Jadyne and I just returned from a six day raft trip down the Colorado and through the Grand Canyon. The piece de resistance on day six was Lava Falls, a treacherous journey not more than a mile above our final campsite. The rapids on the Colorado are all numbered. One is the easiest. Ten is the most dangerous. Lava Falls is off the charts. Even one of our three guides, seated in the bow of the raft, was almost tossed into the turbulent frigid waters as the raft ducked, buckled, and bounced its way down river. We were all soaked, laughing, and grateful. It was the perfect ending to a perfect trip. Dozens of rapids, hikes, side canyons, and the warmer waters of the rivers that flow into the Colorado—the bluish "Little Colorado" the waters of the Havasu, countless waterfalls, slot canyons, steep hikes, and gourmet food—grilled ribeye steaks and even Eggs Benedict.
The next day we floated one more mile, climbed aboard a helicopter, then rode a short shuttle ride to a small paved runway, flew eighty miles to Boulder City, took another bus to Las Vegas, Virgin America to SFO, then Uber to Kensington. Last night Jadyne woke up and went to put her sandals on so she could walk to the toilet by the river. Readjustment may take another day or two. The sand was finer than dust. Getting rid of it will take a lot longer.
No internet, no news, no contact, no cell phones (cameras only). If "less is more", then "nothing is even better than more," as we slept in sleeping bags on cots under the clear star-filled sky, watching shooting stars and satellites before nodding off, then repeating it all again. the next day. Fearing damage to my DSLR I managed to squeeze off a few hundred photos with my Point n' Shoot, a few of which I'm posting below.
The only four mile nearly straight stretch on the Colorado. We climbed up 600' to the "Granary", a place where the natives stored grains a thousand years ago.
Lunch break in a cave that could hold thousands
