Rafting Absarokee Montana: Cookie gets "back on the boat" after two times "bucked" into the waters

Rafting the river with young, athletic rowers is a plus, and Absaroka River Adventures carefully selects each raft's occupants for balance. Here, from our raft, we watch another group of rafters.

ABSAROKA RIVER ADVENTURES BRINGS RENEWED COURAGE, SHARES MONTANA'S STILLWATER BEAUTY

A family suits up at the Absarokee gathering with life preservers for the journey.

STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS

PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER

"The Carpe Diem Kids"

CALL ME a coward.  Water scared. Battle scarred. A sissy. Pansy. Scardey cat. It WAS true. (Emphasis on the past tense.)

Rafting Absarokee Montana is an exciting family adventure

• But now I'm a recovering rafter.

• Two rafting accidents years ago prevented me from "getting back on the horse" -- or hoisting myself back on the raft -- until last weekend.

• I've been twice "bucked outta the boat" -- once in Mystic Lake as it fed into the raging West Rosebud, and once on Oregon's Rogue River as we tried to transit five-star rapids.

Striking cliffs along the Stillwater take on a new look as viewed from the water.

My "rafting chutzpah" was way low.

Sunday however, Absaroka River Adventures restored my faith in the river raft adventure and in  my ability to transit a spirited river.

THE CONTEMPLATIVE Matt Holtz, manager and owner of Absaroka River Adventures, assured me that I would be safe with him and his crew. We brought along San Diego friend, Tom Giamonco. We all felt comforted and protected from the get-go.

Families may bring children at their discretion. Rafting is a great option and a popular family activity.

What struck us most was how beautifully the land unfolded from the water. As we navigated the Stillwater, we viewed beautiful cliffs and rock formations, wildlife and trees along the banks. It was an unforgettable afternoon, experiencing anew places I'd seen all my life from another perspective.

Thrills, no spills, plus scenery mark the trip down the Stillwater.

We put our boats in the river in near Nye, Montana, a small town on the occasionally raging Stillwater River. It was a mostly calm ride.

After a 25-mile journey rafting from Nye, we took the Stillwater River half way back toward Absarokee, via the "Upper Half Day" tour.  It was thrilling, because normally the "upper" Stillwater doesn't have enough water to buoy the rafts.

LOTS OF snow melt and spring rains boded well for us.

We paddled through Class III rapids and floated the beautiful Beehive Canyon, spending time observing blue heron and eagles, enjoying the moments of calm before Matt gave us orders, "okay, we need to paddle."

As the afternoon ends, rafters amble up to land again making plans to do it all again.

We were six plus Matt in our raft, and five other rafts took off in this gorgeous stretch of river, long the domain of kayakers and offering beauty at every turn.

At the helm:  each raft has a leader, a skilled captain, who supervises and runs the show.

We gathered in Absarokee, at the Absaroka River Adventures headquarters, and received our life jackets and encouragement.  Brent listened to my "raft accident stories" and encouraged me that this  would be spirited, fun but safe.

Splashing and a few wet moment in the raft are part of the thrill!

On our Rafting Absarokee Montana the sightings of blue heron and red-winged blackbirds thrilled our rafters, but the three high school athletes were mostly thrilled by the splashes and "wet" parts.

Cookie and Tom relaxing after the ride safely on land, out of the raft!

Kudos to Matt, who described each turn of the river, pointing out rock formations and historic landmarks.  Also delightful are his right-hand man, woman and crew.

• Tim Hedin, Julie our congenial driver, Brent, who gave "Cowardly Lion" me ample courage. The whole Absaroka River Adventures crew of a dozen plus is tops.

• There's a tour to fit your itinerary and needs, from half-day to full-day, gentle and spirited, family reunions and more.

We'll be back! As a bonus to the beauty and excitement, we made new friends -- river rafters from Iowa, Alaska and New Jersey, all enjoying Montana's splendor.  

Europeans and Asians also love the Absaroka River Adventures, Absarokee, Montana

I'm riding the rapids again. Contact absarokariver.com or call 1 800-328-7440.

to book a  raft tour. If you're coming to this part of Montana, you won't go wrong on the river.

Boats, beauty and water life mark the California hotel tour.

COMING SOON: Favorite hotels along the California coast and why we picked them. (Spoiler alert: Usually because they have a connection to the water.) Plus Old Town Sacramento and its charms. All that and more about travel, performance, nature and more.

Remember to explore, learn and live, as we travel with a sense of fun and adventure.

Visit us at www.whereiscookie.com