{"id":6222,"date":"2011-07-08T20:18:17","date_gmt":"2011-07-09T01:18:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/brubakers.us\/?p=6222"},"modified":"2011-07-08T20:23:42","modified_gmt":"2011-07-09T01:23:42","slug":"tubing-in-farmington-ct","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brubakers.us\/?p=6222","title":{"rendered":"Tubing in Farmington, CT"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>It was a week ago today that I lost my favorite pair of Brighton sunglasses.  <\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ching\/5892115886\/\"  title=\"2011-07-01 09.41.38.jpg by Ching, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"pic\" src=\"http:\/\/farm6.static.flickr.com\/5112\/5892115886_98f39d6a99.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"2011-07-01 09.41.38.jpg\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ching\/5891645285\/\"  title=\"2011-07-01 09.27.39.jpg by Ching, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"pic\" src=\"http:\/\/farm7.static.flickr.com\/6039\/5891645285_9fa06ff932.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"2011-07-01 09.27.39.jpg\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The day started out great.  We had <a href=\"http:\/\/www.brubakers.us\/foodies\/?p=1956\" >breakfast at Harvest Cafe &#038; Bakery<\/a> in Simsbury, CT.  Then we went over to Jeff and Rachael&#8217;s house in Canton, CT before heading to Farmington, CT for tubing.  It sounds weird, I know, but the towns are right next to each in the East Coast and particularly this part of Connecticut.  You turn the corner and you hit another town. LOL.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ching\/5892688761\/\"  title=\"IMG_6993 by Ching, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"pic\" src=\"http:\/\/farm7.static.flickr.com\/6012\/5892688761_f8404eb03d.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"IMG_6993\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>I should have taken this as a sign. They didn&#8217;t tell me there were going to be rapids.  I was thinking we were in for a lazy river type tubing experience.  I guess the handles of the inner tube should have been my clue.  <\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ching\/5892685211\/\"  title=\"IMG_6937 by Ching, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"pic\" src=\"http:\/\/farm7.static.flickr.com\/6014\/5892685211_2bb151d16f.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"IMG_6937\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Jay didn&#8217;t want Jeff to tell us about the rapids because he was afraid that I would bail out on tubing because I&#8217;d be too scared.  I probably still would have been up for it though, except I would have left my sunglasses in the car.  =P<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ching\/5892685273\/\"  title=\"IMG_6936 by Ching, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"pic\" src=\"http:\/\/farm6.static.flickr.com\/5192\/5892685273_ac941b55ee.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"IMG_6936\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Here are some &#8220;before&#8221; pictures&#8230; <\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ching\/5893253120\/\"  title=\"IMG_6935 by Ching, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"pic\" src=\"http:\/\/farm6.static.flickr.com\/5268\/5893253120_dfc6712d27.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"IMG_6935\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>This is when we first got started&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ching\/5893253704\/\"  title=\"IMG_6939 by Ching, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"pic\" src=\"http:\/\/farm6.static.flickr.com\/5061\/5893253704_711d052a16.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"IMG_6939\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>I didn&#8217;t know how to paddle.  I think my arms were too short.  So Brian waited for me so we could stay together in between rapids.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ching\/5892685689\/\"  title=\"IMG_6942 by Ching, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"pic\" src=\"http:\/\/farm7.static.flickr.com\/6013\/5892685689_b5e4c65e10.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"IMG_6942\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>I think this is Brian&#8217;s &#8220;Where are they?&#8221; face.. We got separated from the rest of the group because I was going too slow.  LOL.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ching\/5893254126\/\"  title=\"IMG_6945 by Ching, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"pic\" src=\"http:\/\/farm6.static.flickr.com\/5079\/5893254126_2ee02a62ca.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"IMG_6945\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Part of it was that I couldn&#8217;t stop taking pictures.  =P<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ching\/5892686545\/\"  title=\"IMG_6954 by Ching, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"pic\" src=\"http:\/\/farm6.static.flickr.com\/5073\/5892686545_6ec4dd190c.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"IMG_6954\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s Jay and Brian (above) and then a solo picture of Jay (below).<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ching\/5893254902\/\"  title=\"IMG_6959 by Ching, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"pic\" src=\"http:\/\/farm7.static.flickr.com\/6016\/5893254902_395f1199ee.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"IMG_6959\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>We all got together after the first set of rapids.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ching\/5893255200\/\"  title=\"IMG_6964 by Ching, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"pic\" src=\"http:\/\/farm6.static.flickr.com\/5036\/5893255200_e7b481ac11.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"IMG_6964\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Rachael and Jeff&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ching\/5893255260\/\"  title=\"IMG_6966 by Ching, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"pic\" src=\"http:\/\/farm6.static.flickr.com\/5280\/5893255260_015bda469b.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"IMG_6966\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Jeff and Jay&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ching\/5893255502\/\"  title=\"IMG_6971 by Ching, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"pic\" src=\"http:\/\/farm7.static.flickr.com\/6004\/5893255502_79dedee55e.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"IMG_6971\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>We all had a jolly good time&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ching\/5893255914\/\"  title=\"IMG_6978 by Ching, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"pic\" src=\"http:\/\/farm6.static.flickr.com\/5061\/5893255914_e45ecd6227.