3 of us did the jungle run, pretty tame and was great for a first time river rafting trip. Tour guide Ezra was awsome - funny, patient and clear communicator. Highly recommend! read more

Found this place to be the tale of two businesses. The check in and the actual white water rafting. I'll start with checking in at the actual business. You walk in and you are greeted with a sense of urgency, like you are late. They ask your name and tell you no questions until after the presentation. We all listed to the presentation but it was as if they were having an off day. Maybe it was the heat, it was pretty hot. After we tried to ask questions but now we're told they would be answered "down the ramp, in the back". This caused confusion when it came to shoe rental and something about the sunglasses straps and a couple other things from others in my group. Several of us had to walk up and down the ramp because of said confusion. However, when the guides arrived about 10 minutes later the energy flipped. We listened to a more up beat presentation, prepped our equipment, and headed on a shuttle appropriately 30 minutes to the "drop site". The guides were happy, engaging and very informative about the river and the surrounding areas. Especially our guide Bull (I believe that was his name) who was very nice and even answered a lot of questions from one in our group. He handled it well and didn't seem to get annoyed. The season is ending so the water was low and the rapids were soft. The guides make it fun by telling you cool and interesting facts as you travel down. A couple times you take a break to swim or jump off a rock. It was very fun especially with how the guides seem to be cool with each other and you feel like you are just chilling with new buddies. At the end there are porta potties and refreshments waiting by the shuttle to return you to the shop. I would have posted pictures but they were $20 for one picture and $70 for a package. Having already been turned off with the earlier poor customer service all 9 of us decided to pass. read more

They went above and beyond to undue the doodle by the third party who scheduled our reservation. Rather than telling us, "Too bad, so sad we got your money, not our problem," they stepped up and added us to another trip later in the day that was already sold out. They saved the day for my daughter's first CLASS IV trip. Thank you Daneya for running the show and taking care of us on our second trip in two days. You guys are the best! read more

My family had an amazing experience with Whitewater Voyages! Our guide, Cooper, was knowledgeable, funny, and kept everyone entertained throughout the trip. The entire staff was welcoming, organized, and genuinely helpful, making us feel comfortable from start to finish. We did the Jungle Run, and it was the perfect choice for our family's first whitewater rafting adventure--exciting enough to be memorable while still feeling safe and manageable. We couldn't have asked for a better introduction to rafting and would highly recommend Whitewater Voyages to anyone, especially families and first-time rafters! read more

Whitewater Voyages - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Kernville, California

Amazing time on the Kern, and Brogan was an awesome guide! We did the Jungle Run, which was perfect for our family (and Brogan was very patient with my wild child). The staff overall made sure everyone was pumped - even the bus ride was fun. They give everyone a chance to swim plus a rock jump, and beverages are provided at the end. read more

My group (of about 12 teenagers and 8 dads) all recently took an overnight rafting trip down the Kern River with Whitewater Voyages -- and it was an absolute blast! The guides were friendly, fun and knowledgeable, ensuring everyone felt safe ... but equally importantly had a great time. They were all super personable, fun, and knew each of us by name by the end of it. I'd like to give a shoutout to Junior and Steph and the whole crew! Junior was knowledgable and super funny and what I appreciated about him as our guide on the river was one minute he could be having fun, splashing and joking, but when he needed to could quickly get us to understand it was time to focus on the rapid or work better together without ever feeling like we were being scolded for not knowing what we were doing, it was always in a positive fun way. If I returned I would 100% request Junior as our river guide again ... so long as you want to get wet and I think part of the fun are those oh sh*t moments while still being safe ... and he delivered on those :) Also, the meals were ... way beyond expectations. We are talking steaks, breakfast burritos, and more. If you're looking for adventure with great food, excellent guides and a magical night under the stars (this might have even been highlight for me -- getting to sleep under the stars and seeing the Milky Way - then this trip is for you! read more

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Such a great time and awesome guide Joshua made it even better. Six of us did level 3 which was perfect for a friend's birthday. Highly recommended but make sure to sit towards the front if you want to be visible in the photos taken (I was in the back row and could see my yellow safety helmet but only 1 pic with me visible). I also recommend bringing a water bottle as over our 4 hrs on you'll be thirsty. read more

