Medieval Rafting Trip

March 22, 2020

Many thanks to John Murphy for sharing a grand memory for many Old Gang friends 

Wachovia's First Annual Medieval Rafting Trip   1979

From John:

In the Fall of 1979, I was one of the instigators of a group rafting trip intended to go down the New River in West Virginia. To make it more interesting, we developed (I think I wrote most of this doc) a theme. You know, parties are always better if there's booze, a theme, and perhaps good music if you are indoors. This theme was of a crusade-type adventure where all the participants had roles to play, etc. I do think it was done to lift spirits but don't remember why they might have been low in the first place.

I recall that this became serious enough that one couple came to the bus dressed as a priest and a pregnant nun. We rode the bus to the assigned campground (some participants stayed in cabins but most stayed in small tents). It was decent weather until the morning we were supposed to go rafting when we awoke to a cold, drizzly day. Worse still, this was in the early days of rafting trips and we did not have wet suits. Rather, the rafting company just offered us small, lightweight plastic coats.

When we arrived at the New River launch point we were told the water was too high and it was too dangerous, so they took us instead to the Gauley River and we rafter for about half a day. Even this river was high, and some of the whitewater points had waves as large as those you might see on the ocean.

I recall that at the halfway point we all just stood as close together as we could to gain warmth. In the end, when they put us on the heated bus many of us just passed out.

Open the link below for a list of the participants and the roles they played.

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