River Rafting in Utah (River Day 3)
Wednesday, June 24
Really getting into a rhythm now. We’re all pretty used to the equipment and the routine, so the morning was quite orderly. One of those experiences where people do their thing and others pitch in to help as/if the occasion arises, all with the goal of getting everything packed up and to the rafts where the guides can pack up.
Right from camp was a small rapids to start the day. There will be more of varying intensity for the rest of the trip. They provide a nice break and a bit of excitement. We especially like watching the folks in the duckys navigate them. No overturns so far!
We took another short hike to another petroglyph, then back to the rafts. Another few rapids before lunch. And another rapids right after lunch. The sound of rushing water was a nice soundtrack for eating.
The rapids so far have been pretty easy. Except for a couple, no big rocks above water. So while they can be tricky for the guides, I get the impression they’re not much of a challenge for these ladies.
Annie, today’s guide, described some rapids at the end of the trip as “fun, technical” rapids. I’m glad she thinks they’re fun and not scary!
The weather today has been a bit cooler. There’s a bit of overcast, I think, but mostly we’ve had a fair amount of smoke from a fire around Salt Lake City (we think). We not only see, but can smell it. And pictures have a yellowish cast from it. Nevertheless, it’s been pleasant. Kind of a nice break from the relentless sun.
We stopped for a hike to a homestead (long abandoned) and grainery further along the ravine. Wonderful to think about the long-ago and more recent history of this place.
It dawned on me today that the rapids we’re going through are the result of rockfalls that have gone all the way across the river. We’ve seen more big rocks along the sides of the river that obviously traveled down with a lot of momentum, but didn’t make it quite into the river (at least at the current water level!).
I got a couple of going-through-a-rapids videos from the back of the raft. They show a little bit of rapids and a little bit of what the guides do to guide us through them. I’m in Annie’s raft today, and she does a great job reading the river, going with the flow when appropriate, and paddling to keep us just where we need to be to scoot through safely.
One of the videos also catches how nonchalantly we’ve come to treat these episodes–a conversation going on while folks are not even looking where we’re going, just intent on their conversation. Ha! (But you can hear the cries when water splashes into the boat. It’s pretty chilly and always a surprise!)
Another sandy area for camp tonight. We’re becoming a well-oiled machine now, kind of organically organizing to get all the bags and equipment up from the rafts.
Our campsite was truly lovely, perhaps my favorite of the trip. We’re surrounded by tall plateaus. We’re at a pretty wide place in the river and there are trees and a meadow across the river. There’s room for everyone to spread out.
Jean had picked out a spot for the tent and we got that set up right away. My routine is to unpack my big bag and put all the packing cubes along the side of the sleeping pad. Some kind of organization, at least!
It was quite windy tonight. As some of us were sitting around in the chairs, the wind blew over the table that had the big water cooler and pre-dinner snacks on it. The cooler top came off and water gushed through the middle of the chair circle. Quite the surprise! Since we have only the fresh water we brought with us to use, I worried about the loss of a full cooler, but the guides replaced everything without any fuss and we were good to go.
Tonight’s sharing was themed around Michelle’s 50’th birthday. She wore a red tutu and danced to karaoke. Others got into the act, too. It was a joyous celebration. Suffice it to say there was music and dancing. So fun to see–our party night! 🙂
As we were heading out from the sharing, some raindrops fell, so we put the rain tarps on the tents.
Exercise Break
Tonight we took inventory of our situations in life. Here’s my list:
- Settled situation
- Adequate finances
(means of living are not distractions) - Freedom to pursue what arises
(gives me choices)
We also considered our intentions.
- Find something to do that excites me, something creative that will add something not only to me, but to the world.
And here’s what I wrote tonight:
I do not want. Not speaking in a material sense, but in the spiritual. I am striving, for sure, but not to gain something…only to see. To see what I believe and trust is the truth of the universe.
My faith tradition says growth spirit-ward is dropping the material and see what has been true all along–that reality is Truth, that all is Love, that I reflect that Truth and Love. I believe this.
I feel I am in transition to seeing this better. I think it’s progress, but the world sees this as growing older.
The transition isn’t easy.