When we heard our project would be in Tennessee, many of us thought of all the opportunities we would have to explore the natural settings we've been blessed with. Kristen set up a trip to go rafting after almost half the team expressed interest - it was to be on our last Sunda there. t seemed like so far away, but before we knew it - it was time to load into the van and head for the river. Some of us had been rafting before, but this was the first time for quite aa few. No matter what, there is always that adrenaline rush - to know that in a few minutes you will be floating through white-water crashing around you. So we got to the place - all 7 girls, and found out who would be guiding us on our trip. Since there was a lot of guides, they decided it would be better to divide us up into two rafts - it is easier to manage the raft with less weight. Liz, Kristen, and myself were in one raft with a woman guiding us. In the other raft, some dude helped Jen, Jessica, Anna and Amelia down the Ocoee River. The scenery was just so beautiful it just about blew me out of the raft - we were surrounded by mountains covered with massive trees and it looked as though there was blue smoke rising from the mountain tops . . . ahhh, so lovely. We went in and out of a series of rapids, Kristen luckily didn't fall out, but seemed to fall in the raft a few times, it was cute. The rapids weren't huge or anything - nice size, but the trip was more relaxing than high energy. There was a moment where we jumped out of the raft to swim, and it was just the best feeling in the world. I felt like I was being pushed through the clear water, almost a gliding feel; it was beautiful. On the last couple of minutes we went through some sice sized rapids where our guides kept warning us that it was where most people wipe out. We made it through with smiles, they said they almost lost Amelia on one of the rapids. Overall, it was a good experience - it feels so good to be floating down something so natural. For shose minutes, you are truly a part of the earth, riding the excitement then relaxing with the beauty of our surroundings, man what a treat.

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