Slept well Monday night. Again the weather was freezing and had to get up to pee, which was a pain. In a bedroom, getting up is not a problem. But in a tent, in cold weather, on a muddy sand bar, getting up is an ordeal. There are a lot of zippers. You start naked in a zipped up sleeping bag. The tent has two zippers on the door flap and you have to zip up to get out, obviously, but as soon as you get out, you have to zip the tent closed so no snakes or scorpions or spiders or other nasties slip in while you are away. When you get back, you have to go through all that zippering in reverse. Putting on clothes is not so bad, but putting on and taking off muddy hiking shoes without getting your tent dirty is an involved process. In spite of all that, the night sky makes the trouble worth every bit of the effort.
My tent was not a cold weather tent. Two sides were all mesh, with the only cover the canopy draped over the top of the tent to keep the rain out. The tent was also too large for one person. Between these factors, there was no chance my body heat could warm the tent at all.
Tried putting on long underwear, fleece, sweat shirt, wool socks, scarf and hat to keep warm in the sleeping bag. Only the hat helped. You stay just as warm or warmer in a sleeping bag when naked. Finally opened the mylar emergency blanket, basically a large sheet of tinfoil like material, and laid that over the sleeping bag. That did the trick and kept in the heat. Also kept in the moisture. When I got up, there was a layer of dew between the sleeping bag and the mylar.
Was late to breakfast and the morning hike left without me. Gabe led some of the group up the small canyon on the west side of our camp site. Strolled after them and took some pictures until the batteries ran out. Behind our tents, where Tex sat, was a field of juvenile tamarisk stalks covered with cow patties. In the morning, clinging to the stalks and stirring in the sunlight, slept colonies of blue-black beetles that had been visited our camp site during the day. Followed the trail of footprints up the dry canyon bed through the overgrown tamarisk to catch up with the group. The canyon was small with tall walls and the sandy bottom traced with animal tracks.
Gabe left early with one group of canoes. We had a long way to go this day and Gabe wanted at least some of the group to get to the new camp site early enough in the day to take care of business.
Mike was my partner. Left with the second group which included Barry and Jodi, Rick and partner bringing up the rear. We paddled a long way to a sand bar. Gabe thought this might be the site of some Anasazi ruins, but we found out the next day they were further down the river. Great scenery all the way.
Caught up with Gabe when making land. There was a large sand bar that stretched across the mouth of the canyon. The sand bar went far out into the river. Canoed to the down river side and hit bottom. Six of us were dragging three canoes into shore in 3 inches of water.
About 12 feet from shore, walking on sand, in water up to my ankles, I stepped forward, put my foot on mud, and went straight down to my thighs without hitting bottom. When you walk, you balance forward and commit yourself to two steps at once. In putting down the first foot, you lift and bring forward the second. So stepping into the quicksand, not only could I not step back, but I stepped forward with the second stride to sink even deeper, with both legs being sucked down into the muck. A little panic hit me, leaned my belly over the canoe, hung on and kicked forward until I got to shore. Then tried to warn the others in vain, fortunately as to not deprive them of the experience. Gabe said he never experienced anything like that.
Gabe said to get out of quicksand, first you must break the seal on your feet that is sucking you down. You need to turn the flat of your foot sideways and reach down and slip your paddle or hand along the underside of your foot, and break the mud suction. Then get yourself on top of the quicksand, floating on your back, and backstroke to shore.
As Yaacov approached the beach we called to him to come in where we were. Called to Rick too, but he chose not to. Did not tell Yaacov about the quicksand, not out of amusement, but thought he would appreciate the experience.
The quicksand was all over and in some places above the water line. Later on, could feel the sand give way in many places along the river and Mike came across some quicksand away from the river in a canyon that was a little wet.
An animal trail, leading up the canyon bed was heavily overgrown with tamarisk. We had to push through a long way, suffering a lot of scratches to get out in the open. My hat was excellent protection and the branches striking my arms and legs did not bother me.
After emerging from the tamarisk, we found ourselves in a, relatively speaking, small canyon. Snacked on a cold baked potato from Monday and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. The potato was still tasty. Did not find any hand paintings. Did see another small rattlesnake, about the same size, but darker and with a different pattern than the first.
Gabe took some canoes with him to get to the camp site. Gabe said the camp site was just around the bend. Mike and I were among the last three canoes to leave. Turned out that must have been the biggest bend on the Colorado river. Often there was seemingly no current. The wind blew hard in our faces, blowing us up stream. Felt like I was too heavy up front and driving the canoe down into the river. We struggled and the ride was long and a lot of work. Glad when we got there.
The new camp site had a rocky landing that appeared made for docking with a broad stepped breakfront down to water level. Jeff Burke was the harbor master, pulled us in, gave instructions and helped take our canoe out, and stowed the canoe alongside the others.
Up from the harbor, about 20 feet was a flat ridge, running a long way in both directions, on which we pitched camp. Behind the ridge, to the north, were red boulders and large sheer canyon walls. Directly up from the harbor was the kitchen, fire and dining hall. The tents were strung out to the east. One Tex was to the west behind a large rock. The other Tex was on the harbor, behind a low rock, not so private, but very scenic, a toilet with a view.
We were in relatively early. Early enough that after setting up my tent, I could take a sponge bath in the river before the sun dipped below the canyon walls.
Was responsible for dinner this night. The meal ratatouie. On the crew was Jesse, Kati and Rick in the kitchen. Jeff Burke and Marsha on the fire.
The first thing to do was get the rice started, which required soaking for 20 minutes, about 20 minutes to get boiling and another 20 minutes of steaming. Had a little fight with Rick and Jesse, who were imprecise about the water measurement. That is fine for pasta, but rice must be exact otherwise too little and it burns, too much and it is mushy. The rice came out perfect.
All the lettuce was rotten. Salvaged the spinach by cooking it with a little oil, lemon juice and salt. Jesse chopped up a small salad of peppers, celery, carrots and tomatoes. Rick and Jesse put in large chunks of uncooked, yellow onions, which horrified, I picked out, as that onion raw is so strong as to be nearly inedible to everyone but Rick. The ratatouie we made with eggplant, onions, stewed tomatoes, squash and what other vegetables were left that were not rotten. Cooked the garlic bread too. The spinach and eggplant could have been cooked more. You can never over cook eggplant.
While everyone was up by the campfire, went down in the pitch dark, to the harbor to pee. Stumbled over an irregular surface, bobbled my flashlight and could have easily fallen into the river. Thought that was a good way to disappear. No one would have known what would have happened. Since tomorrow we were staying in the same place, might not have been missed until the day after, when we partnered up for canoes. Mentioned this to Jesse and he thought this would be a great scenario for an updated Murder on the Orient Express.
Gabe led a meditation at the harbor. Did not feel like laying in the dirt since I was clean. Tried sitting on a hard rock. Thought the meditation was nice, but had a hard time participating fully because I was uncomfortable.