When I was given the folder of my handwritten letters to my parents when my father died in 1996, I was amazed that he had kept them for ten years. But so pleased that he did. We tend to remember the major events, and we had plenty of amazing experiences in those two years of living in the United States, but it is easy to forget the everyday…
It is now July 1986 and we manage to get a weekend away with our friends before my niece Emma arrives from England for three weeks. We head off to San Antonio and plan to raft down the Guadalupe.. and no doubt drink margaritas. This is my letter home to my parents in the UK after our trip.
July 12th 1986
Dear M & D,
We are just about recovering from our weekend away, although some injuries may take a little longer to heal! It was action paced and a lot of fun and accommodations were interesting to say the least.
The condo only had two bedrooms and a sleeper sofa between the 8 of us. Paul and Kyle shared one bed, Debby and Anna another, Walter and Alison, David and I shared the living room with two in the sofa bed and the two of us on cushions on the floor. Debbie and I were up at 7.00 cooking breakfast for everyone which got their attention as bacon aromas drifted through the condo.
We set off for the river at 8.30, laden down with coolers of beer and wine with sandwiches for lunch, plastic bags and elastic bands (reasons later) and two rubber tubes (for the coolers). We arrived at the rafting centre and rented two, one for the four boys and one for us four girls. We attached the rubber tubes to the backs of the rafts and placed the coolers of liquid refreshment inside them to keep everything cool. Once we were under way the plastic bags were filled with river water and sealed until each boat had 20 or so each, and then the war began. We all ended up in the water at one time or another but quickly dried in the sun.
We got to the rapids and rocks where we disembarked whilst the rafting company crew got us prepared for the next section.. We were poised between two rocky sections and were told to get in the boat as quickly as possible and they would push us down the small cascade to the next river section. I was last one in and had one leg in the raft and the other by side of the chute when the guy pushed the raft. But my leg was trapped between two rocks and I was jerked off my feet and back into the water. Luckily the raft was not too far down the chute and they caught it so I could get in. Unfortunately I now have a very painful and bruised shin bone. I had it looked at by a medic at the centre at the end of the ride, and luckily it was not broken but I still have to use a stick. They say should be fine in a few days! I seem to be accident prone. I am sure that the three beers I had in the first couple of hours had nothing to do with it!
It took six hours in total to navigate the river and a bus took us back to the centre where we had left our cars. A quick change and with me hobbling, we descended on a fantastic Mexican restaurant along the river walk in San Antonio that had a large outside area. The meal was amazing, almost as good as Pappasitos… and we had a great time. It ended up with two mariachi bands having a contest at each end of the table for nearly an hour and they ended up playing “Felice Navidad” as they had run out of things to play. We all sang along and soon all the other customers joined in for several choruses.. I can only assume that passersby thought we were all nuts in the middle of summer.
When we got back we headed down to the river that ran alongside the condo, and it was shallow enough to sit in the cold water for half and hour and it did my leg a lot of good. We then all slept like logs and then headed home in the morning. We were in bed by 10pm and I still needed a siesta yesterday to catch up.
Today I have done a big shop ready for Emma’s arrival, shampooed the carpet and been for a couple of swims to try and ease my leg, which as predicted, is feeling a bit better today.
And we have made plans for our trip home in September. David is running an exhibition in Manchester from the 10th, so I will come home to see you for the first week and then go up and join him before we go to Prescott together to see what his company has planned for him next year. It will be lovely to be back for your anniversary on the 11th having missed last year and looking forward to seeing everyone at the party.
Better get an early night before the great day tomorrow… so looking forward to seeing Emma, and the gang will all be here on Saturday for a curry lunch to meet her, and we will ring you on Sunday to tell you all about it.
Please find enclosed a photo taken by the pool a few weeks ago… we have some new members to the group…..
love from us both.. S&D.
I hope you have enjoyed the latest news from Houston (1986) and will join me again next week for an update… thanks Sally.
Oh dear, Sally, you certainly were a bit accident prone. I feel I’ve lived such a staid life compared to yours which was filled with activities like this. My life seems to have been spent reading and walking [very slowly] around museums, castles and art galleries. It has been pouring with rain here for over 2 weeks now and I am the only person in South Africa who is perfectly delighted with the cooler weather which is perfect to sit and read or sit and write.
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These were just highlights Robbie… I enjoy the quieter life too especially now and like you a book has always been a companion along the way.. Much needed rain I would have thought as you have had some dreadful droughts in recent years.. enjoy your peace and quiet..hugsx
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I love the rain but our sloshy walk in the park today has resulted in my needing to wash all the shoes [smile]. I really felt like I was in the UK.
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Hopefully you will be able to experience the real English rain again soon Robbie..hugsx
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You are the boo-boo queen, just like me. That must have hurt. Maybe the beer helped with the pain! Oh, the days when sleeping on the floor was no big deal!
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Thanks Jennie.. and it did hurt… no solace in the beer or the tequila as my painkillers meant no alcohol.. still I got to be designated driver even with a bum leg lol… and these days not sure I could get up unaided if I did sleep on the floor…xxx
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No alcohol with painkillers? Oh no! Picture me on the floor with my preschoolers every day…wait, maybe you don’t want to picture that. Haha!
