The Grand Time

Tom's Journal

June 25, 2007 - Day 41

View A Different Day

By the long delay since my last update, you probably guessed I was not able to get the CD out with a hiker. It wasn’t for lack of trying as I ran to catch up with another group, some of whom who apparently were hiking all the way to the top.

I never caught up with them and ended up having to run back to the river so our group could continue, as we had only floated about a mile since our 7:50 am launch. As is typical in my world, it turned out no one from the other group went to the top anyway.

Even though the flash flood several years ago made some changes, Havasu Creek was beautiful as ever with its clear blue water flowing in pools, slides and waterfalls through lush greenery. Combined with the desert scenery and temperatures it was better than anything any theme park could provide.

In the time since we had arrived, many other rafts had appeared at this very popular attraction, so it was time for us to move on.

After rowing a raft since re-joining the trip five days earlier, Gary got his first chance to paddle a kayak and he and I enjoyed the passing scenery through mostly mellow rapids and long flat stretches for another seventeen miles.

We had reached the end of the inner gorge and the narrow, dark hard-rock canyon gave way to wider, sedimentary sandstone layers like those we saw early on our way through this, the final National Park on the journey.

The usual afternoon upstream wind came upon us and the last of our miles were slow, but we made our goal-a nice large camp on the river’s right side called Cove-by about 3:30.

The wind continued into the early evening but began to settle down about when we did.

It really is a treat in this extremely hot weather to have the option to sleep near the cool river water, better than air conditioning.
View A Different Day

Mile by Mile Photos

June 25, 2007 - Day 41
Mile 825 through Mile 838

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