June 19, 2018 - Rafting the Grand Canyon Day Three

Last night was eventful.  We were all woken up by a large roar that sounds like a freight train.  It was a rock slide somewhere in the Canyon.

Early morning was always scenic with some rock walls dark in shadows and others flaming orange in the light.  But it was hard to capture it with the camera.  You can sort of see our campsite in the lower right.
   
Soon we were on the water again.  Our guide Scott annouced that so far the rapids had been "mild" and today we would experience some varsity rapids.
   
I'm sitting in the bath tub this morning with full rainsuit on.  Bring it on!
   
 
   
 
   
Lynnette gets adventurous and goes for the pontoon.
   
 
   
Jeff and Kevin got hit pretty hard on the pontoon.
   
Here we go!   The rapids were usually of short duration:  30 to 60 seconds?
   
Then we would be back in the calm.
   
Now I'm on the pontoon:  Lead Dog position.
   
Our boat always followed Scott in the lead boat.
   
Notice the clear blue skies.  I don't believe we saw a single cloud the entire week.
   
I have had enough of the Bath Tub and Pontoon.  Now I'm back in the Tea Room.
   
Stan taking a break and enjoying a cold Bud Lite - lime-flavored.
   
Lynnette and I reward oursevles with some Blue Moons.
   
The river would be calm right up the line; then the river just went nutso.
   
This was one of the rough ones.
   
Stan tries to get one last sip in before the rapids.
   
He's so pleased with himself.
   
Passing by an oar group.
   
 
   
Thad, the apprentice, was on our boat today.  He would be steering the boat through one of the more serious rapids, under Matt's supervision.
   
Approaching the big rapid.
   
This one was definately a big one.  I could feel the entire boat flex.
   
Thad had total concentration on steering the boat through the rapids.
   
On a big rapid like this, Matt had everyone sit inboard and not on the pontoons.  I was in the Tea Room but even there I got wet.  You can see the water drops on the camera lens.
   
This was a long rapid.
   
We made it!  Alongside the other boat.
   
Scott, the Lead Guide of our expedition.
   
More rapids!
   
Battered but unbroken.
   
Uh oh, what's that white line ahead?
   
This one's gonna be bad!
   
I'm in the Bathtub again.  I think I'm gonna get wet!
   
 
   
Jeff's Lead Dog again.
   
Lynnette is wet but happy.
   
Passing by some rowboats and oar-powered rubber rafts.
   
Both boats pulled into a narrow slot canyon and we disembarked for a short hike to a small waterfall and then lunch.  Here Scott helps Lynnette go from one boat to another.
   
Looking up the slot canyon.
   
Matt the Guide led the way and we stayed close behind him this time!
   
The waterfall!  Not exactly Niagara Falls but nice.
   
 
   
Kevin and Jeff
   
 
   
Steve goes Macho
   
Not sure what message Steve is trying to convey here.
   
 
   
Doing the Pirate Captain Morgan thing.
   
On our return, we found they had set up this "Easyup" shelter -- where do they find room in the boats for all this stuff?  -- and lunch was served.
   
Fed and happy, Lynnette is ready for more whtie water action.
   
I was surprised to see this pedestrian bridge ahead of us.  We had arrived at Bright Angel canyon where Phantom Ranch is located.  This is also where the Bright Angel Trail (9 miles to rim) and Kaibab Trail (7 miles to rim) reach the river.  This is an arrival and departure point for some river expeditions.
 
It turns out this is the Kaibab Suspension Bridge, here since 1927!
   
As you can see, we weren't the only boats who stopped here.
   
Getting ready to disembark; looking back up the river.
   
We walked up Bright Angel Canyon, alongside a little creek.  People were camping on the opposite side.
   
It was hot.  Check out the thermometer!  I don't know if it was 120 like it says, but it was hot.
   
All the campers were sitting in the creek to stay cool.
   
At the ranch, we came across these burros.  You can mail a postcard here and it gets packed out via burro.
   
I didn't envy the burros having to just stand there all day in this heat.
 
The Phantom Ranch had a little Canteen where you could get breakfast, dinner and buy some hiker items.  They have some bunk rooms too, for those who hike down, stay overnight, and hike out the next day.
   
Back at the Boat Beach I got a close look at the small oar-powered rafts.  Wow, they are filled to the brim with gear.
   
And a close look at the wooden boats.
   
Back on the river, we immediately encounter the Bright Angel Rapids, then go under a second bridge -- named the Bright Angel Suspension Bridge, of course.  It was built in 1970.
   
We just motored right past the wooden boat.
   
Approaching another rapid.
   
The wooden boat fighting the white water.  I never saw any boats get flipped on this trip, though.
   
Lynnette is having some fun, now.
   
Talking to the other boat after coming through an exciting rapid.
   
The scenery never failed to amaze.
   
Another major rapid -- no one is on the pontoons.
   
I'm taking the picture back from the Tea Room.
   
 
   
The people up front in the Bath Tub about to be smacked by a wall of icy water!
   
The other boat cheers as we emerge from the rapids.
   
Soon afterwards, we pulled over to set up camp.   Everyone was exhilerated after the big rapids.
   
 
   
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