River Rats and Sore Muscles
We got the Kayak out yesterday for a trip on the Colorado River through the Black Canyon. We decided to use the blow up Kayak that is tandem for safety the first time we were out. Cindy did not feel comfortable being in a Kayak by herself the first time out and I was not sure that I could rescue her if something did happen.
The tandem Kayak has not been used since last year so I had to dig it out from the basement of the RV and blow it up. Was not sure that we were going to finish the job because the plastic pump they provided did not want to cooperate with us and kept breaking. When Mrs. Delicate got a hold of it and tried to pump the Kayak up, I had to repair it three times and finally decided it was in my best interest to finish the job. We finally got it and loaded up the lunch, water, sunscreen, towels and headed for the dock. We were lucky no one else was there waiting to launch there boat and we were able to get in right away. The water was very cold and it was 98 degrees here yesterday. There was a little wind blowing and I was some what concerned that going out was going to be difficult because we would be paddling against the wind. It was not too bad getting up the canyon. (We went toward the Hoover Dam, which is 11 miles by water from where we are staying. We went near the edge of the cliffs and hung as close as possible because the wind could not get us there. We were able to stop at several little places that Cindy could get out of the Kayak and stretch her legs. We were at one of these places when a tour group came up on us and the tour guide told everyone to pull in by us. There were about 15 of them and it was a small place. She did not ask us nor did she apologize for coming on us like that. We had to leave because the hair was standing up on the back of Cindy's head and I knew the fight was about to start.
We traveled up the canyon about two miles, stopping at different little coves to rest because we were still paddling against the wind going up. AND then the wind changed!! I thought we were going to be lucky and float back to the launch point with the wind to our backs and we could coast back home. Not so, the wind got up more and it was blowing right in our face.. The wind was blowing so hard there were white caps on the water. Other kayakers were having some problems but not like us. Their kayaks were long and slim and travel faster in the water than the rubber duck!! We had to fight to get back and our arms were hurting from paddling so hard. It took us a lot longer to get back of course. But we made it and there were only a few hundred angry words passed between us!! We could see a few of the mountain people grab their children and cover their ears and head inside the house. It was probably their nap time anyway. Speaking of naps, we came back and both of us took a 3 hour nap to rest up.
Here are the photos
The tandem Kayak has not been used since last year so I had to dig it out from the basement of the RV and blow it up. Was not sure that we were going to finish the job because the plastic pump they provided did not want to cooperate with us and kept breaking. When Mrs. Delicate got a hold of it and tried to pump the Kayak up, I had to repair it three times and finally decided it was in my best interest to finish the job. We finally got it and loaded up the lunch, water, sunscreen, towels and headed for the dock. We were lucky no one else was there waiting to launch there boat and we were able to get in right away. The water was very cold and it was 98 degrees here yesterday. There was a little wind blowing and I was some what concerned that going out was going to be difficult because we would be paddling against the wind. It was not too bad getting up the canyon. (We went toward the Hoover Dam, which is 11 miles by water from where we are staying. We went near the edge of the cliffs and hung as close as possible because the wind could not get us there. We were able to stop at several little places that Cindy could get out of the Kayak and stretch her legs. We were at one of these places when a tour group came up on us and the tour guide told everyone to pull in by us. There were about 15 of them and it was a small place. She did not ask us nor did she apologize for coming on us like that. We had to leave because the hair was standing up on the back of Cindy's head and I knew the fight was about to start.
We traveled up the canyon about two miles, stopping at different little coves to rest because we were still paddling against the wind going up. AND then the wind changed!! I thought we were going to be lucky and float back to the launch point with the wind to our backs and we could coast back home. Not so, the wind got up more and it was blowing right in our face.. The wind was blowing so hard there were white caps on the water. Other kayakers were having some problems but not like us. Their kayaks were long and slim and travel faster in the water than the rubber duck!! We had to fight to get back and our arms were hurting from paddling so hard. It took us a lot longer to get back of course. But we made it and there were only a few hundred angry words passed between us!! We could see a few of the mountain people grab their children and cover their ears and head inside the house. It was probably their nap time anyway. Speaking of naps, we came back and both of us took a 3 hour nap to rest up.
Here are the photos
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| Cactus growing out of the rock side of the mountain |
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| I got the prettiest shoes of all. |
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