It isn't summer in Central Texas until you have had at least one float on the River. Using the term floating can confuse outsiders who often think of white water rafting or kayaking down a river because that's what most rivers offer. While you could kayak down parts of the river you certainly won't find white water rapids... and that all seems like a lot of work. Floating down the river involves only 3 essential items: an inner tube, beer, and sunscreen.
Just South of Austin on your way to San Antonio you can stop in San Marcos or New Braunfels and have your choice of tubing companies and Rivers to float. Transportation and a tube cost about $15 anywhere you go for a float ranging from an hour and a half to 5 hours. Of course, there is the added cost of renting an extra tube to hold your beer cooler, but that never seems to bother anyone.
This time around we decided to stop in the small town of Martindale, just outside of San Marcos and off the San Marcos River in Don's Backyard. Off the beaten track and down a long dirt road TOOBING scrawled across a giant wooden sign signified we were in the right place. There were certainty no questions when Don was there to greet us at the gate. This picture doesn't do him justice, but if you ever go back I don't think much will change about the shirtless and leathery old man with yellow ruler suspenders named Don.
As you can imagine this is a pretty high class location with all kinds of amenities with two total employees to collect money, have forms signed, drive school buses full of college students and beer. Not shockingly it took a while to get onto the river and not everyone in our group was asked to sign a waiver.
After we finally got into the river, we took our group of 10 and two completely full beer coolers safely tied into their tubes and to us (of course) to journey down the river for the next 3 hours. The temperature was cool but perfect for a day in the sun. In fact, the temperature is always perfect on the San Marcos River, as it is fed by natural springs from the Edwards Aquifer. The springs also ensure a constant movement down the river at a steady leisurely Sunday pace. Only occasionally does one risk injury from the "rapids" wrapping around rocks, but if you can't manage those you are probably just drunk. In some places the river is deep enough for you to jump in off a rope swing, while in other spots it is better to get up and walk through the rocky bottom to get you moving. No matter how I get there, which river I float down, or where I stop along the way there are always friends to make and a suntan to be had on a river trip.
To truly understand Texan hospitality, our laid back lifestyle and to see the natural beauty of Texas I suggest taking a float down the river. If you find it difficult to relax and soak up the sun for 3 hours, I can guarantee someone will offer you beer and you will wonder what took you so long to get here.
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