Was cold again last night. Wore a ski hat, which helped. Suspected, but now pretty sure it is true, it is a lot colder down by the river than up higher. The cold air must settle down in the bottom of the canyons. Also, the cold temperature of the river may contribute to the cold air.
Got up early to cloud cover and scattered drizzles. Joined everyone for breakfast and packing up our last camp site.
While the stragglers were finishing up, took a short walk to the Anasazi ruins behind and above our campsite. There was a granary and two dwellings.
The dwellings are primitive as can be, and not much larger than my tent. Maybe the inhabitants made them cozier with animal skins or items made from plants. The view south is incredible.
Often at the end of a trip, even after having a great time, I am usually ready to go home. Despite Tex, the cold nights, washing with river water and sleeping in a tent, I could have spent a couple more weeks out there.
You think there are things in your life that are important, that you can not do without, where you live, the way you live, the way you think about yourself. Maybe there is a message from a week in the wilderness that lets us know that it is time for a change.
Jesse was my partner, I was in the back, for the short, hour-long paddle to the take out point. We took the rapids, not much more than a bumpy section, on our knees, just to make sure we did not tip the canoe on our last day.
The jet boat passed us on the way there. The timing was good. We unloaded the canoes, loaded the jet boat and snacked on what was left, cheese, turkey (not me), mustard, raisins and candy bars.
On the ride back, Yaacov, who else, started a drum circle, that grew of its own and sounded suprisingly good, until Dirk had had enough.
Odd to be back at J. L. Eddy as if nothing had happened. The jet boat drove itself up onto the trailer without a winch. We piled into the school bus and a return to life as we knew it.
Using a bathroom for the first time in a week was not as big a relief as I had imagined.
We gathered up the things we left at Tex Riverways and took a walk over to Buck's Grill House for a nice meal.
Hopped on the bus for the ride back to Salt Lake City. Amused ourselves with a game of categories, Rick won, and spades, of which Luba is a shark from her military days. In no time we were back in the hotel and I shared a room with Scott.
A bed was not as much of a relief as I thought it might be, nor was the shower.
My skin was extremely dried out. My lips were cracked. My finger tips wrinkled and sensitive, and I had trouble opening bottles. Wonder if those are signs of dehydration. Lip balm and lotion helped a lot.