Had a great time! The people who work here are awesome. Major shout out to our guide, Parker for agreeing to wear my go pro and giving us a great run through the rapids. I even left my drivers license at the shop and they offered to mail it to me. Strongly recommend this place! read more

Whitewater Voyages - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Kernville, California

Outstanding group of river rafting guides!! Always looking to make our trips memorable and special. We now plan this yearly for our team building the bond that goes beyond meeting and the day to day grind. Thank you Whitewater Voyages for being the best there is! Until next year!! All of us from John C Wilson, DDS read more

Whitewater Voyages - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Kernville, California

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Josh, Ezra, and Parker were absolutely amazing! We did the lower Kern Jungle Run and had the best time ever! One person in our group had never been rafting before and they explained everything perfectly before we launched! The guides were all so personable and funny! We only raft with Whitewater Voyages when we raft and have never been disappointed!! Can't wait to come back next year!! Thanks so much for a wonderful day of rafting!! read more

Amazing experience! It was our first time rafting and our guide Ezra made the experience a fun and memorable one. He made sure to make us feel very welcomed and comfortable, and was very knowledgeable and professional, which is probably why I enjoyed rafting so much. The other guides, Ash and Valdez, were also very lively and amazing to have around. Because of them, we felt as though we were in good hands. Furthermore, because of how much fun I had rafting, especially with our guides, I will now be yearning to go back every summer. By the way, my favorite rapid was the Cupcake 100%. Thank you for the fun summer experience! read more

Bull, Nick, and AJ were awesome guides on the river! They kept us entertained with fun information, jokes, and stories about the area and wildlife. We had a really cool private campsite halfway into the 2 day venture(recommended). Campsite was awesome and had an amazing view of the surrounding mountains and stars. The guys were also amazing cooks and brought a plethora of food and even accommodated my Fiancée's dietary restrictions. The rapids were a mix of Class 2-4's and provided a great time for beginners-intermediate in terms of rafting. They did a great job providing a great family adventure. Bring lots of sunscreen btw, do not use the spray sunscreens, they will not hold up to the sun in the Kern River. Use copious amounts of sunscreen. read more

Whitewater Voyages - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Kernville, California

Wonderful and adventurous day led by our Raft guide Ash! Very thorough with directions on how to lead the adventure, and guided us the whole way. Informed us of the different types of rapids that we would experience, and helped navigate our raft to ensure a wonderful time! Thank you, Ash, and the staff at Whitewater voyages for an exciting and adventurous day! read more

It was an amazing experience with them, great way to spend our honeymoon. Absolutely legendary we had Michelle as our guide she was fantastic. It was a great experience and we will be coming back!! The lunch was in a perfect spot of our trip as well . Possum is my husband and I favorite spot:) read more

Whitewater Voyages - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Kernville, California

The entire experience was well organized , our guide Luther was patient and amazing and we had so much fun! Our kids enjoyed it did we

Absolutely top-tier experience. This is our 3rd time with Whitewater Voyages over the past 20ish years, and I wouldn't even consider going anywhere else. The experience was top-tier from start to finish, and our guide, Grant, was an all-star. He made sure that we got the full experience, but also made us feel very safe when doing so. I think the best part is, the kids (having never rafted before) were complaining about it the entire trip, and when we were finished, they were ready for more. I honestly hope we're able to come back again soon. read more

I am very happy with my rafting trip today. Today was my first time rafting, and I greatly enjoyed it. At the start, a nice guide named Michelle went over rules. Then my group had Brogan as a guide when we went on the raft. He was very good. He told us nice stories and Michelle and another guide, Parker, went along in front of us with supplies. Brogan was very nice and pulled out a larger raft to accommodate our larger party. We all had a lot of fun learning the rowing techniques and understanding the commands. During our rafting trip, we heard lots of great stories from Brogan, and he helped us by giving great recommendations on things to do and places to eat during our stay here in Kernville. He gave us everything we needed, and I'm excited to go rafting again thanks to our great guide, Brogan! read more

