I've joined up with a company called White Water Voyages, of which owner, Bill McGinnis, was named one of top paddlers of century by Paddler Magazine. Aside from being an excellent paddler and obtaining a Master's degree in English Literature, McGinnis pioneered White Water Voyages to be one that focuses on having an unmatched quality of service; and unmatched it was.

While stopping for lunch, I began to realize that our guides were not just professional paddlers, but also excellent chefs. Now I tend to eat a lot, especially if I don't have to pay extra for it. Try as I did, I simply could not put a dent in cornucopia they had arranged at each meal. I'm talking sandwiches, cookies, crackers, lemonade, boat-shaped watermelon and pineapple, vegetables platters, and salad; this wasn't just average river food. Each and every item was extremely fresh and tasty.

I don't mean to make you hungry, but if you don't mind, I'd like to take a little more time talking about this incredible fare because it was excellent, and I'm hungry. At camp site (which I'll get to in a minute), I had smoked salmon for dinner, corn on cob, fresh salad and beans, and a brownie soufflé that was ridiculously rich in chocolate. Then we woke up to eggs, sausage, bacon, omelets, and giant fluffy pancakes with real maple syrup. Cereal with milk, coffee and orange juice — I don't eat this well at home and here I was in middle of wilderness, eating like a king. Now If you'll excuse me for a moment, I need to take a break from article — I need to make a sandwich.

Ok, I'm back.

So food is incredible and service is definitely unmatched. Let me tell you about a few of guides. First there's Neal, a burly-bearded surfer dude whose reputation as a skilled paddler is closely challenged by his uncanny ability to make world's best pineapple boat. There's Darlene, an account executive from L.A. that drives up to Kern County every weekend to be a river guide. Then there's Felipe, a scrawny little Costa Rican boy with skills of a river god. All throughout trip, guides Ooohed and aaaahed at his tenacity to "surf hole" (a concept in which raft actually "surfs" upstream in a U-Shaped portion of water, stalling raft mid-rapid). Lastly, there was Bruce, AKA "Curly from 'City Slickers'." Curly piloted food and first aid kits down rapids, leaving an offering of river rocks to river gods for safe passage at each stop. But he didn't just put them in piles, he would deftly balance one upon another, creating graceful, eccentric cairns.

Read this entire feature FREE with photos at: http://www.jetsettersmagazine.com/archive/jetezine/sports02/raft/kern/kern.html

By Josh Edelson, Southern California Correspondent, Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com

My setup is all set up and I have no worries but to strap on helmet, grab water bottle provided, and load up on nutritious snacks. Oh yeah, and several cookies that Heidi baked earlier!

Evan, with his incredible cycling skills, leads way and Heidi follows in SUV. This is so awesome—food, drinks, and safety trailing behind me and all I have to do is set a pace that’s superb for impromtu exploring of desert discoveries around me. Hot, dry desert frames snow-capped mountain . . . where else but in California! This is a sensory natural experience on a two-wheel steed and not through windows of a car. It’s also an excellent way to fend off those extra calories from Palm Springs ’ fine dining experience.

We make a gradual descend and I’m unaware of 3000 foot decline until, well, until I start doing research for this feature. I know Evan is a speed demon and a little more hardcore, belonging to some extreme cycling group, but he adjusts his speed to canter to mine. I know his heart rate isn’t elevated, but mine is and adrenaline is pumping as I grip handlebars tightly.

The tranquil beauty of expansive desert is a sharp contrast with many-hued mountain background that calms my mind, rejuvenating my spirit. The scenery is exhilarating, balancing out serenity with energy and aliveness.

We stop any time I want to explore and chlorophyll green of a plant growing in dessicated solid hardpan is amazing. Heidi plucks a leaf here and there and tells me to feel it, smell it, or crush it. She announces name and medicinal uses for each herb; I picture Indians who used to live here. Read this entire feature FREE with photos at: http://www.jetsettersmagazine.com/archive/jetezine/sports02/bike/bigwheel/bigwheel.html

By Lena Hunt Mabra, Cozumel Correspondent, Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com