River Rafting on the Arkansas River

Dean (the husband)
Shalane (the wife)
There is something to be said for the sound formed by a roaring river as the water flows over and around the rocks and boulders.  This beautiful melody is exactly what we heard day and night.  It was another perfect day to be alive in the Rocky Mountains! 

We checked into Echo Canyon Rafting near Canon City, Colorado at about 12:35 p.m..  After filling out a few forms and getting our life jackets fitted, we boarded a bus bound for the river.  Dean and I had rafted separately before but never together, so we were really excited to share this experience. The head rafting guide stood up on the bus and gave us a few instructions during the 20 minute ride to the “put in.”  When we arrived, we anxiously waded into the water with our raft, a family from Iowa and our 20 year old guide, Derrick.  For the next hour and a half we drifted through the Bighorn Sheep Canyon.  It is aptly named, as, while adrift, we saw a Bighorn sheep atop a high mountain.  There were a couple of class III rapids to get our heart rates up, but, for the most part, it was just a matter of taking in all the beauty around us.  It was an unforgettable journey along the Arkansas River.  Several times we were doused with some pretty big waves, and, at one point, even got out of the raft and played in the water.  The mountain water was cold, but felt wonderful!

At about 4:30 pm we arrived back at Echo Canyon River Expeditions.  We then had to decide if we would spend a third night at the campground near the Royal Gorge or drive up the road a little bit.  After checking freecampgrounds.com we decided to drive on towards Salida, Colorado.  We made camp about an hour later on some BLM land right next to the Arkansas River.  Of all the roads we’ve traveled so far, this stretch from Canon City to Salida, Colorado, if not my favorite, has to be in the top five.  Words can not describe how beautiful the river/mountain combination is on this winding highway.

We’ve met some wonderful people here, many were interested in our solar generator.  We learned from them as well, as one gentleman described how to make dehydrated food in the window on his RV.  I can’t wait to try this when I get back home.  For our Midwest and East coast readers, I’m afraid you have too much humidity to try this little trick, but if you have any others, we love to hear them!

All night long we heard the river as we slumbered.  Before drifting off to sleep we even watched the beginning of a John Wayne movie on the laptop.  Today we will drive to Moab, Utah.  We are expecting more beautiful scenery as we cross the Continental Divide at Monarch Pass  (elevation 11,300 feet).  I’ll have the camera in hand!   Happy Trails!