It was my first time whitewater rafting, so we booked the class 2-3 Jungle Run. White Water Voyages has a smooth operation with great guides. Steven was awesome! We had a great time. We will definitely be coming back to do a class 4 run. read more

This is our 4th time using Whitewater Voyages, all 2 day trips, all with the family and WOULD NOT go with anybody else! After saying that there was a experience that I would say needs improvement, The Front Desk. We arrived early appox 1 hour before check in, and met A.J. a very nice young man who explained that check-in was not till 10:30. No problem we'll go shopping for swag at the store and found some very cool swag. We returned at 10:30, all six of us, excited of course!!! That is when we met the young lady at the front desk. Didn't catch a name but had long brown hair, about 5ft 6. We'll call her The Gatekeeper, nobody goes anywhere or does anything without the Gatekeepers approval. At 10:30 we all tried to check-in and the gatekeeper took two steps out of the office and abruptly told us in a stern manner that check-in was not till 10:45 and walked back in the office. At exactly 10:45 the Gatekeeper yells at us to line up and check-in, all this while we (customer) are busy getting ourselves together for this adventure. We proceed to outside office area, at that point we are inspected by the gatekeeper...cannot bring this can bring that. So we all get ready, all 6 of us. I have a backpack ready with all the drinking bottles and sunscreen needed for all six and bring with us for final inspection by The Gatekeeper. At that point she says" what is that?" I explain its our water and sunscreen for the raft. The Gatekeeper then raises her voice and says "ALL WATER BOTTLES AND SUNSCREEN HAVE TO IN OUR BAG"!!!! and stomps away. I am a 62 yr old man and expect to be treated with the same respect and dignity as anyone else. Not a good start or experience for a company that relies on personal connections. Now to our guides... My family of 6 had Bull, Nick and AJ as our guides. The only words that can describe our guides are incredibly AMAZING!!! We connected with almost instantly. Bull is the quite leader of the group and showed his leadership skills over and over again. His positive outlook, warm smile, and relaxed demeanor as well as his incredible knowledge of The Kern put the entire group at ease. He was the veteran and it showed!!! Nick was our guide on the raft, he was the guide in his prime!! Young, fun, knowledgeable and had us rowing as a team in no time flat. Getting us prepared for the next upcoming set of rapids and how we where going to attack it, then letting cool off in the river in between. He had us laughing and enjoying our day in minutes, a far cry from the Gatekeeper. Except for his "dad jokes" Remember the birds of love Nick? HILARIOUS!! After a few sets of our first rapids,and some great rock jumping we made it to camp.Our guides Bull, Nick and AJ went to work in the campground kitchen providing us with a legendary dinner and snacks, amazing how hard these guys work nonstop to provide their guests with a life long experience. They worked so well together as a team!! As a football coach for 15 yrs I know what it looks like! Now here is the kicker.. After the whole Gatekeeper experience I had forgotten our small cooler with the preferred drinks of my family, a few beers, Diet Pepsi, sodas etc. I explained this to Bull during some small talk and he contacted his office and they went out there way and had the cooler delivered to our camp!!! It would have been easy to blow off my mistake, but not these guys!!! I was told several times that it was our vacation and are going to be sure that its perfect....IT WAS! the second day was a great breakfast followed by an afternoon of Class 4 rapids and it DID NOT disappoint! Nick again had us dialed in and ready to go! At one point we hit a rather difficult rapid that required some very technical paddling, 3 of our group including my kids, ended up being members of The Kern River Swim Team.It was pretty scary at the time, as you can see your kids eyes get big and looking scared. Nick had us all staying calm and we got everyone back into the raft and the bottom of the rapids.... Everyone calmed down and that is when Bull showed gain and said something we all remembered. "That's why you are here, for the excitement!" Shoulders dropped, eyes calmed....he was right! We had a great lunch half way through our second day, met our bus driver Graham who is the coolest olde rafting dude, living his dream. Seems everyone on the river, from the guides, to the bus driver are living there best lives doing what they love. Thank you Bull, Nick and AJ for taking care of the most precious thing I have ...MY FAMILY. GOD BLESS YOU ALL! Whitewater Voyages has gained four more lifelong clients in my son, daughter and their significant others. AJ keep doing you, doing great things with your young life! Good on you sir and your folks. read more

