Boat Float

Last weekend I got to participate in the annual Yellowstone River Boat Float. Sounds pretty cool, unless you are from here and then you know that it is really no big deal. The premise started out to be boaters following the trail of Lt. Clark. (Of Lewis and Clark fame.) But unless Clark was floating through Bourbon Street, it might have changed a little. (You know, there were "beads" being traded in Clarks time as well. I might have to think about this one...)

The husband and I decided to float the second leg of the three day trip, since our cool spring has led to flood stage, raging river levels which basically closed the first leg due to un-seasonal danger. We floated with the husbands brother, his brother's wife (of heady blog fame), his brother's son (he's 17, and we needed a designated driver!) and the husband's other brother. (Have I mentioned the husband comes from a big family?) In another boat was one of the husband's sisters, her husband, and a couple of their friends. It was a really fun group, or it would have been if I had hung out with any of them! I spent the whole day chatting with heady on one end of the raft, while the nephew did the lion's share of the rowing, (after his father was de-throned during a rather rocky coup-de-tas led by the "queen" herself!) and the "brothers" whispered and giggled like junior high girls.

Apparently we put into the river a little too early. (Or just in time, as far as I'm concerned.) The men, and by "men" I mean "boys", were a little disappointed that they didn't get to see a bunch of drunk girls in neighboring rafts raising their bikini tops in exchange for beer or beads. (Think Mardi Gras.) Although, the river was super fast and high, and even the drunk girls were wearing life jackets, which tends to cut back on the flashing a little bit. We did hear of such debauchery amoung the later floaters, which I think has convinced the brothers that we all got out of bed way too early.

We were camping at the down-river site, and a campground that should welcome roughly twenty groups of campers suddenly took on a Woodstock-type air, with probably 400 campers and only one bathroom. Seriously, tents were popping up where no tent belonged. There was one dude sleeping in a hammock strung between two pick-up trucks. But the tiny town had a great party, where they block off their main street (approx a block and a half long) for a street dance, where the combined age of the "band" was 750 for the five of them. But at least there was plenty of beer, and apparently that's the important part. And from the sound of the party that went on at least until the husband and I left around 10 the next morning, there were plenty of sparkler bombs, too.

So, if you happen to be in the Yellowstone river area in mid-July, you should definately join in the party. But don't forget the sunscreen! (Especially if you plan to show things that haven't seen the sun before...like my shoulders!)

Happy Summer!