Jake gives the call for coffee this morning.  Breakfast is French toast and sausage.  Just after leaving camp, we can see Holy Grail Temple in the distance behind us.  This is where William Wallace Bass had his ashes scattered after his death.  That was one of his favorite buttes and is on the north side of the River across from the South Bass Trail and Bass Rapids.

	Holy Grail Temple 5-6-2009 @ 7:56

     I get pictures of our crew.  Jake is quite the clown.

Jake 5-6-2009 @ 8:00	Rachel 5-6-2009 @ 8:00	Carolyn 5-6-2009 @ 8:00

     Our first stop of the day is Elves Chasm, which is only a short hike from the river.  This is a beautiful place and one of the most photographed spots in the Grand Canyon.  The area is as pretty as all the postcards depict.  Keith and I jump in the frigid water, swim to the falls, and climb to the top.

River by Elves Chasm 5-6-2009 @ 8:50	Elves Chasm 5-6-2009 @ 9:00	Keith, Richard - Elves Chasm 5-6-2009 @ 9:06

     Apparently the lens on my point and shoot camera was unable to clearly capture Keith's and my rapid descent from the falls into the water.  Sheri gives everyone quite the scare as she slips while trying to jump from the falls.  Fortunately, she clears the shallow spot near the edge.

Richard jumping from Elves Chasm 5-6-2009 @ 9:08	Keith jumping from Elves Chams 5-6-2009 @ 9:08

     We stop again just a few miles downriver at Blacktail Canyon to see an example of an unconformity, an area where one or more formations in time are missing.  Jake entertains us with some guitar playing and singing.

Blacktail Canyon 5-6-2009 @ 10:18	Blacktail Canyon 5-6-2009 @ 10:23	Jake on the guitar 5-6-2009 @ 10:24

     Lunch is at mile 126 near an interesting place called Randy's Rock, named so because he allowed a guest to get their boat stuck between a rock in the River and the wall.  Taco salad burritos are on the menu.  After eating, the group packs the raft and we leave around 1:00.

Our crew fixing lunch 5-6-2009 @ 12:12	Loading the boat after lunch 5-6-2009 @ 12:54

     Our next stop is Stone Creek Falls, where several in the group frolic under the falls.

Sheri and Jim 5-6-2009 @ 2:12	Jerry and Wendy 5-6-2009 @ 2:13	Carolyn 5-6-2009 @ 2:15

     Our fourth stop of the day is Deer Creek Falls and the Narrows.  I hiked down here five years ago from Monument Point off the North Rim.  Several of us begin the steep climb up to a place overlooking the River.  The views are fantastic.  Keith and I get our picture taken at the edge.

Our raft and several others parked at Deer Creek Falls 5-6-2009 @ 3:25	Richard and Keith above Deer Creek Falls 5-6-2009 @ 4:06	A magnificent view above Deer Creek Falls 5-6-2009 @ 3:36

     We then walk through the Narrows.  I can't imagine how many years it took the flowing water to cut the numerous striations through the solid rock.

The Narrows 5-6-2009 @ 3:42	The Narrows 5-6-2009 @ 3:59	The Narrows 5-6-2009 @ 4:00

  At the north end of the Narrows is an area called the Patio and some small waterfalls.

Patio area above the Narrows 5-6-2009 @ 3:38	Keith and Richard at the Patio 5-6-2009 @ 3:47	Waterfall at the Patio 5-6-2009 @ 3:45

     Deer Creek Falls, the Narrows, and Elves Chasm are some of my favorite places in the Canyon.  Deer Creek Falls is the highest falls in the Grand Canyon and is another highly photographed feature.

	Deer Creek Falls 5-6-2009 @ 4:25

     We have a difficult time finding a camping spot for the night.  One group of oar rafts said they were camping at a spot that we were considering using, but then changed their minds after we went by there.  Carolyn is not happy with them.  We finally stop at mile 144 just below Kanab Creek.  I was going to camp right by the water until the frogs came out en masse, so I move my stuff up the hill a little ways.

Camp the 4th night 5-6-2009 @ 7:02	Camp the 4th night 5-6-2009 @ 7:02

     Supper tonight is hamburgers, fries, and brownies.  The pressure is on Jake to get our French fries nice and crunchy.

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