmental Center.”

Well, this is the event. I invited a few of the more free-spirited from our congregation to join me in making a raft and entering this event. We met a few weeks ago for food and planning. Then I invited the congregation to save milk jugs, juice containers, and any plastic container with a screw top and they responded.

Last night (Sunday) we met to actually build the basic raft. So once again we gathered to eat and then we got busy. We took two pallets and bolted them together. After scratching our heads a time or two we came up with a plan that will hopefully float. Now mind you none of us are engineers but we put something together. I’ll show you.

We talked about how the pallets being wood will float themselves and that the jugs & containers will support so much weight. Two of us will man the ark / raft / boat / water thingy. Since we each weigh a bit over 200 lbs. we are talking about a fair amount of weight that needs to float.

Will it? I’ve had more than one person come up to me and say “you are going to sink”. Oh well. Even if that happens we have enjoyed ourselves thus far.

Next Saturday is the event. We figure we will get there early to try it out. If it sinks, we will quickly fish it out throw it in the truck and take off thus diminishing our public shame. Tune in next week.

My Cats

I don't usually feel like writing about my cats but feel like it today.

Today was "trip to the vet" day for our two furballs - Pandora & Finnegan. They tend to get a bit upset about this trip so I figured I had a the perfect solution.

While they were out and about doing whatever cats do when out of sight I quietly got the cat carriers down from the shelf and went to get ready myself. My plan called for my totally unsuspecting cats to be easily gathered up one by one and put in their respective carriers thus avoiding the usual drama.

Well, once ready myself I started to look for the cats to carry out my perfect plan. Panda was acting a bit strangely and Finnegan was no where to be seen. My plan was falling apart but why? Where was my mistake?

Panda ran into our bedroom and was caught - one down and none to go. I began the room by room search for Finigin. Finally she was discovered cowering up on a high shelf with only her ears visible. I now had to go to the garage and get my ladder. Then it was grab the cat, give her to Cindy, put the ladder away and go to the vet.

I wonder how those two knew what was going on!

When we got back they both shot out of their carriers and went about their business - Finigin to hide and Panda to curl up on the coach.

The whole experience reminds me of an old joke titled:

"How to Pill a Cat"

1. Pick up cat and cradle it in the crook of your left arm as if holding a baby. Position right forefinger and thumb on either side of cat's mouth and gently apply pressure to cheeks while holding pill in right hand. As cat opens mouth, pop pill into mouth. Allow cat to close mouth and swallow.

2. Retrieve pill from floor and cat from behind sofa. Again, cradle cat in left arm and repeat process.

3. Retrieve cat from bedroom and throw soggy pill away.

4. Take new pill from foil wrap, cradle cat in left arm, holding rear paws tightly with left hand. Force jaws open and push pill to back of mouth with right forefinger. Hold mouth shut for a count of 10,

5. Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl and cat from top of wardrobe. Call spouse in from yard.

6. Kneel on floor with cat wedged firmly between knees, holding front and rear paws. Ignore low growls emitted by cat. Get spouse to hold head firmly with one hand while forcing wooden ruler into cat's mouth. Drop pill down ruler and rub cat's throat vigorously.

7. Retrieve cat from curtain rod, get another pill from foil wrap. Make note to buy new ruler and repair shredded curtains. Carefully sweep figurines and vases from hearth and set to one side for gluing together later.

8. Wrap cat in large towel and get spouse to lie on cat with head just visible from below armpit. Put pill in end of drinking straw, force open mouth with pencil and blpw down drinking straw.

9. Check label to make sure pill not harmful to humans. Drink one beer to take away taste. Apply Band-Aid to spouse's forearm and remove blood from carpet with cold water an soap.

10. Retrieve cat from neighbor's shed. Open another beer. Place cat in cupboard,Close door on its neck. Leave head showing. Force mouth open with teaspoon and shoot pill down throat with rubber band.

11. Fetch screwdriver from garage and put cupboard door back on hinges. Drink beer. Fetch bottle of scotch. Pour stiff shot and drink. Apply cold compress to sratched cheek and check records for date of last tetanus shot. Apply whiskey compress to cheek for disinfect. Toss down another shot. Throw shredded, whiskey-soaked t-shirt away and fetch another one from bedroom.

12. Call firedepartment to retrieve cat from across road. Apologize to neighbor who crashed into fence while swerving to avoid cat. Take last pill from foil wrap.

13. Tie the little bastrd's front paws to rear paws with fishing line and bind tightly to leg of dining room table. Find heavy pruning gloves from shed. Push pill into mouth followed by piece of filet mignon steak. Hold head vertically and pour two pints of water down throat to wah pill down.

14. Consume remainder of scotch . Get spouse to drive you to local emergency room. Sit quietly while doctor stiches fingers, forearm and removes pill remnants and cat hair from right eye. Call furniture shop on way home to order new table.

15. Call ASPCA to come collect mutant cat feom hell and call local pet shop to see if they have hamsters.

How to Give a Dog a Pill

1. Wrap it in cheese or bacon.