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Lol.. good for you… I would need a hoist and tackle..hugsx
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Hahaha!! I have the ‘3-step roll over method’ which works: 1) roll over. 2) get onto hands and knees. 3) stand up. It might come in handy in case you sleep on the floor again. 😅😂
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Thanks for the tip Jennie lol.. actually useful getting out of a bath I have found…lol ♥♥
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So funny! 😅
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♥♥
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Sounds like an amazing adventure on all fronts. I am glad there was no permanent damage done to your leg …..wooha what a life you’ve lived …..💜💜
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Thanks Willow… of to be young enough to bounce back again so quickly lol…hugsx ♥
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Oh! Those were the days, my friend….💜💜
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They were Willow.. still we gave it our best shot and left us with happy memories..♥♥
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That’s the point of it all!
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♥♥
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I went rafting on the Guadeloupe several times back when I lived in Texas. Great fun. Especially when accompanied by a cooler of beer!
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Great fun Sharon… the cooler seemed to empty very quickly lol… hugsx
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It sounded like a fun trip, Sally – but so sorry to hear about your leg. Toni x
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Thanks Toni… these things happen when you are not paying the attention you should.. lesson learnt…xxx
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You are hilarious. I can just visualize you falling out of the raft – maybe you should have put down that Marg. LOLOL. Your story reminds me of the days when our group of friends rented a cottage together a few summers. Lol, so many stories! Love the memories Sal ❤ xxx
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Thanks Debby…those were the days when we were fearless and threw ourselves into adventures..still great memories..♥♥
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Omg yes. And I had to laugh while I wrote that, it reminded me of one our earlier trips in our marriage, to Aruba and I was wading over to the swim up bar where G already was double fisted with a drink for us in each hand, when I lost my balance running in the water and I hadn’t planned on wetting my hair when he didn’t save me, he thought it was more important to hang on to the drinks LOL. Good times! ❤
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Wise man lol..hair will dry…a lost drink is gone for ever ♥
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LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLL ❤
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♥♥
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I never did the river tube thing. I’m glad you had fun.
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Thanks John.. I would have thought you might have some good stuff fairly close to where you are now…xx
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The Colorado River is dammed and forms Lake Travis. Not much tubing around here.
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Still sounds great location..xx
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It really is. I really like it.
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xx
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Oh, I do love these! There’s never a dull one – and this one was no exception. It must have been one of those heart-stopping moments when your leg stuck but I’m glad you were able to carry on. The Felice Navidad in July made me chuckle!
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Thanks Trish, I am sad to say they come to an end in a couple of weeks.. will have to find something else to fill the gap..♥
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Great read, Sally! I enjoy reading your letters because they remind me of when I’ve had similar experiences. I’m sure we could swap some rafting tales.
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It certainly is exhilarating but David was the really adventurous one…xx
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Recovering from weekends in my remembering always was after very liquid ones. Lol
Your stories rrom the past in America are definitely also best advertising for the USA, Sally! Thank you!
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Thanks Michael.. I certainly cannot drink like that today it would take a week to recover, and delighted you have seen this wonderful America..hugsx
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:-))
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I love rafting, but you were lucky not to drown or break your leg. Soaking your leg in the cold water reminded me of filling up a bidet with cold water and soaking my feet after a long day of walking around ???? city in France.
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Isn’t that what its for Noelle lol! We always had one in our continental homes but usually had them taken out.. Sam seemed to think they were his personal drinking bowls!!! xx
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Yikes. What a trip, Sally. The sleeping arrangements sounded a bit tricky as well as the rafting trip. I guess the beer and wine was a necessity for survival. Lol. I’m glad you made it back in one piece. 😀
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Thanks Diana.. I guess we were young and such good friends that it didn’t matter for a couple of nights, but I am glad I got back in one piece too lol.. I remember how soothing that river was that night on my leg and I could have slept there given half a chance..xxx
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Yeah, the young are pretty resilient. A good thing!
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You wouldn’t get me on that raft if you paid me! Glad you enjoyed it – despite the leg damage.
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Not sure I would do today.. David went white water rafting in New Zealand later and they hit terrible turbulence and companion boat went over.. I took photos! xx
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I’ve run out of words to convey how much I enjoy these letters, Sally, so if I don’t comment again you’ll know why!
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Lol thanks Elizabeth.. just a couple more to go anyway…glad you have enjoyed..hugs
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I bet that brought back memories 🙂
I have a 1989 memory on my blog tomorrow – just saying – and a recipe!
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Great Jemima..have put a note in the diary.. and yes it did bring back memories…lol..x
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What a fun read! It brought back an experience of White Water rafting down the Rio Grande with my kids. Mind you, the kids coerced me into going. 🙂 Plenty of laughter tossed with terror, it’s definitely a memory I’ll never forget.
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Sounds like a great time Gwen..certainly one of the highlights…hugsxx
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That rafting trip sounds like a wild ride!
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