The Colorado River Daily - (Moab, UT)

Linda didn't want to get up.  Since I was going to be playing all day, I did the morning round myself.  :)

Before Tim & I left for our trip, Linda was already dealing with issues.  We only had five sites given out this morning.  The first person in line at the visitors center had a long toy hauler trailer.  However, the other folks that got sites passed him on the way to the campground and they took the largest sites.  He was not very happy.

But Linda charmed him and took care of him.  He's going to get a really good site tomorrow, and now he's very happy.  :)

Tim & I took off around 9:00.  After we both ran a couple of errands, we made it to our launch point and were ready to get on the water at 11:00 to do the 13-mile trip known locally as The Colorado River Daily.

Tim had to pose with the SE-370.  :)

 

Let's pull back on the shot at the Hittle Bottom Recreation Site boat ramp.

So, off we went.  First the right side.

Then the left - looking toward Fisher Towers with the La Sals peeking over.

We saw quite a few Great Blue Herons - like the one you can barely see on the shore in this shot.

There were also a few duck species, Canada Geese, and a small flock of White-faced Ibis.

The first part of our trip had very calm water.

But I noticed the water seemed to be at a higher level, muddier, and with more debris than just two days ago.  It was looking like just two days of snow melt in the mountains was going to make this trip a bit interesting.  :)

Different scenery from the other day, but still quite nice.  :)

Okay, here are a couple more.

Now for one of those look-backs.  The wispy clouds were pretty cool.  :)

We passed the Sorrel River Ranch.

Another lodge in a beautiful setting.

We went through several Class II rapids, and Tim was having a ball.  The water was certainly "bigger" than two days ago.

After passing through Rocky Rapid, we pulled off at a sand bar to take a break and drain the boat.  That was our half-way point.

There is a self-bailing plug in the SE-370, but I still keep it closed while on the water.  :)

Rocky Rapid is where Linda & I put in two days ago.  We watched as a commercial outfitter launched a few boats.

I didn't take too many photos from the second half of our trip today since I documented that part in the April 21 entry.  :)

We continued on and the wind was really picking up.  It was blowing upriver right in our face.  Never a good thing in an inflatable.  :)

We paddled through the wind past Red Cliffs Lodge and into White's Rapid.  As Linda said the other day - "YIKES!"

If that wasn't a Class III rapid then, it certainly was today.  We hit two big holes back-to-back and a side wave almost turned us over.  We were balanced on our right side for a split second, but the boat bounced us back into position.  It's really hard to turn one of these boats over, but we were close.  :)

Tim's inexperience in whitewater showed a bit and he panicked a couple of times.  He got confused on my instructions, and it was difficult to keep us in position.  But we got through the toughest part and he loved it.  :)

We pulled over at Sandy Beach for another break and to drain the boat again after White's Rapid.

We talked to this couple from Salt Lake City for a few minutes.

She was finishing up a very nice painting.  :)

We paddled more in the second half of our journey as we needed to get through the wind.  After a total time of three hours and forty-five minutes, we docked at Take-Out Beach.

We were pretty wet and the water was coooold, but we had a great time.  I think Tim might be doing a bit more boating while he is here through the summer.  :)

An experienced river man was sitting on his raft at our take-out.  He was pretty impressed with the Sea Eagle and commented on the Jet-boat Seats, the spray skirts, and the bailing plug.  Well allrighty then.  :)

Tim & I cleaned up the boat, rolled it up, and loaded it in his truck.  He then hauled us back to Hittle Bottom to the Jeep.  We put the boat and accessories in their bag.

Tim went on his way and I put on the change of clothes I brought.  I then went into Moab to get a river permit for another trip Linda & I are going to do.  It's a big one, and I'm really excited.  You'll have to stay tuned to learn more.  :)

Back at the campground, I arrived just in time to poll the campers to see who would be extending.  Linda had done a great job during the day, and there wasn't much that we had to do tonight.

A happy campground.  And at least one very happy river-running camphost.  :)

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Comments

[Karen Anthes]

Hi Linda and Howard,
Still reading and loving every minute!! Wow, Linda I'm proud of you for "running towards the roar!!"
Love, Karen

[V4Vagabond]

Ah, Howard, when you start giving whitewater tours to the public, I'll be sitting on your doorstep!

Vee

[J.C. Webber III]

Howard, How do you protect your camera? How do you insure that you won't ruin or lose it if you get swamped?

-- jc

[Howard]

J.C.,

We keep everything in "dry bags". As long as they are sealed properly, everything stays dry when we get swamped. And they should work even if they go in the water. When we flipped the boat last summer, the dry bag wasn't properly sealed.

As you can see from the photos, I only have the camera out when we are on flat water. When not on flat water, I take a lot more care now to make sure the bags are sealed the right way. :)

The dry bags should be secured to the boat, but we don't always take our own advice. :)

[Frank Gehry]

Great pictures... looks like you had a lot of fun!

And I love that inflatable kayak.