Another day trip up to the Kern River for some rafting!

This trip was structured and run just like our last trip from last month, but with a new batch of people from John’s work.

We took Joseph’s $300 van up to the river and back.

John told us about the last trip to the Kern he had; that trip I was not able to make:

It was John, Joseph and three or four rafting newbies – from where I don’t know.

But anyway, apparently this new batch of rafters let John and Joseph do all the work.

One guy was apparently so nervous he prayed before and after his turn down the river and ended up locking the keys in the chase vehicle.

I’m glad I missed that trip!

This trip was great!

The group from John’s work numbered, I would say, about ten people.

Instructor Ed came along with us, too.

While we were taking turns making the run down the section of river, John’s coworkers were barbecuing a gourmet Mexican meal – carne asada, chicken, tortillas.

Joseph and I took turns driving the chase vehicle to the launching trail and back down river to our picnic area.

I lost track, but I think we maybe made close to ten runs down the river; I made at least four of them.

At the end of the day, we packed up and took some group shots…

Ed and I were warned about Joseph’s $300 van; the fact that the thing doesn’t have air conditioning didn’t bother anybody since we’re all macho.

However, it wasn’t explained to me that when the headlights are turned on, the seat belt buzzer constantly rings.

Joseph blames it on a short circuit that he can’t find; but that’s what we listened to after dark, all the way back – beep, beep, beep, beep…

The Dock Of The Los Angeles Harbor Police Headquarters
Inside Los Angeles Harbor

WARNING: You are not normally allowed to dive in a harbor unless you obtain permission first.

It is a great way to get arrested and interrogated by the Department of Homeland Security.

Having the Police with you is also a good idea.

But, by not diving in a harbor, you are not missing anything at all.

Dove with Instructor John, his friend Jim and John’s Harbor Police Open Water students as part of my Dive Master training.

In With: 2000 psi
Out With: 1700 psi
Max depth: 15 feet
Waves: 0
Visibility: 0-2 feet, really shitty
Water Temperature: 60 degrees Fahrenheit, I think
Total Bottom Time: 12 minutes

I don’t know if I should consider this a dive, but under the circumstances (students, visibility) I obviously will.

The Police boat pulled back in to the dock and we dove off the pier – I did a giant stride off the end.

The woman followed, but lost her weight belt; I retrieved it.

Three students were in the water plus John, Jim and myself. John paired us up for a tour.

My “buddy” was the young officer that I brought in yesterday due to low air.

He asked if he could hold my arm as vis really sucked – about zero to two feet.

I said, “sure.”

We submerged and bumped around under the pier for several minutes.

I gave him the “OK” signal; he responded with the “having trouble clearing” signal; we surfaced.

I pointed to a ladder off the pier and suggested that we swim there and try submerging again, as slow as possible.

We swam over and he said, “I’m done.”

“OK, great!” I thought.

We swam over to the ladder that was not completely rusted and climbed up.

These two dives were the nastiest, most disgusting dives I’ve ever been on.

I tasted diesel fuel in my mouth for hours – I hope it was only diesel fuel!

Jim and his buddy dive off the smelly, stinky, crappy (literally) harbor.

The LA Harbor Police Dock.

I thought to myself, Police cars are more comfortable than Police boats.