Guess where I don't have sand? You can't!

I've just returned from the land of sand, canyons and milky water. For the past 8 days I've driven through 4 states arriving at the destination spot for a 6 day rafting trip down the San Juan River in Utah. Once again, words cannot describe the beauty of this place from the drive to the river itself. It all started with 4 other instructors, 10 students, 2 Suburbans and 1 cargo van. Amy and I had the good (or slow) fortune of driving the cargo van with all the gear to Mexican Hat, Utah.

Mexican Hat- The Hat!

It was about a 14 hour drive that took 2 days. The drive was incredibly beautiful, driving through the Mojave, across Northern Arizona and then through Monument Valley. The Grand Canyon was within 150 miles of us so you can imagine how beautiful it was.


Monument Valley


Drive Home

We stayed at Goosenecks State Park on our first night, which overlooks the river and is located right at bend in the river hence Gooseneck. It was a pretty fantastic way to wake up in the morning and start our trip!


Gooseneck State Park

I had never been rafting before and didn't quite get the fact that you can literally bring anything you want. I'm use to having to bring the minimum as you have to carry all your stuff and don't want to make your life hell. We had three boats, two oar and one paddle. The big oar dragged it's ass in the water the whole time as it had the majority of all our crap. It was hilarious and annoying because it got caught on rocks and sand bars and was a pain the get off especially because the water was so cold! It had a large wake, enough said.


Me learning how to row


The San Juan River

In true Chadwick fashion we ate like kings and queens for 6 days, as you are able to bring coolers because you don't have to portage anything. *Note the word portage is French for carry and tends to be butchered by our American friends. So we took the term float and bloat seriously! The first two day were hot and sunny and then the temperature began to drop and the infamous wind storms paid their visits. We were told in advance that we should bring ski goggles because the combination of wind and fine red sand hurts the eyes. They were right! The wind picks up and sand blows everywhere, the sky takes on this red hue and sand literally gets EVERYWHERE, even in places you thought were protected. We managed to do a 2 hour hike by one of our camp sites up this old miners trail. We got a good look of the rivers path and Monument Valley at the top.



One of our campsites

The water was a milky brown colour as a result of the heavy rains days before we got there, which made it a little trickier to read the water. When the winds picked up rowing the boats was like trying to make a cow walk down a steep hill, it didn't really work. The big oar rig acted like a huge board and tended to not be so aerodynamic.



On day five all four ladies managed to take over the big oar rig and dined with Milano cookies, which oddly enough contain both romance and bliss and flowed down the lazy river. On our last night we had a costume party as it was Amy's Champagne birthday, the ol' 29er! We celebrated in true river fashion with a cake and funky clothes.


The Grand Gulch

Our last day was cold but sunny and involved a lot of sand bar dodging, which also involves wet freezing cold feet! We quickly (2.5 hours) packed up all our stuff and loaded the cargo van with shit (literally) and all, and away we went back to the sunny west coast.

Of course in true Canadian and American language banter we managed to pass our ehs! while they passed on their a's! We also had to say goodbye to our new friends in hopes that we will meet again. Our California adventure has come to end, having seen the a lot of what the beautiful South west has to offer.


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