< ![CDATA[  We just got back from a completely amazing experience riding the rapids in zodiaks while the tide comes in up the Shubenacadie River in Maitland, NS. The Bay of Fundy has the world's largest tides - measuring in at 47 ft. if I remember right. When that tide change gets to the head of the bay, rolling the Shubie river backwards, the results of the water coming over the sandbars are white-water rapids to rival many of the rivers known for such sport. The difference is that this rafting takes you back to where you started! We got up at 7:30 this morning (that's 6:30 Eastern time), sucked down some breakfast, and pedaled about 5 miles to <a href="http://shubie.com" target="_blank">Shubenacadie River Adventure Tours, Ltd.</a> for an 8:30 start. After getting prepped and in the boats by 9:30, we headed down-river to meet the bore. We got there early, so were allowed to get out and play in the mud on the bottom of the river. That's right, Mom said the kids could play in the mud. At first, this meant some walking around and look at the weird formations made in the mud by the water having rolled over it. However, when a couple young adults started chasing around and splashing mud, craziness ensued. Ezra couldn't handle the fact that it was OK to play in the mud now, so kept trying to keep clean, while Elisha made snow angels in the mud - mud angels I guess. At first sign of a wave in the distance, we loaded back in the boats and headed with the tide to see the first of the bore rolling in. This is quite a sight! The water is rolling against the sandbar with a wave like you may have seen on the ocean shore, but it's staying in one place - a standing wave. So, the next 2 hours or so were spent chasing through the waves made by this bore. The kids were unimpressed at first by the initial waves, but after cresting 6+ foot high waves, crashing down, and riding back up the next one, feeling like we're on one of those water roller coasters that splash down and send walls of water 20 feet away only to load up and run again in a few seconds, they were impressed to say the least. After some of the rapids decreased, we were back at the place we started, so we took a break for a drink and a pit stop. Then, back in the boat for more. We headed further up river to go mud-sliding. This was unbelievable great fun. 15-20 foot high banks of mud on the side of an inlet in the river, and no rocks in sight. You climb up the mud banks and slide down - belly down, head first is best - just to plunge into the river and rinse off (some anyway). The mud does wonders for the skin too, as it gently sloughs off the dead skin. After the mud slides, a little more rapids, some swimming in the river, and back to the beach. The Adventure Tours company was absolutely great. The people are as friendly as could possibly be. We sprung for the longer tour. If you get a chance to come up, this is definitely the company to go with, judging from what we saw of the other boats on the river, and you should certainly spring the extra for the longer tour which includes a meal on your return. This is one of the great highlights of the trip and I wouldn't trade the experience for the money by any stretch. If you are ever near this area of the world, don't miss this opportunity. We missed it 10 years ago, and it was one of our great regrets. I'm so pleased to have been able to do it now, and to have enjoyed hearing Ezra say "This is a great, wild boat ride!" ]]>