Two RV Gypsies: Full-Time RVers
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The Two RV Gypsies took a fun, but sometimes turbulent inner tube ride over mini waterfalls on the Portneuf River.

NOTE: The Portneuf River is a tributary of the Snake River. This river runs through the town of Lava Hot Springs. There are several places in town to rent tubes ($3-$10) or you may bring your own. You may rent by the hour or the day. There are one, two, three and four main tubes. It is about 2.5 miles at the longest point but you can do shorter sections. In some sections, the river is only about 2 feet deep and people will "drag bottom" in a few spots. The tube rental places will let you have a free life jacket with your rental. (Of course, some of these rules and prices may change as the years go by. The two RV Gypsies have no control over that).

Be sure to wear tie-up shoes, not flip flops or slip-ons or you will most likely lose at least one of them on the way down.

safety recommendations while tubing

Below: The steep, rocky path to get down to the Portneuf River. No matter where the two RV Gypsies tried to enter the river, it was a steep path down and very slippery near the rivers edge.

The steep, rocky path to get down to the Portneuf River
The steep, rocky path to get down to the Portneuf River

Below: Since the two RV Gypsies were not able to photograph themselves from this angle, they took pictures of other people in this area, where the first two mini waterfalls are located. Many people put their tube in after the falls, but of course the two RV Gypsies wanted the experience of tubing over these two falls. As the two RV Gypsies watched, most tubers made it over the falls okay, but a few people flipped over. One lady cut her arm in this area, but not seriously.

the second waterfall  and the steepest
the second waterfall  and the steepest
theturbulent waterfall as it hits the Portneuf River

Below: These two photos were taken by the two RV Gypsies while in their tubes after going over this waterfall themselves. Notice the big rock right in the middle of the waterfall at the top.

the steepest waterfall on the Portneuf River
the steepest waterfall on the Portneuf Rive

There were several mini waterfalls throughout this journey. At one point, Karen Duquette ended up completely covered with water, although she did not fall out of the tube. On the second time through that area, Lee Duquette got covered with water because whoever was in front of the double tube got completely soaked. (The tube twisted and turned as they went down the river, alternating who was in the front). Everyone on the single tubes laughed each time Karen or Lee got soaked. After a bit, it was easier to tolerate the cold water. The water was cold, but not freezing icy cold. Below are photos of other people going over the area that soaked the two RV Gypsies. People sat on the wall to watch this area and laughed as the tubers got soaked or thrown out of their tubes.

the mini waterfall that soaked the two RV Gypsies
the mini waterfall that soaked the two RV Gypsies

Below: Whenever the two RV Gypsies got to a calm part of the Portneuf River, they took a quick photo. There were several mini waterfalls in the area. The water was very shallow, and several times the two RV Gypsies got their tube stuck on the rocks and had trouble getting the tube to flow down the river. One time when they were stuck, Karen Duquette just reached out and grabbed the arm of a man on another tube and hung onto his arm until they were able to float on their own again. He must have been taken by surprised, but all he said was, "quick thinking." Of course during these times, the two RV Gypsies could not photograph themselves. They were tubing together on a double tube because that's how Lee Duquette wanted to experience this.

a calm section of the Portneuf River
a calm section of the Portneuf River

Below: When the two RV Gypsies exited the Portneuf River at the designated spot, they had to walk across the bridge shown in the photo above, and that was when they took the three photos below.

a mini waterfall along the river
the Portneuf Rver
the exit point for the tubers

Below: Lee Duquette carried the tube through the town back to the place where they started their tubing trip. Once, the tube accidentally bumped a guy passing by and the person just laughed. There is a shuttle bus that will pick the tubers up and drive them to the beginning again, but they charge $2 a person each trip and the two RV Gypsies did not mind the walk. The two RV Gypsies got a lot of wonderful comments on their "Kool-Aid shirts" that they were wearing.

Lee Duquette carrying the tube through the town

Below: Now the two RV Gypsies decided to take a second turn tubing down the Portneuf River. Here is photos of them as they first entered the river. See how shallow the river was at that point.

Lee Duquette in the Portneuf River with the tube

Below: Karen Duquette relaxed on the tube, while Lee Duquette took a few photos before getting on the tube too.

Karen relaxing while Lee takes photos
Karen relaxing while Lee takes photos

Below: Karen Duquette got in the front of the tube first, then Lee Duquette found it a bit difficult to get into the back of the tube. They finally figured out that if they each sit sideways, with legs on opposite sides of the tube, they could balance their weight better when tubing over the falls. They also had to lift their butts when the river got super shallow or they got stuck on the rocks.

Lee Duquette trying to get in the tube

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