Up The Creek

At 8 a.m., "jet boats" start pulling up at the Tu-Tu-Tun dock to load passengers for a wet and wild ride up the Rouge River. The plan is simple: Fly over the rapids, get soaked, and dry out in the baking heat of the river canyon, then get soaked again, and cool off, with a stop for lunch at a riverside lodge along the way.

However, here at the Tu-Tu-Tun, one need not spend beaucoup dollars and many hours of one's time to enjoy a "white water" experience. Simply "ride" the combo Toilet & Electric Bidet in your room with front and rear "water jets" designed to give you the same experience as riding on the jet boat, but without getting your clothes wet. For those looking for a "total body immersion", there's the soaking tub on the deck or the two person shower with floor to ceiling glass walls.

Speaking of bathing, in Ashland taking a shower was like jumping in a fumarole at Yellowstone. Fed by the hot springs on the property, the plumbing system poured out gallons of sulfurous hot water, making the room smell briefly like flatulent elephants had walked through it.

Here at the Tu-Tu-Tun, the odors that come from showering are of a different sort. After using the inn's Rosemary & Mint Shampoo, your coif could be a target for the chef's kitchen shears and end up on a plate of greens during the salad course at dinner.