Family--Cathy Page, Dave Johnson and first timer, Becky Garner |
Friends--Dawn Pozzani and Norm Michaels |
My honey and best rower ever--Mike Godfrey |
On the first day, there is a short but tricky side channel to maneuver down called Fish Ladder. The options are going over a huge and dangerous drop, or walking through slippery rocks and hard brush while holding on to the rope of your raft. We had three good runs while staying in the rafts.
However, there was a nasty rock at the bottom that caught two of our rafts. Hmmm . . . what to do when you get stuck.
Mike made me move to the back of the raft to get my weight off the front where we were stuck.
Dave broke Rule 1: Never get out of the raft and Rule 2: Never get out of the raft. Luckily there were no bad repercussions from his actions.
Most of this blog will be photos from the trip. I was so ready for Mother Nature to inspire my art that I took many photos of water, birds and other wild life. You will notice that some of these photos have been manipulated to enhance their drama and readability. Enjoy!
Water
Animals
Thirsty and hungry doe with two fawns |
Eagle waiting |
A community of waterfowl |
Heron posing |
Egret posing |
Three Lucky Shots
The Last Day
I always look for the lone tree that sits atop an obelisk-like rock. We have given it the names "bonsai tree" or "haiku tree." Year after year it sits with its roots miraculously finding nutrition and water by reaching down the outside of the rock to its livelihood.
I have painted it twice and the last painting sold just before this trip. It will probably inspire yet another painting.
Although we had experienced some smoke, the last day of our five-day trip, we were heading right toward the rampaging fire very near our take out.
Nearing our takeout point, Foster Bar, the skies were full of smoke. |
A few minutes after this shot was taken, we were pulling out of the river, safe and sound. And for five wonderful days we had kept our messy sides up!