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.