Fantastic outfit! Our guide, Steph, was great at taking challenging routes through the rapids that made the trip great. The food was excellent too. read more

Wonderful trip down the Lower Kern: Jungle Run. We had a group of 20. Guides made our trip fun, safe and enjoyable. Most of the boys hadn't been rafting before and everyone made our run down the river fun. We will be back. read more

Whitewater Voyages - Fun down the Lower Kern: Jungle Run. - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Kernville, California

Excellent outfitter and very professional from the booking process to the execution of the trip. Great knowledgeable guides who were very friendly and helpful. We did the overnight lower kern trip. The food was excellent and the conditions at the campsite well maintained. Highly recommend for you next rafting adventure in Southern or central California. read more

We were a group of 12 and had a great time celebrating a friends 55th birthday. We did Class 3 rapids which was adventurous but not overwhelming. Everyone was professional, safe, fun and Valdez was a fantastic guide. Highly recommend him as your guide and Whitewater Voyages! read more

An Unforgettable Ride with Whitewater Voyages -- More Than Just a River Trip From the moment we arrived in Kernville, it was clear we were in the hands of masters of the river--but what truly set Whitewater Voyages apart was their blend of expert professionalism, deep local knowledge, and a genuine, joyful passion for the Kern. Every guide on our trip was not just highly trained and safety-conscious (which they absolutely were), but also incredibly human--sharing river lore, teaching paddle techniques with patience and humor, and creating a kind of floating camaraderie that's rare to find anywhere, let alone on a raging Class IV rapid. The Kern River itself is pure magic: rugged, raw, and untamed in the best way. But with Whitewater Voyages, it became something more--a living classroom, a thrill ride, and a spiritual experience all in one. Whether we were navigating churning whitewater or floating through quiet granite canyons, our guides knew when to amp up the energy and when to let the stillness speak. Shoutout to the entire crew for creating not just a trip, but a memory--one of those rare experiences that pulls you out of daily life and reminds you you're alive. If you're looking for a river trip that's equal parts adrenaline, beauty, and soul, this is it. I've rafted in half a dozen places across the U.S. and nothing touches the heart of the experience like Whitewater Voyages on the Kern. read more

Whitewater Voyages - Kiddo's scouting the rapids! They loved it!! - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Kernville, California

Wow Amber and Ivan nailed the review for our day one with Michelle. Madi and I (Kurt) were the other two in the boat and had a fantastic adventure with the three boat excursion that day. We have over 12 trips in three countries and this crew and company shine above others in teaching, sharing and of course safety. It was fun for the honeymooners to experience their first rafting swim. Madi and i also did a second day on the same run, with Junior, we like to get at least two consecutive days on the river to ensure we maintain skills and with two days on the same 3-4 river we learn to read and understand the flows of the river. Both Michelle and Junior enhanced our knowledge and it's fantastic to share experiences with all. My real score is minus 3 points for lunch oreos not being traditional. I blame Junior. BTW I left our gear at the front door for an excuse to "drive back " up for another two days soon. Cheers and big water. Kurt and Madi read more

Great trip with my kids rafting down the Kern River for my 82nd birthday. Steve our guide was amazing. If you ever need an expert rafting guide, he's your man. The company was well organized and equipment was in very good condition. Nice array of cloths to purchase. Only knock was the photographer took poor photos and wasn't in a good location. Needed to be by class 3 rapid. read more

Whitewater Voyages - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Kernville, California

Great experience overall We had 4 families on the 2 day with overnight camping trip on the Kern River trip. EB and Maxim were our guides on subsequent days. The were fun, informative and made the overall experience great! read more