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"IMG_6978\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ching\/5892688037\/\"  title=\"IMG_6983 by Ching, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"pic\" src=\"http:\/\/farm6.static.flickr.com\/5119\/5892688037_9df7b5c135.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"IMG_6983\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ching\/5893256066\/\"  title=\"IMG_6981 by Ching, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"pic\" src=\"http:\/\/farm6.static.flickr.com\/5265\/5893256066_a83be363ce.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"IMG_6981\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Finally got everyone lined up!<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ching\/5892688129\/\"  title=\"IMG_6985 by Ching, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"pic\" src=\"http:\/\/farm7.static.flickr.com\/6019\/5892688129_b1eefa18c9.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"IMG_6985\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Brian looks naked in this photo, but he is wearing swim trunks. I promise!<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ching\/5892688177\/\"  title=\"IMG_6986 by Ching, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"pic\" src=\"http:\/\/farm7.static.flickr.com\/6002\/5892688177_5cab827949.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"IMG_6986\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Brian, up close and personal&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ching\/5893255402\/\"  title=\"IMG_6969 by Ching, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"pic\" src=\"http:\/\/farm7.static.flickr.com\/6044\/5893255402_04e06017dd.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"IMG_6969\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>My last photo with my sunglasses&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ching\/5892687295\/\"  title=\"IMG_6970 by Ching, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"pic\" src=\"http:\/\/farm6.static.flickr.com\/5311\/5892687295_1c9bd3e231.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"IMG_6970\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The sad thing is that the sunglasses were only a year old.  I thought I&#8217;d had them for a couple of years but, after checking my blog, I realized that <a href=\"http:\/\/brubakers.us\/?p=4368\" >I bought them at the Brighton store at Country Club Plaza in Kansas City over 4th of July weekend last year<\/a> and then I lost them in the Farmington River over 4th of July weekend this year.  How ironic!<\/p>\n<p>I&#8217;m glad that I thought they were a couple of years old at the time I lost them, otherwise I&#8217;d have been really upset.  As it was, I just took it in stride.  I think Brian was more upset over the loss than I was.  Then again, when you&#8217;re afraid that you&#8217;re going to die, losing a pair of sunglasses is the least of your worries.  LOL.<\/p>\n<p>There were four sets of rapids altogether.  I made it through the first three without any hitches.  The fourth set was the shortest and mildest (I don&#8217;t think it even counts as rapids to tell you the truth, but I&#8217;m counting it because it almost killed me =P) and it was the one that wiped me out.  Ugh.  Brian said that I just happened to hit the one big bump in the middle (I don&#8217;t know what they&#8217;re called) and that&#8217;s what toppled me over.  He watched it happen and couldn&#8217;t do anything about it.  Thank God for the life vest!<\/p>\n<p>After that, it was an ordeal to get me back on the tube.  The current kept pushing me down the river so I couldn&#8217;t get secure footing on the rocks we passed so get myself back on.  Brian and Jay finally just had to pull me back up on my innertube.  I never would have gotten back on if it weren&#8217;t for their teamwork.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ching\/5893256560\/\"  title=\"IMG_6990 by Ching, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"pic\" src=\"http:\/\/farm7.static.flickr.com\/6060\/5893256560_c35d6cc6a2.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"IMG_6990\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>It was a beautiful day.  With the exception of the frigid 59-degree water temperature, it was the perfect day for tubing.  I wish we would have had more time because the first pass (which on average takes about an hour and a half to two hours) is $18 (it&#8217;s $20 on weekends), the second pass is $10, and then you can keep tubing for free.  So for $28 you can go tubing all day!  <\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/ching\/5892688647\/\"  title=\"IMG_6992 by Ching, on Flickr\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"pic\" src=\"http:\/\/farm6.static.flickr.com\/5320\/5892688647_ed4b801123.jpg\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" alt=\"IMG_6992\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The best part is there&#8217;s no walking involved.  You get in the water, tube down the river and then when you get to the &#8220;take out&#8221; spot, there&#8217;s a bus that will take you back to the beginning.  I would totally do this again.  The only advice I have is don&#8217;t wear sunglasses or, if you must, then buy a cheap $10 pair from Target or Walmart that you wouldn&#8217;t be afraid to lose.  Also, bring cash for your admission because they don&#8217;t take credit cards.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It was a week ago today that I lost my favorite pair of Brighton sunglasses. The day started out great. We had breakfast at Harvest Cafe &#038; Bakery in Simsbury, CT. Then we went over to Jeff and Rachael&#8217;s house in Canton, CT before heading to Farmington, CT for tubing. It sounds weird, I know, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[21],"tags":[126,353,1512,971,1520,125,1374,1521,1519,1518],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/brubakers.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6222"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/brubakers.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/brubakers.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brubakers.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brubakers.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6222"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/brubakers.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6222\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6232,"href":"https:\/\/brubakers.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6222\/revisions\/6232"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/brubakers.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6222"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brubakers.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6222"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/brubakers.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6222"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}