Monday 25th July.

Monday 25^th July.  Day 9. Mile 120 – 138.  Granaries camp

13 Rapids today plus 2 un-named, ungraded short ones:

122 Mile Rapid (5), Forster (6), Fossil (6), Nel’s Nemesis ungraded, Randy’s Rock (2), 127 Mile Rapid (3), 128 Mile Rapid (5), Specter (6), Bedrock (8), Deubendorff (7+), Tapeats (6), Bonita Creek (3), 135 Mile Rapid (Helicopter Eddy) (5).

Another good day of rafting!  Julia told Kevin he could go with me today to give her a day off!!!!! So I gave them both a day off and went with Rosie in Glen’s boat.

Fossil rapid was fun with a bend in the middle.  I rode bull on the 2^nd of 3 new rapids (the 3^rd of which they nicknamed Tumbleweed).  It was fun and easy!

We went for a short hike soon after leaving camp in the morning to an amazing side canyon where you can see the layers of erosion – and the gap in geological time which they term an unconformity.  After lunch we went to Deer Creek where most of the party went on a steep scramble to “The Patio” where there were 2 small waterfalls and shade.  Jo, Peter and I (later joined by Kevin who abandoned the walk on an exposed narrow stretch) stayed at river level by a huge powerful waterfall. The sun hitting the waterfall spray formed a beautiful rainbow.  We took bed rolls (taco pads) and lay on the beach in the cooling spray and had a sleep!

Back at the rafts Julia was diagnosed with foot rot and Tom applied some cream – which made her hop about as it burned so much!  My left food has also started itching, so I probably have foot rot too, though it looks more like the eczema I sometimes get.

I received a compliment today when someone told Julia she had the coolest Aunt ever!

I saw cat footprints in the sand when we were setting up our tents and Julia just saw a mouse by their tent. There was thunder and lightning again but no rain as yet.  Our campsite is huge, with sand dunes and a plateau.  The kitchen is under a large overhang which is full of holes and crevices from where the bats emerged at sunset.