Owl Rafting

This review is OVERDUE. How did I keep it all inside? My family and I went on an Owl Tour rafting day trip this summer and it was wonderful.
First of all, it’s a gorgeous and well-​maintained campsite that spans the Ottawa river. The weather could not have been more perfect, only amplifying the scenery.
Everything was very straightforward. You check in, sign the if-you-die-we’re-not-responsible waiver and they tell you everything about where you need to be and when. An orientation talk is informative and surprisingly hilarious from a bleach blonde hair, surfer dude who you know has done this a million times but still manages a ton of enthusiasm.
Time for helmets, life jackets, cheap wetsuit rentals if you need that, and getting on the bus. You’re taken to a different area of the Ottawa river where all the boats and you’re guide is there waiting for you with a smile on their face. You get on the boats and have little lesson on the lingo and positions needed for the rest of the day.
Off you go! Lots of rapids, nothing too life threatening at all. I wasn’t scared for a second with the hunky guide, cracking jokes all along the way. There’s not even a lot of paddling for those of you that are afraid of physical activity. Check out the pipes…
You stop at a drop off for some cliff jumping and snacks. The cliffs are fun, quite high so don’t even try any crazy jumps– you’ll just end up hurting yourself. They make you do up the «happy straps» on you life jacket while you jump. You know, the ones that go between the legs… Anyways! It’s a fun stop with trail mix and juice.
The best part was lunch. Weird to say, I know and don’t get me wrong, I did love the rafting. But there’s nothing quite like a hard days work, then pulling up to two pontoon boats with a fresh barbecue waiting for you. Oh look, there’s a bag of your dry clothes that you set aside for them earlier. Lunch changes up but that day it was cesar salad, pasta salad, and sausage on a bun with hot coffee, tea, water and juice.
What a day and it’s not even finished! You boat back to the campsite and watch a video of your travels. Yes, a videographer/​kayak expert has been following us around the entire trip, only to come back, edit everything together for a viewing shortly after. You can buy the video! You can also buy anything you forgot at the gift shop. You can also have an amazing day with your loved ones.
AMAZING. Do it.

Okay, I am not exactly Mr. Outdoors. I sunburn too easily, fear bugs and hate getting cold and wet. And yet somehow I was coerced into white water rafting. Really I was shamed into it. Something about if the kids do it, then shouldn’t their daddy. Anyhow, we signed up and away we went. And… I LOVED it! For around $ 100 a person, we suited up (with helmet) and rafted down the Ottawa River. And what a trip it was — who would ever think that Ontario (flat as it is) would have those kind of rapids. The guides were fun — they got us competing with the other boats, we stopped for sightseeing, swam around in spots. It was awesome. Don’t be a chicken, like I used to be, go rafting!