June 18, 2018- Rafting the Grand Canyon Day Two
Today is our first full day on the river.  We get up early, something like 6AM.  It doesn't seem early since we are still on East Coast time and the sun is out.  The coffee is already brewing.  We enjoy breakfast with bacon and eggs to order.  We pack up our stuff and load the boats.  We are on the water by 8:30 AM or so.  Who knows?  Except for those few still wearing a wristwatch, we quickly lose track of time in the canyon.  Did I mention there is virtually no phone or wireless service in the canyon so no one is staring down at their smartphone, on the laptop, or talking on their phone the entire week.
   
I was continually amazed by how clear the water was.  I've flown high over the Grand Canyon multiple times and from way up there the Colorado River is a little, brown ribbon.  I just assumed it would be brown and muddy.  Instead, it is green and clear.
   
The guides advised wearing full rain suits in the morning, when we would frequently be in the shade.  Then, we would not be cold when we got splashed in the rapids.  It was good advice.  I sat in the bathrub this morning and although I got a little damp, the water didn't take my breath away like it did yesterday afternoon when I was just wearing a T-shirt and bathing suit.
   
 
   
Hole in the wall.  Matt the Guide knew all about geology and explained what caused it, but geology isn't one of my interests so I promptly forgot.
   
Approaching Redwall Cavern:  a huge, shallow cave.
   
AAA
   
We stopped and checked it out.
   
No camping or fires are allowed here.
   
Lynnette and I checked out this little hole in the wall a short distance away.  It looked more impressive from afar than up close.
   
Underway again.  From left to right:  Stan, Steve, Matt the Guide, Lynnette, Kevin.  Taking it easy in the Tea Room.   All week, Hatch supplied unlimited cold water and Gatorade in the two orange containers.
   
 
   
Lynnette taking it easy.  Notice all the Day Bags in the background.
   
This part of the journey is still considered Marble Canyon.
   
See that little hole in the rock wall?  That's where they drilled a core sample to see if this would be a good spot to build a dam.  Believe it or not, they came close to building a dam here in the 1960s.  In 1969 LBJ proclaimed the establishment of Marble Canyon National Monument, effectively forestalling the possibility of a dam in Marble Canyon. In 1975 the monument was added to Grand Canyon National Park, preserving it forever.
   
 
   
 
   
You could see the bottom of the river at this point.
   
Wearing my full rain suit this morning.
   
How does something like that get formed?  Don't answer that; I won't remember.
   
The canyon wall is white where a bunch of rock came off.
   
Lynnette is riding the pontoon, ready for some rapids!
   
We pulled over here -- Saddle Canyon? -- for lunch and a hike.   It was our first lunch and was very good.  Sandwiches with a wide variety of meats, cheeses and breads.  Or PB&J!  Chips.  Pickles.  Cookies and candy for desert.
   
The hike began with a fairly steep climb.  Lynnette and I immediately fell behind.  But the view was great once you got up there.
   
The trail climbed and it was hot.  It wasn't long before Lynnette and I were on our own.
   
Tired, but what a view!
   
We were both running out of gas.
   
Finally we came to a valley with some shade and that was level.  We weren't sure what we were hiking to.
   
We continued on, and then here comes the group around the bend, hiking back towards us!   Of course my friends said the waterfall only 100 yards further on was fabulous.  Like Niagara Falls.
 
The hike back was much easier since it was downhill.  The last part near the water was through the sand and it was incredibly hot.
   
Back on the water.
   
 
   
Nankoweap Canyon
   
 
   
White water!
   
The seats to the right of the luggage pile, facing the pontoons, are safer in rough rapids, but you get just as wet as if you are out on the pontoon.
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
This is the where the Little Colorado River coming from the east joins the Colorado River.   The Little Colorado was a distinctive light aqua blue.
   
We hiked up the north side of the Little Colorado a short ways.
   
 
   
 
   
To where there was a chute you could float down.   You wore your lifevest upside down as a protective device.  Here Jeff tries it out.
   
Conga lines were quickly formed.
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
Here they come!
   
After that, we backtracked up the Colorado River a short distance to our campsite for the night, on the west bank of the river.   Here, we are looking at our campsite for the night.  Where did the day go?
   
 
   
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