My grandchildren are pros at breaking camp…and Zach is master of the “cots”, both putting together and taking apart. Breakfast is delicious French Toast with berries and whipped cream on top. The last “fire line”…View image…attemtpint to get on the raft without getting your feet sucked down into the mud and we were off.

Jenna and Sarah finally got up their courage to try kayaking on a flat stretch of the river and loved it! Jenna even took a few rapids with Mike and was hysterical with joy. I will never forget her face, alight with happiness, after a successful rapid run. A great moment accomplishment!

And then, Sarah took her turn and loved it…while Nicky and Lexi took a kayak by themselves and shot the last rapid.

Jenna taking a turn in the kayak on the Green River, Utah
They would have stayed in the kayaks all day (a major trip highlight), but it was time for our last hike, up to petroglyphs left by the Fremont Indians. These canyons were their homes between 740AD to 1400AD, growing corn, beans and squash. They left their history carved into the walls but no one knows why they disappeared. It was very interesting listening to the description and meaning of each design. …View image… The designs were possible maps, information for other tribes and every picture had a meaning. We can only guess at the meanings. The guide also explained the difference between a petroglpyh and a pictrogryph (or pictograph). One is etched and the other painted.

Fremont Indian petroglyph, Utah
The rafting trip was almost over (along with its many new experiences) but there was still one more. Erin (guide) let Sarah ROW her raft, and Ashley (guide) …View image…let Zach row ours. Now, we are talking 600 lb. rafts, folks!

With instruction from their respective guides, they did great and Sarah was thrilled that when Uncle Mike took the oars of their raft, he managed to row the raft on a rock and both he and Erin had to push the raft off!

The trip was over at Gunnison Butte, Swaseys boat ramp the take-out point, about 30 minutes north of Green River, Utah. …View image… A beautiful, unbelievably HOT white sand beach where we had our last lunch, farewells to the extremely hard-working guides – always good-natured, smiling and patient – answering the same questions over and over again, e.g. “Is there a rapid coming up?…is there a rapid coming up?…is there a rapid coming up?”

A deep sigh of relief that we are all intact and accounted for…looking forward to a hot shower…and on our way SLC in preparation for flying home tomorrow.

More tomorrow…summing up the family rafting trip…