Chronicles of a Woman Enjoying Beer and Whitewater (Day 2)…

This is day two of Ginger Johnson's (owner of the website/blog Women Enjoying Beer) famous Rogue River rafting and Ninkasi craft beer vacation. In her previous guest blog she wrote, in a very "Gingerish" way, about her first day on the Rogue River with Whitewater Warehouse. This blog details what happened on the second day of the whitewater rafting and craft beer adventure.
Interested in a similar trip in 2011? Click on this link...Oregon Raft and Craft trip.

July 19, 2010
Yaaaaaawn…smack smack….waking up with the natural light is a treat. That’s how day 2 came about on our Raft and Craft Trip. After a fantastic first day, we’re all all-ready for another one.
Everybody rousted out and up to breakfast at 8, with one slow riser who came happily and sleepily in a bit into the meal. No real big deal…we’re on relaxed mode. After a brief good morning and a warm breakfast, we returned to our cabins to pack and be at the river for day 2 by 9:30 to set out.
So we were. Loaded up, ready to go and off we went at about 945ish – another blue sky sunny day ahead of us on the Rogue.

 

View from the pontoon style raft 

I kayaked again for a short bit then was happy to give it to a guest for the rest of the day. I tell you what – I honestly don’t remember the last time I felt so relaxed and alert at the same time! Riding on the raft, soaking up the sun like a sunflower, and feeling so well taken care of.
The morning was smooth again with a variety of rapids as well as an opportunity to jump into the river and float along with the rafts with a life jacket – very refreshing. One of the other kayakers joined the Dunkers Club too!
We stopped for lunch for more fresh tasty fare with a cliff high view of the river. After we were full we set out for the Rogue River Lodge, an historic stop along the river with a colorful history including past visits to some Hollywood celebs years back.

 

Historic Rogue River Lodge 

We meandered around, taking in the museum, a few of us jumped into a crystal clear swimming hole (COLD – whew!), and then headed back to our rafts.
It was only a short bit downriver till our nightly lodging – Marial Lodge - which was entirely lovely and comfortable. The crew proceeded to group unpack again – many hands, you know – and took to assigned cabin rooms. As I offered up to meet in one hour later for the beer tasting upon our arrival, several of the goers said “We have to wait an hour?!”. Good response….and it told me the guests were thoroughly enjoying a great combination trip.
After everyone was once again showered up and had wandered back to the lodge, I had the table set

 

Tasting night 2 

and ready for the 2nd night of beer tasting and pairing. Here’s the menu we enjoyed:

• Ninkasi Double Red Believer with molasses ginger cookies – also paired with the smoked salmon and Oregon Hazelnuts
• Ninkasi Oatis Oatmeal Stout with Dagoba chocolates (milk & dark)
• Russian River Temptation with tangy chevre on water crackers

MMMMMMMMM! Again, met with happy enthusiasm and ‘mmm-ing’ all around.
Dinner in the adjacent dining room followed our tasting on the deck and we all savored a dinner and good company, including 2 other guests staying at the lodge. One of the very unique things about Marial Lodge is the turn tables at the tables - space saver, serving genius. Our host Lori told me her uncle, who had the lodge previous, hated wasted or unused space.

 

Marial Lodge on the Rogue 

The rest of the troop bug doped up and went for a walk. I stayed in and lazily read a few of the books on the coffee tables in the lodge – history, stories, nature.
One can only take so much stress, so I headed to bed as the sun went down. Ready to get an abundance of sleep again before day 3.
‘Night!

Next Blog – Day 3