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We have been going on white river rafting tours with this amazing company for the past two years, and each experience has been nothing short of incredible! From the moment you call to book your trip, the kindness and professionalism of the staff shine through. They take the time to explain everything thoroughly, ensuring you feel completely prepared and excited for the adventure ahead. The guides are a perfect blend of fun and responsibility. They make safety a top priority while still ensuring that the entire experience is an absolute blast. My 10-year-old daughter had the time of her life, and the guides were fantastic with her, making her feel confident and involved throughout the trip. Not only are the rafting trips exhilarating, but the guides also take the time to educate you about the river, its ecosystem, and the surrounding nature. This added layer of learning makes the adventure even more enriching and memorable. A special shout-out to the photographer who captures the most wonderful moments of the trip. The photos are stunning and truly worth every dime. They provide us with beautiful memories that we can look back on and cherish forever. We've decided that this will be a yearly tradition for our family, thanks to the exceptional experiences we've had. I highly recommend this rafting tour company to anyone looking for an unforgettable, fun, and educational adventure. Thank you to the wonderful team for making our trips so special! Chase was our instructor last year and he was so incredible so fun and kept us safe read more

Whitewater Voyages - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Kernville, California

This is my second time rafting with Whitewater Voyages and my fourth trip rafting in general. I have been with several guides but Josh and Stephen were the most professional, friendly and knowledgeable guides I've been with! This year our party went at the end of the season and since we were the only group it was like having a private tour to ourselves. I would recommend Whitewater Voyages to anyone looking for a great rafting experience in Kernville. read more

Our Group of 9 were split between 2 rafts and we did the full day "Big Water" trip. We had 5 adults and 4 adolescents between ages of 14-17. Our guides KP and Steve were outstanding, they did an excellent job of communicating with us, providing safety, and reassurance for several beginners in our group. They had such an awesome first experience thanks to them, they are already talking about doing it again soon. The whole crew at Whitewater Voyages were down to earth and professional. The lunch that was provided was excellent and prepared well with snacks, drinks, and a sandwich spread that amazing! Can't thank them enough for the wonderful exp read more

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Another amazing experience with Whitewater Voyages ! Kata was an amazing knowledgeable guide! We had such a great time and will never forget our trip! Highly recommend this business for your white water rafting. read more

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Was my friends birthday and we booked online rafting in advance. What I recommend other to do. They always busy. I'll be honest what I didn't like is that the didn't mention that we need to have some shoes on to go rafting. We had to purchase special water shoes next door since they didn't have right size for rental. Sam was excellent instruction and it was fantastic experience to ride with him in the boat. Would defiantly come back for more rafting. PS, make sure to have sunscreen, water and some snacks. The price for the pictures is $75. I wish they can make videos from them boat. Maybe in the future they will. Overall, awesome! read more

Whitewater Voyages - Rafting down the river - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Kernville, California

I took my family of adults on the Big River tour with Mike as our guide. This program is very professionally run, with excellent equipment and guides. I was impressed with the entry speech from one of the land staff. She looked us over carefully and warned us what we'd be losing in the river if we didn't leave it behind so we headed out with just the clothes on our bodies and grins on our faces. Because my sons are all in their early 20s, we opted for the Big River Class IV trip and HOLY #*%$&! that is a fast, spooky tour! On the bus ride to the put-in, the lead guide introduced herself and the other guides and once we arrived, she gave explicitly detailed instructions. We had been on Class II and III before, and thought we would be prepared. This river is seriously fast. And we went overboard (had an "out of boat experience") during one of the early, larger rapids. We all got back into the boat relatively quickly but we're very able-bodied adults. There was another group with several minor children - having been under that angry, churning water, there is NO WAY I would take this tour with anyone under 18 for safety's sake. The lunch was pretty good for my meat eaters. I stated on the form that I'm vegan so my option was peanut butter and jelly (there was no world of safety from cross-contamination as everyone just went through the lineup and grabbed food bare-handed to create their own sandwiches - it's a post-covid world, folks.) They put out a bag of baby carrots and a small container of hummus and passed a tray of cut oranges and apples as the guides worked on setting up lunch. There was ample water, lemonade, and a bag of trail mix, but we were told we got one paper cup and that was it. A little better lunch planning would improve this tour. It would have been more efficient and sanitary if they had taken sandwich orders at registration and prepared them so they could quickly hand them out instead of trying to set up a self-serve sandwich bar. And for those with dietary restrictions, it's far safer. The little area we had lunch in was charming, with a flow of quicker water that you could float through without getting swept into the river. After lunch, there was a jump-off cliff that many of the rafters tried - made for a cool photo op but for some reason , none of the 5 people who tried it in our group were photographed so I have no proof, just memories. When we hit the Big Five I was so seriously spooked I feel like I dissociated. All I know is that when Mike said we were heading into the last one, I breathed a huge sigh of relief. Folks, it's a lovely river when it's flat but once those rapids hit, it's scary out there - this is not a trip for the timid or even the mild adventurer. When you're underwater in that river, you could die. There's a reason you sign a waiver. Each of my group of 6 had their own tale to tell from our time underwater, and we made indelible memories. I'm glad we did it but we're staying out of Class IV from here on out. Special shout out to Mike, our awesome guide. He kept us in check and after that first flip we remained super solid with his strong guidance. He's so knowledgeable about the area and has been doing this for over a decade so I truly felt we were in good hands. Thanks, Mike and thanks, Whitewater Voyages! read more

