Everyone meets at the motel at 6:00 for breakfast and some last minute instructions. We put our large and small dry-bags on a very nice bus waiting for us outside. On my prior raft trips, we were issued metal boxes and had to bring our own personal dry-bags. In about two hours, we reach Lee's Ferry, named for John Doyle Lee, and greet our crew members: Cliff, Bec, John, and Ashley. There are actually three Canyoneers rafts here. One is on a ten-day archeological raft trip. The other two boats are on our trip. This is the first trip I have done where we had a sister ship. They give us some boat and life jacket instructions and then we climb aboard.
We pull away from the shore around 10:50. Bec is the driver of the raft I am on and John is the other crew member. Cliff and Ashley are the crew members on the other raft. We quickly pull over to the far side of the River and stop. For an hour and a half Cliff goes through lengthy instructions and we have personal introductions. On all my previous raft trips we did all this while floating down the River.
As we drive down canyon, we go by a family camped on the side of the River. I like to sit at the very back of the boat near the engine. I immediately notice much less sound coming from the engine. On my last three trips, they used two-stroke engines, but these are four-stroke engines which are much quieter. I still wear my ear muffs for hearing protection.
We stop for lunch around 12:30 at mile 2.75 which is near Cathedral Wash. Lunch is chicken salad and fruit.
In about an hour, we float under the two Navajo Bridges. The newer one was completed in 1995 and the original bridge was built in 1929. It's hard to believe that a ferry was used until that time. On one of my previous raft trips, people were bungee jumping from the original bridge.
In just a little while we come to Ten-Mile Rock.
This is a very pleasant part of the trip. Our crew is extremely knowledgeable on the history and geology of the canyon. They point out the names and types of layers of rock on the canyon walls as we go down stream. Bec prepares us as we get ready to shoot Soap Creek Rapids. We practice a procedure called "In and Down" where we sit on the floor of the boat for added safety in rough rapids and to allow greater forward visibility for the boat driver. Everyone on the front half of the boat is drenched. It's easy to see why they suggest you wear fast drying clothing. I am impressed with Bec's driving skills at shooting rapids. We pass numerous oar rafts as we proceed down canyon.
We soon pass another large rock in the River, but I don't recall that it has a name.
We stop for the night at Nineteen Mile Canyon. Supper tonight is ravioli and salad. The crew set up a four bucket washing and rinsing system so each person can wash their plates and silverware. Many of the passengers have brought some kind of alcoholic beverage for consumption after supper while some of the others brought soft drinks.
On my three prior raft trips we slept on these blue pads, but they now have brand new cots for us this trip. Assembly of the cot is a little tricky at first, but we all eventually get the hang of it. Many of the passengers take one of the nice new tents, but with no rain in the forecast I'm just going to sleep out in the open on my cot. The crew sleeps on the boats.
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