"11 A.M., 8.14.05, heading down river to find a lake so Sims could ride the inner tube,"ÃÂ wrote Josh. Josh had written in his notebook, he writes in there every time he rides his boat, the boat had no cab, Sims had sat behind the windshield, which blocked most of the nippy wind. They rode around for about 15 minutes looking for a spot on the river that wouldn't b so rough or where no other boats had rode. They weren't going to spend all day looking for a spot; they were getting tired of waiting.
"2 P.M. stopped at mouth of slough where there was no wind and choppy water,"ÃÂ signed Josh.Sims had striped to his shorts and jumped on the inner tube, which was tied to the back of the boat. When he had jumped the wind had moved the inner tube and when he realized it he screamed, "WHOLY SHI-OUT! Man, this is freezing."ÃÂ
English: Alexander Sims: the photo was taken durin...
English: Formula 3 Euroseries, Hockenheimring; Ale...
SIMS Co., Ltd."HAHAHA, be careful next time, you trying to kill yourself or something?"ÃÂ laughed Josh.Sims climbed on the inner tube from out of the water.
Josh took off fast, even before Sims was holding on. Josh was committed to throwing Sims off the inner tube; he threw all his other friends off. Although he wasn't the safest driver he never really meant any harm. Sometimes he would loose control of the speed of the inner tube and the rider would fly about 3-7 feet and slam the water. Sims didn't know any of this; he hung on as tight as his arms could bear. He got scared, but josh told him that when he got scared that was what made it more fun and that it made him want to hang on tighter. Josh drove in circles, hitting the waves from the previous circles; large circles for the first few rounds. Even though he didn't know how Sims ability was to hang on. Sims was freezing balls the first hour until he got used to the cold. After a while they had taken a brake to eat something; josh was tired of trying to eat and drive at the same time. Even though he really enjoys driving a lot he still gets tired of it. Sims was ready to stop too they were both hungry. They had both brought there own snacks to snack on.
Josh had Sims idle to a beach and tie up the boat while he took a pee of the back of the boat. In other words nature called. They had made a fire on the bank where Sims had warmed up and ate his food. He had brought pudding and a bunch of small bags of Doritos that his dad had left him for lunch over the past week. After they were done eating they had planned to talk for about an half hour so Sims wouldn't cramp up when he fell off the inner tube and had to swim. They talked about girls, the girls back home, and josh had told stories of other trips he had made with his friends riding on the inner tube.
Their second time going out Sims had made sure that didn't jump straight into the water and that he made it onto the inner tube. Josh was getting more comfortable about driving with Sims on the back so he started driving faster and more challenging for Sims to hang on. Sims was having a blast while the water had splashed upon his face and body giving him the chills that made him stronger. He thought about letting go but he didn't want to swallow the muddy river water. Suddenly he slid across the water. Josh hadn't realized it off the bat but eventually he felt the weight difference and when he did he turned around and picked him up. "So how was it? Was it scary falling off for the first time or was it ok?"ÃÂ "It was ok, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, I want to do it again. I wonder if I jump off on purpose maybe we can try and see how far I fly? Ok, so you will count to three and when you do I will jump and you have to guess how far you think I went,"ÃÂ replied Sims.
Sims jumped back onto the inner tube and when they had picked up some speed and Josh counted, "ONE, TWO, THREE JUMP!"ÃÂ Sims feet had slipped when he was about to jump because Josh had driven over the waves. "Hahaha, looked to me like you were diving! This time try standing up first then jumping, and I won't go in circles I will just go straight."ÃÂ Yelled Josh.
This time he started off going straight and gained speed and waited until he saw Sims had balance. He was just about to start counting when out of the corner of his eye he saw Sims fall backwards into the water. "Hahaha, Sims you numb-nut! How many times do you plan on trying this."ÃÂ Laughed Josh. "As many times as I want alright, so forget about it!"ÃÂ said Sims sarcastically.
They had had decided they would try one more time and if it didn't work that they should try something else. Sims had climbed on the inner tube and gave josh the signal to go. Josh drove from the bank a good distance but not so far that they were in wind, he looked back and saw Sims trying to stand up and right when he got up he half way fell over and grabbed on of the handles on the inner tube. He stoop up again this time he jumped straight off the back of the inner tube and Josh wasn't able to see how far he jumped so they decided not to do this anymore but they didn't know what else to do so josh drove in circles. Josh was getting carried away, it showed in the expression on Sims face that showed he was getting kind of freaked out and was ready to stop, so he was waiting for josh to look back so he could yell at him to stop, but he never looked back. The inner tube was going faster and faster all the more times they went in circles and Sims was getting weaker and weaker at the same time but he was to scared to let go. There got to be really big jumps on top of the water where he was hitting the bigger and bigger rolling waves. Finally Sims arms went out, he slipped, slamming the water making the biggest noise ever name by someone in the world hitting the water. Josh had stopped immediately turning around to go get him; he turned around to see nothing but big waves and the inner tube upside down splashing away. Sims had gone under and was unable carry himself back up above the water. He was too freaked out and shaky to even think about where he was or what had just happened. Josh had jumped in after him, when he jumped in he had kicked him on accident but was able to grab a hold of him and pull him above the water. He drug him up on the boat he was coughing badly all the while he was unconscious. This had never happened to him before he was starting to panic but he calmed himself by saying that everything was going to be ok. He decided to take poor Sims to town back to his house where he could get some sleep. Josh was really worried about Sims he didn't want to let him out of his sight until he knew he was totally fine. When they had arrived town Josh had called the clinic and had asked what he should do about his situation. They told him not to let him sleep just to keep him sitting up and awake. He had made a total mistake by letting him sleep in the first place when he brought him back, that tells you how much Josh knows about these things.
Sims woke up and had no idea of what was going on, he kept wondering and asking when they got back home and when they left. Josh kept on telling him never mind and not to worry about. Sims had no Idea and he really wasn't to suspicious because there was not a single damage anywhere to be found. Josh had just told him that he had fallen asleep on the inner tube and that he had pulled him all the way home. That weekend Sims was kind of half off because he looked like he was always thinking and that he wasn't all there at times.
military site
Columbia Crash Site
Josh Ashworth