Grateful in 2020?

At the end of each year we post a blog highlighting our gratitude for the year that’s passed. (Feeling nostalgic? Do check out 2018 and 2019 gratitudes!) With all that has gone on in 2020, are we still grateful? Of course — perhaps now more than ever! We couldn’t run trips for 8+ months — Anvesh set a record his longest stretch off the river for the past 20 years! But during these Covid times, we still were fortunate to run the trips we did and also to connect with nature and each other in different ways. Check out our top 10 reasons for being grateful this year. And tell us what you’re grateful for in the comments below!

10) We are grateful to have hosted the ITRA Intro to Swiftwater Responder Training.

Partnering with Bishnu Gurung of Big Smile Nepal, we were proud to host the ITRA Intro to Swiftwater Responder Training for local guides in Rishikesh in February.

9) We are grateful for the "Prana Active Learning Retreat" trip.

We really enjoyed a few peaceful days on the river in Feb with this group, led by the stellar Adventure Sindbad (perhaps the best kept secret in Indian trekking these days). Check out more photos from this colourful trip at this link.

8) We are grateful for the frontline heroes of Covid.

While we’re not grateful we had to shut our business, we are tremendously grateful to the healthcare and service industry workers, farmers, teachers and more who have emerged as heroes.

7) We are grateful for the work of Taylor Graham, including "Mahakali," featuring Anvesh and Pramod.

During lockdown in March, Taylor Graham released some of his films online, including “Mahakali,” featuring Anvesh and Pramod. Check out his inspiring work!

6) We are grateful for family time.

Anvesh travelled home just one day before lockdown occurred and we were so grateful to spend eight full months together - in our garden, on walks through the forest, and more. (Pic credit: Ashwin Ezhumalai)

5) We are grateful that you can kayak on the ocean.

Being off the river wasn’t easy. Fortunately, we have the ocean right at our doorstep (thank you, Bay of Bengal) and a custom-made kayak carrier for the motorcycle.

4) We are grateful for humbling online reviews that continued to come in during lockdown.

This one says it all.

3) We are grateful that we got to re-open in November.

After a lot of thoughtful consideration, we figured out a way to open our doors while still ensuring your health and safety with our COVID-19 Health and Safety Guidelines. Returning to the river was sweeter than ever.

2) We are grateful for our December Kayak Sessions.

December brought a flurry of Beginners Kayak Sessions, some of which turned into Ganga Three Day trips. We are always grateful to introduce new people to the river!

1) We are grateful for you!

Our friends and family continue to shine through in their support for us: checking in from abroad to see how we are doing, writing to assure us that they’re coming for another trip in 2021, or just sending us photos of the beautiful natural places they are exploring. We are grateful for you! We hope we get to see you on the river in 2021!