The fascination of the young at heart and the Rio Grande River go hand in hand.

Here on the Rio Grande river, we’re now closing in on the end of our season. Not because there’s no water. No! Rather because, now that kids are back in school in Texas, our bookings are much reduced, and there really is no good reason to stay open. So, we’ll close a week from Sunday. That will be our last day, Sunday the 29th. We’ll probably open next year around May 1. Stay tuned.

Here’s some of the action on the river lately, photo by our Operations Manager and Official Photographer Britt Huggins (aka Britt Runyon). Racecourse white water section of the Rio Grande river, near Taos, New Mexico

Photo by Britt Runyon.

Turtle seen along the lower Racecourse

Photo by Britt Runyon (aka Britt Huggins, Official Photographer, New Wave Rafting Co.)

This is the time of year that we encounter many water creatures, including geese, frogs and turtles. People love wildlife!

The flowering we most look forward to in this high-desert neck of the woods is the cholla cactus, with its red-violet flowers. Close to riverside is the aptly-named Showy Milkweed. It is showy and has a subtle, but fabulous, smell.

Looking down at the Racecourse section of the Rio Grande river, with a cholla cactus in full bloom

A large group of showy milkweed, along the Orilla Verde section of the Rio Grande river

Q: Why is milkweed called that?

A: If you break a stem, a milky-white fluid is exuded.

With Neil and Mike as their guides, the Pojoaque Boys and Girls Club hit the rapids of our half day trip, the Rio Grande River Racecourse. The Club has come back for several years now, knowing a fun time will be had by all. Just click on the link seen directly below.

Sleeping Beauty June 11th

Claretcup cactus

The white-flowered shafts of the yucca are now brightening the hillsides along the Rio Grande river. The claret cup cactus are winding down, but next are the prickly pear and cholla.

Blooming yucca

Close-up of blooming yucca

Penstemon blooms alongside the yuccas

Yellow warbler, photographed at the New Wave Rafting Co. headquarters, on the Rio Grande river, near Taos, New Mexico

Flocks of songbirds are migrating up the Rio Grande corridor in numbers we’ve never seen before. We have yellow warblers, yellow-rumped (Audubon’s) warblers and Western Tanagers around right now. It’s a birders’ delight!

The Racecourse rapids on the Rio Grande river got their name because, starting some decades back,  annual raft, kayak and canoe races were held every Mothers Day on this stretch. The races were always very well attended and much looked forward to, and would usually attract boaters from out of state as well as locals. But, alas, the boating club that organized the races finally gave them up. So, in the interest of reviving this event, the New Mexico River Outfitters Association (NMROA) this year sponsored a guides raft race. 15 rafts were entered, with a winning time of 38 minutes. A party followed, and everyone got a big kick out of the event. NMROA is so encouraged by the turn-out that we are planning for a bigger event next year.

The New Wave raft charges through Sleeping Beauty rapid

The winning raft arrives at the County Line take-out and race finish

The New Wave crew, with, left to right, guide trainee Ben Rainchild, guide Orlando Torres, guide Jesse Mogler and guide trainee James Shinas