The Grand Time

Tom's Journal

June 1, 2007 - Day 17

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Every day seems to bring an unexpected event-today’s came before I was even awake. Through sleepy eyes I looked across the beach for my kayak, to no avail.

Strangely, I found the gear I had left in the kayak-in someone else’s kayak. After a few more of the group arose, I was told that I was a victim of “Big Dan the kayak thief”. He is a commercial guide who had walked to our camp after he had put his customers to sleep at another camp about a quarter mile downstream.

Turns out he didn’t want to deal with walking on the rocky shoreline in the dark and my kayak apparently fit him better than the others, so he paddled it back to his camp.

After learning this, I focused on getting my gear packed and reloaded on the raft.

We shoved off in the raft at about 10:30 am, and sure enough, found my kayak on the beach at a now-deserted campsite.

The river had several more notable rapids that were great fun because they just had big rolling waves and no dangerous holes.

Soon the water was calm and peaceful. It seemed like it controlled our mood as there was not much banter among us.

Lars kept up a strong pace with the oars, moving about twenty miles through the flat water by late afternoon.

Just before 5pm we passed under a high bridge on Utah #95 near the site of Hite Marina. It marks the place where the river becomes distended-a different type of silence.

With the hand-held marine radio provided by my brother Dan, I was able to make contact with he and his extended family on motor boats. In a matter of minutes, Troy, Shannon, Joan, Heidi and Kaylee arrived on board “Wet Pay”.

Wondering at my good fortune, I said a heartfelt thanks and goodbye to Courtney, Noel and Lars and began yet another chapter in this Grand Time.

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Mile by Mile Photos

June 1, 2007 - Day 17
Mile 458 through Mile 524

May 16 2007 - Day 1May 17 2007 - Day 2May 18 2007 - Day 3May 19 2007 - Day 4May 20 2007 - Day 5May 21 2007 - Day 6May 22 2007 - Day 7May 23 2007 - Day 8May 24 2007 - Day 9May 25 2007 - Day 10May 26 2007 - Day 11May 27, 2007 - Day 12May 28, 2007 - Day 13May 29, 2007 - Day 14May 30, 2007 - Day 15May 31, 2007 - Day 16June 1, 2007 - Day 17June 2 - 11, Day 18 - 27June 12, 2007 - Day 28June 13, 2007 - Day 29June 14, 2007 - Day 30June 15, 2007 - Day 31June 16, 2007 - Day 32June 17, 2007 - Day 33June 18, 2007 - Day 34June 19, 2007 - Day 35June 20, 2007 - Day 36June 21, 2007 - Day 37June 22, 2007 - Day 38June 23, 2007 - Day 39June 24, 2007 - Day 40June 25, 2007 - Day 41June 26, 2007 - Day 42June 27, 2007 - Day 43June 28, 2007 - Day 44June 29 2007 - Day 45June 30, 2007 - Day 46July 1 - 13, Day 47 - 58July 15, 2007 - Day 59
The last day; The river’s end