Whitewater Voyages - It's called whitewater for a reason!! - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Kernville, California

I had a great time with Whitewater Voyages! As a first time rafter, I was nervous but our guides, Stephen and Josh, were experienced and knowledgeable rafters who made the trip fun and enjoyable :) read more

The crew was so nice and fun, we had a great time! Water was perfect and the run was easy enough for us first timers read more

Whitewater Voyages - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Kernville, California

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had a fantastic first time rafting with this company! I initially felt like it was a little pricey per person but for how long the trip is (we did half day, 8 am to about noon) and for everything that's included (gear, bus over to the location etc) I think it's fair! We went end of July, the day was HOT but water was still pretty cold, refreshing. We got a chance to float off the raft a bit and jump off a little cliff as well :) Actual trip was super fun!!! We had an awesome cutie guide named Isaac (unsure of spelling) who did an amazing job leading us, very friendly, sweet, and told us some fun stories about the river / the area / the job etc. We all felt very safe being led even through the trickier more intense rapids, I'm an anxious person at times and I felt very comfortable! Would definitely go again and maybe even try a harder class Route. Only cons I would say, is im assuming because the company doesn't want to hold responsibility, we couldn't really bring our phones and I feel like I totally missed out on photo opportunities. Photo I uploaded was taken by my friend, who DID bring her phone. I wasn't really clear on exactly what to expect in terms of where our stuff will be etc while rafting but now that I know, I would definitely have been fine bringing my phone in a little waterproof bag thing. Now the only photos would be the expensive ones they sell. Oh well. Next time! :) read more

Whitewater Voyages - rafting trip (on the water) - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Kernville, California

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Went rafting today with Whiskey Flats Mayor/River Rat Ryan Merckle and our Tater Michelle as our guides and couldn't have asked for a better time!! It was my very first time rafting as well as my nieces and they took great care of us.. if rafting is something you're even just considering, this is your sign to do iiiiitt!!! Thank you Whitewater Voyages, thank you Merckle and thank you Michelle!! And for the life of me I cannot remember our bus drivers name (I'm sooorry) BUT thank you too!! You were fantastic and we appreciate the cold beverages at the end of our adventure... 10000000% would recommend this company to anyone and everyone!! read more

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David was an amazing raft guide. He was very knowledgeable about the river and did a great job maneuvering through the rapids. I recommend the Jungle Run trip for a balance of rapids and swimming. read more

Amazing experience! As a first time rafter, I wasn't sure what to expect and was a little nervous about it. Bull, Matt, and Emily took care of us though! They made sure to teach us everything we needed to now before getting on the water and they did a good job starting easy and ramping up the difficulty as we got better. They cooked amazing food (we did a 2 day trip) at the campsite too, I couldn't believe it! Overall, just super chill people and a hell of a good time. Definitely looking forward to coming back read more

Jacob was our guide and he was fantastic. We had the best time and this being our first time it definitely will not be our last !!!!! Thank you so very much it was amazing I highly recommend this rafting company to everyone. Thank you to all of you we had a fantastic fun filled day read more