Today's adventure started out at Mahays Jet Boat Tour building, one of the first you see when you drive into town. I had asked yesterday where to park the RV and they were quite happy to let me park it right out front, very convenient. Their big bus had broken down, so we had to be shuttled over to the dock in two vans over several trips, but it was so close by it didn't take long (had I know, we would have walked!) We loaded up into their fully enclosed jet boat, a fascinating vehicle powered by three 454 engines, with speeds up to about 45 miles an hour, especially when going downstream. Fully loaded (with about 60+ people), we headed upstream at a speedy 35 mph, gaining about 10 feet of elevation every mile, so you can imagine how fast the current was going! We stopped for wildlife a few times on the way, spotting a bear by the shore, and several bald eagles, as well as to check out a number of fish wheels, devices designed to catch salmon so scientists could count them to insure continuation of the species. After about 90 minutes of pleasant river boating, we finally reached Devil's Canyon, so named because of how treacherous the water was. In fact, the original Mahay is only one of two people who have every successfully jet boated (or any kind of boated for that matter) all the way into the canyon. (What we found out later was he wrecked 11 boats before the 12th one finally made it.) We traversed up Class IV, and then Class V rapids, until we reached a large set of rocks, where beyond lay Class VI (the most dangerous) just beyond. Our driver Israel (who we found out later was the owner's son, though he humbly didn't mention it) tucked the nose of the boat just below the biggest rock, and somehow, with engines revving, kept it there for over 20 minutes, with front windows open, while everyone in the boat had a chance to take their pictures and videos of the raging torrent behind them. It was an amazing rush! The power of the water was like being at the base of Niagara Falls, but we were right on top of it! Eventually, with great care, Israel turned us around practically in situ, though I'm not sure how. He said he used to just back up a ways till he got the hang of managing the waves carefully enough to turn around. Incredible. Then we raced down the river like a roller coaster, bouncing up and down on the waves as if we were white-water rafting without the work of oars, and with the additional speed of the boat, we were up to nearly 45 miles an hour! Whoo hoo!! Eventually the river slowed down (though the boat didn't), and we raced back down the river until we reached a replicate of an Athabascan fishing camp (the local indigenous people), and got out for a tour around the camp, a nice peaceful nature walk which was an amazing juxtaposition to the thrill of the ride. After spending a half hour or so there, we loaded back up into the boat and headed back to Talkeetna. From there, we decided to walk through the town rather than take the bus, stopping off to have a beer at the famous Fairview Inn, then decided to stick around for a show at the Sheldon Hanger Theatre, where there was a show called the "Iditaprov," and improvisation show put on by some locals. Not quite the kind of improv we're used to, but it was very entertaining and we did laugh a lot, albeit an amateur production. Lots of fun. Afterward, we headed out to our little turnout outside of town again, anticipating another good night's sleep.
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