There is still some summer left and in Prince George, a river runs through it.
The cheerleaders of the annual Nechako River Float are huffing and puffing up their flotation devises for the Saturday push-off, delayed by a month due to extremely high water and unusually unpleasant conditions in July.
According to Environment Canada, putting the event off might have been serendipitous. Saturday's forecast is for 25 degrees under sunny skies.
"We'll just hope. It'll be nice just to have people out there. People still have time to do some summer stuff," said James Matosevic.
He is one of three who launched the Facebook page about the event (entitled 3rd Annual Huge River Float! August 20th) along with Cody Gray and Richard Appiah.
They repeatedly deny being organizers. There is no organization, The Citizen was told, this is just something they like to do and others seem happy to join them.
The group is celebrating the third edition of the float with some new equipment.
"It is the Rolls Royce of floaties," Matosevic said. "I think it fits eight safely. It's got all kinds of features like coolers, and a little thing for my MP3 player."
They are gathering on Saturday morning at the Wilkins Park boat launch in Miworth. They know others like to start from the flats at the base of the Foothills Bridge for a shorter trip down the Nechako.
Anywhere is fine, said Matosevic, "just make sure people are extra careful about it. Use life jackets, be cautious, but come out and have fun."
The RCMP, Prince George Search and Rescue, Prince George Jet Boat Association and the Prince George Fire Rescue Service (PGFRS) will all be on high alert, focused on the water and the roads.
"Last year we did have a number of injuries," said Prince George RCMP spokesman Cpl. Craig Douglass. "They were minor, but the river was much lower and the water was warmer. Hypothermia was also a factor last year and that would only be worse when the conditions are like this."
"We are increasing our resources but we do not want anyone to have a false sense of security," said a spokesperson for (PGFRS). "We do not condone this event. We are putting things in place so we are ready. We have a swiftwater tech, we have trained personnel, we are always ready for an incident involving the river, however this is extraordinary."
"We're not trying to step on anybody's fun. We think people should embrace the summer but do it safely," Douglass said.
Those who wish to whoop the occasion up, said Matosevic, are encouraged to attend the official after-party at The Generator, or in a responsible place of your choosing. The last thing he and his friends want is to have the event tainted for the future by inappropriate or unsafe behaviour.
The act of floating lazily on the river has ample fun built in, he said.
