RIVER RATS SUMMER 22’

It’s that time of the year again. 102 degrees outside and your skin is sizzling. You have two solutions for it. Stay indoors with the ac cranked on high or get into some type of body of water. In the Central Valley we do this thing called floating. Where you float on inflatable device from inner tubes to kayaks to whatever you can think of floating on. My first time floating was in the mid 2000’s with a different group of people. Here’s a photo of me in those days that I found.

I went with people that I use to party with in my younger days (Photo below). I had the time of my life in those days. Well, some of those days I don’t remember from all the day drinking we did throughout the float. Back then I use to drink to turn up. It was different in those days. One important thing I learned for future floating, do not mix your drinks. You’ll either puke or drown one of the two and that is no bueno. Don’t expect the next person to save you because they can barely save themselves. Hahaha Those days are over because I am a lightweight drinker now. More of a social drinker. 1-2 drinks tops and I am good.

Well, fast forward 15 years later with a whole new crew aka the River Rats. My salsa and bachata peeps within the community who I’ve only been around since the summer of 2018.. I haven’t floated since summer of 2019 so I was definitely looking forward to this year. I wanted a tan already! I was looking we do. Haha There’s always new people that come into the dance scene so its always growing. Which means new acquaintances and acquaintances transitioning to friendships.

Sunday July 24th was an enjoyable day in the Reedley River. This was my 2nd time and the week before was the 1st of of the year. 15 people came out that day and we all brought something to snack on but most importantly food to eat once we get to the end of the float (Reedley Beach). We had chicken, links, aguacate, crab and shrimp ceviche, chicken salad, a variety of salsas, potato salad, macaroni salad. We couldn’t wait to get to our destination because the drop off point on Goodfellow is more or less a 5-6 hour drop depending on the speed of the current. The water is cold and refreshing. My legs kept cramping up every time I would get into the water to help steer our floats. Most of us would tie our floats together so some can just float and relax hassle free while others are doing the paddling steering away from the currents that take you into trees and bushes that could pop your float and now you are floatless for the remainder of the float. No bueno. Being in the water for that long is tiresome. So it does matter that you go with experienced people.

Overall it was a great time with this bunch. Some dancing here and there at certaint points throughout the float. Good laughs and most importantly we some of us got to know each other a little better. I can’t wait for the next one. But this time it wont be floating. Maybe a lake or something where its less work in the water. Hahaha Here’s some photos from that day. Enjoy!