Sunday 24th July.

Sunday 24^th July.  Day 8.  Mile 98.75 – 120.  Blacktail Camp

19 Rapids today

Crystal  (10+), Tuna Creek (5), Lower Tuna (4), 100 Mile Rock (Nixon Rock) (5), Agate (3), Sapphire (7), Turquoise (4), 104 Mile Rapid (6), Ruby (6), Serpentine (7), Bass (4), Shinumo (4), 110 Mile Rapid (1), Hakatai (4), Walthenberg (7), 112.5 Mile Rapid (2), 113.5 Mile Rapid (Rancid Tuna) (5),

119 Mile Rapid (2), Blacktail (3)

Crystal was a cauldron of bubbling water and, as we were camped just above it, before we set off we watched 2 power rafts going through.  They had enough power to take the centre line but when it came to our turn we stayed to the right and that was scary enough!!  We are now officially members of the ABC Club (Alive Below Crystal).  It was a full-on day with 19 full and 2 minor rapids, as well as 2 short hikes to waterfalls – one, at Elves Chasm,  which you could jump down from into a pool about 8ft deep.  Needless to say, Julia did it!  I would have liked to but the climb up was very slippery and difficult, so I decided to be cautious!

We did the ‘Gems’ of Crystal, Sapphire, Ruby, Serpentine etc.  At Ruby Julia took a big hit of water on her side and head which knocked her back into me and made her deaf for a few minutes – but we all stayed in the raft!  Julia also rode the bull again but fell backwards into the boat as Dave, our guide, would not let her hold on the black  front strap but insisted she hold the rope which circled the raft (the chicken wire) but which gave her no stability.  Dave’s instructions were not always very clear or very loud and when Julia repeated them for the benefit of Kevin and myself he told her off.  She explained that we could not hear him and his reply was “It is not that you cannot hear, it is that you are not listening”.  At Elves Chasm he gave her a big hug and said she was always mad at him, which she denied.  However, I did not tale to him at all. 

We had 2 swimmers today apparently Jen made a mistake.  We played some riddle games today and I often won!  Steak for tea – scrummy!!

Sorry for the poor quality of the photos - I could not see when I had mist or water on the lense (nor SLR camera!!) also, the time stamp on the photos is incorrect - I did not alter it from UK time to USA time.