Saturday, August 4th

Today was our rafting trip down the Colorado River starting from the base of the Glen Canyon Dam.  Behind the dam is Lake Powell. 

The rafting trip is 16 miles, gentle waters, it was the only one we could find that would take 4 year olds.  Anyhow it was nice except we started at 7:30!  You drive through a 2 mile tunnel dug into the sandstone to the base of the dam and start there.  It was cold in the morning but got hot later.  We stopped and got off the raft at a little sand bar that is actually a National Park spot with Rangers and bathrooms. We viewed the Indian petroglyphs, got to say they were a letdown, Lauren said the Indian’s drew with crayons on the wall?  I had to leave then or laugh.  The kids chased lizards and they all stepped in the water – 47 degrees.  Rick said his feet hurt after a minute.  Some crazy Europeans in the group had their swimsuits and jumped in – briefly.

Back on the river the cliffs and wildlife were very impressive, we saw wild ponies, lots of birds and a fox that moved like a mountain goat on the cliffs – which is essentially the Grand Canyon walls.  We stopped at Lee’s Ferry which is right were the Grand Canyon officially starts, and rapids do too.  There was a group getting ready to start a trip and the only trips through the Grand Canyon are minimum 3 days because there is no way out except by helicopter!  They were going for 14 but some were leaving after 6 days.  Normal rapids are on a scale of 1-5, at the GC they are on a 1-10 scale they are so rough.  Crazy! 

Back at the dam we took a tour and it was very neat.  The Hoover dam is taller but this one is bigger.  Our guide was a Navajo Indian, and very knowledgeable.  There is also a coal plant nearby on the Navajo reservation and he said there is a giant coal mine on the reservation, who knew.  Grant and Rick loved it, so did I and the girls did pretty well.  We could have spent hours there but we needed to get going to Moab, Utah a 5 hour drive.

The five hour drive we broke down and let them watch movies, the ride is too bouncy to play games or read very long. Oh yeah and we let them have McDonald’s for breakfast.