Voice from the past

Mama and Daddy will remember Noni Blalock, and Ted might. Anyway, she stays in touch a bit and recently returned from a rafting trip in the Grand Canyon. This is the email I got from her about it. It is long, but those who remember her may be interested and the rest of you might get ideas for an exciting vacation. The story starts in Austin where she now lives...

The Rafting trip started with a 5 hour delay at the Austin Airport - bomb threat which we didn't find out about until yesterday and horrible thunderstorm - then a trip to Dallas to get a legal pilot with unfueling and refueling due to delays!! We got to Vegas at 3:30 am instead of 9 pm the night before!!! BUT we had a blast and bonded!!! We checked into the Gold Coast in Vegas and actually got to bed at 4:30 Vegas time (yep, that's 6:30 Texas time). We had 3 hours of sleeping time with wake up call from Liz to say have a great trip around 6 am. We were buffeting breakfast by 9 - and then off to the airport at 9:30. We met the Tour West person at 11 - to be transported to the North Vegas airport - weighed - yes, all of us and our luggage!! Then boarded a prop plane to fly about 30 - 45 minutes over Lake Mead and to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Bumpy ride but magnificent view!! The Bar 10 Ranch van picked us up in 2 groups and we headed up hill to the Ranch. At the ranch we had wonderful lunch followed by horse back rides, history/tour, and optional skeet shooting and nature walk. Dinner - range beef pot roast, camp potatoes, corn and BROWNIES!!! Then a hummer tour of Sunset Canyon - Wow!!
That evening the staff put on a delightful country performance with singing, fiddling, dancing and even asking all of us to dance. The generator goes off at 10 pm and after a wonderful shower (our last time to see running warm water) we hit the sack - either bunk beds or sleeping bags under the stars!! I chose to sleep inside one more time!
The next morning we were up with the sun around 5:30 - country breakfast - and packed to go by groups by helicopter to the river!! It took 5 trips - the Canyon was waiting for us in its full glory and so were the rafts and the Tour West crew! We were instructed in how to pack our day bags and our large blue bags with everything else - sleeping bag, pad and everything we brought in the 25 pounds allowed!! We all covered ourselves in sun screen and after being fitted for our life jackets - WE WERE OFF!!
Oh, the pictures will never do the Canyon justice!! YOU need to be there! About 10 minutes into the trip we all learned out to get out of the raft - NOT a pretty picture - and climbed up a path to see Indian drawings on the side of the Canyon wall. It was great start and introduction to the treasures the Canyon had in store for us. We hit the small rapids about 10 minutes after setting off again and by the end of the day, we loved the rapids - they will never get old - exciting every time!! Dealing with high winds, learning to go to the bathroom along the river, putting up our own cots - just a few new skills I have now!!!
Dinner was wonderful and we learned to wash our own dishes. I'm great with my head lantern in finding my way around in the dark and it does get dark around 8 - 8:30. We laughed and giggled and dealt with 30 - 40 mph winds that blew the sand in our eyes and all over us all night long!!
The next morning, coffee call was at 5:15, breakfast at 6 - river toast (french toast made in Dutch oven), sausage, juice and hot chocolate! Then take down and stuff everything back in to the waterproof bags and help load the rafts.
Day 2 on the river involved the much bigger rapids, wearing our rain gear to try to stay warm, AND a waterfall on Indian land. In order to see the waterfall - we had to scale the mountainside, ford a small stream, rappel up the cliff, climb the Indian rope ladder. AND I did it!!! Thank heavens for KEEN sandals!! Lunch was at a small beach where there was actually a set of stairs up to an OUTHOUSE!! Little pleasures!!
In the afternoon we transitioned out of the Canyon after passing Separation Canyon into Lake Mead. We rafted until almost 6:30 when we landed, set up our cots and got ready for a wonderful STEAK dinner. The crew even made a spice cake in the Dutch oven. We were well fed! It was much cooler and we put on all the warmer clothes we brought and tucked ourselves in the sleeping bags and slept under the stars!!
Thursday morning brought an early hot chocolate/coffee call, everyone packing up everything and dragging their stuff to the rafts and getting our things ready for the Jet Boat pick - up around 7:30. We were loaded, life jacketed, and waving goodbye for our 20 - 30 minutes FAST ride across Lake Mead to the pick up place where a bus met us for the 2 1/2 hour ride back to Vegas over Hoover Dam. Due to 9/11 restrictions we had to stuff all of our belongings in the overheads or under our seats on the bus to cross the dam - we passed inspection!
We arrived back at the Vegas airport and took the shuttle back to the hotel where we had to identify our stored luggage as Sherry had lost the claim ticket. AND then a hot shower!!! We were and still are thrilled by running water!!
Late lunch buffet, walk across the street to Rio to see the Masquerade show, a little shopping/no buying, dinner in the coffee shop, AND a full night sleep in a bed!! We woke up at 4:30 Vegas time this morning and were packed and down for breakfast before 7 am!!! We wake up with the sun! Our flight out of Vegas was on time and WE ARE HOME!!
I'm unpacked and I'm washing some very dirty clothes and enjoying catching up on a few emails!!
If you ever have a chance - RAFT the CANYON - it is the experience of a lifetime!!

Noni