PACKED AND READY
RICK AT THE WHEEL
Well, it was his van, after all.
RICK NOT AT THE WHEEL
SUSAN NAPPING
YIKES, IT'S DOUG!
RICK'S RIG
THE HAPPY CANOEISTS
Just the ones on the far right. The guy on the left was one of the outfitters.
RICK SUITS UP
THE LOOK
I would see this "look" many times over the next five days. You just can't steer a canoe and take pictures at the same time.
STEVE AND SUSAN
In Steve's awesome Grumman aluminum canoe. That thing made some major noise going over rocks!
FIRST CAMP
We didn't make much ground -- or river -- the first day and set up camp. That's my friend Danny's Sierra Design tent on the far left.
KICKING BACK
Here are Rick and Susan relaxing in their Coleman tent. That's Steve's teepee behind them.
RIVER OF GLASS
What a beautiful still morning for a canoe trip!
CLIFFTOP AERIE
I don't know whose place this is, but what a view!!!
SIDE CANYON
There were plenty of opportunities to explore on this trip.
SECOND CAMP (APPROACHING STORM)
Here comes the fallout from all the tornadic activity that almost leveled Lancaster, where Rick lives.
WHAT THE HAIL???
We got pelted good by a hailstorm. It sounded like machine-gun fire in my tent.
HOLY SHIT!!!
Just to show the effect of the wind during this little meteorological extravaganza. It actually bent one of the poles on my tent.
NEW WATERFALL
Funny, I don't remember that being there when we set up camp.
SNACKIN' SUSAN
TIme for a little break, and Susan is making full use of it.
THE SEEP
Susan used this opportunity to take a little shower.
ERODED CLIFF
Just to show what thousands of years can do to limestone.
CHECKING THE MAP
We had to be at certain points each day to keep on schedule. This is Rick and Steve checking to see where we are.
YOU ARE HERE
THE WAY WE CAME
Looking back from whence we came.
THIRD CAMP
THE DRYING TREE
Luckily, there were lots of bushes and trees to drape our wet things over.
THE SECRET'S OUT
AHA!!! Steve brought along some Crystal Light Lemonade to relieve the boredom of drinking nothing but water.
EXPLORING
LOOKING BACK
I'm standing on what was once an Indian camp. You can see a grinding hole on the lower right.
INDIAN CAMP
Grinding holes everywhere. These guys were here a long time.
GRINDING HOLE
PADDLING ON
EROSION BOWL
COOL CAVE
We spotted this awesome shelter cave and had to do a little exploring.
INSIDE THE CAVE
Where was this when we were in the middle of that hailstorm?
BACK TO THE BOATS
CHECKING THE RAPIDS
These aren't fierce rapids by any stretch of the imagination, but they warranted a look-see anyway.
RICK AND DOUG APPROACH
DROWNED TRACTOR
Oopsy!!! Didn't quite make it.
PAINTED WALL
I forget what the process is called that painted the limestone wall like this.
SHOOTING THE RAPIDS
Yeah, now we're talkin'!!!
MORE PAINTED WALL
DOUG BAILS
This was a constant activity on this trip.
SCULPTED CAVE
Yet another cave set into the rock face.
SCULPTED CAVE OPENING
Seen from a different angle.
SCULPTED CAVE ENTRY
Too good to pass up, we go in!
