Riding the Niagara Rapids in a Jetboat

“This will not keep you dry. Nothing will keep you dry!”

This was the pep talk we received from the crew as they handed out heavy, yellow rain ponchos prior to the first time I rode the Niagara Rapids. And boy were they right!

I love everything to do with the Environment. And the Whirlpool Jetboat Tour on the Niagara River will get you closer to nature that you ever thought possible!

From Niagara-on-the-Lake, on the shores of Lake Ontario, our flat-bottomed jetboat crawled south along the Niagara River. Until it passed out of the no-wake zone, whereupon the captain released all 1500 horsepower. We blasted towards the entrance of the Niagara Gorge, pausing only to do a couple of Hamilton Turns along the way to start the adrenalin flowing. And from that moment the buzz just built and built!

I could give you all sorts of facts and figures about the boats, the Niagara River, or the Devil’s Hole Class 5 rapids in which the jetboats play. But, as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words:

Before: You can see Rich & Sue, plus our friends Mick and Chris, sitting in the front row

After: I can tell you, that takes your breath away, in more ways than one!

As the second photo shows, you basically get the whole Niagara River landing in your lap!

What! A! Rush!

So much so, one ride isn’t enough. Since that first time, I’ve been back again:

Before: Again in the front row, but this time we conned Rich’s Dad into coming along

After: Where’d we go?!

And again:

Before: Again we scored the front row, the best seat in the house, this time with the Geddas who were visiting us from Sweden

During: Who needs air?

After: They were right about nothing keeping you dry!

And… No, that’s it for now. Sadly, I’ve only done it three times so far. But I feel a return trip coming on this summer.

And what’s the reward for such adventures?…

Sue with the Geddas,… Soggy but very happy.

Total Saturation! And it feels great!!

This post was inspired by the photo themes Saturation (from Nancy, of Nancy Merrill Photography), Environment (from Ailsa of Where’s My Backpack?) and Reward (from Krista of the Daily Post).

If being submerged by a Class 5 rapids sounds like fun to you, why not sign up and follow my continuing Journeys here at Jaspa’s Journal (on WordPress or Bloglovin’), or through my website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tumblr?

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