Nature

When I was about 10 years old I went on a family vacation to Alaska. We went on a cruse that stretched the entire coast of Alaska stopping at towns along the way. At every town my family and I would go on excursions, from mountain biking to white water rafting, this was a trip full of nature. I went white water rafting on a river that ran though Ketchikan Alaska. This excursion was most memorable mostly because I have always dreamed of going white water rafting but also because I had just barely made the height and weight requirements so I knew that I would probably be in for something that most kids my age couldn’t experience.
            I was in a boat with my older brother and my parents. Since my youngest brother at the time, was to small to come he went bird watching with my grandparents. Right when we pushed off shore butterflies filled my stomach. We started drifting down the wide river. Surrounding us was just endless wildlife.
            We turned the corner about 200 yards from where we pushed off. All I could see in front of me was white water. I was so excited, but I held on to the bench I was sitting on just incase we hit a rock or something. The water made the boat speed up pretty soon my mom’s hair was blowing into my face and I couldn’t even see what was in front of us. My brother yelled “holly crap” so I knew something was about to happen the boat clipped a rock close to the edge of the shore but the water speed and strength whipped the boat around so now I could only see what was behind us. Within about 30 seconds the boat was back facing the right direction. The tour guides explained to us that it hadn’t rained in about a week, so rocks that would normally be under water aren’t.
            As we floated along I could tell we were coming to more of a populated area along the river bank, we would pass by metal frames of old cars that must have been sitting on the waters edge for over 20 years. The guide told me that normally houses along side the river would flood and their car would be carried down the river and end up on the riverbank. All I could think of was how I would ride a kayak down the river every day rather than drive a car.
            This was an experience I will remember for a lifetime. It was also the last family vacation I have been on. Being in a place like Alaska took me away from the life I had grown up in. Surrounded by cars and planes and lots of people, Alaska is full of lots of wilderness and water and wildlife. Going on a cruse was a nice way to experience it all.

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