Labyrinth Canyon

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John has wanted to do a float trip down Labrynith Canyon, a 48 mile stretch of towering canyons and flat water on the Green River.  We wanted to paddle our kayak and use the rafts as support for our gear and anyone else who wanted to come. He started planning it with Clay and Leslie back in February thinking it would be a fun trip to take toddlers on.  She invited Alison and John invited his brother Craig with his kayak and he invited his son in law John and his two oldest kids and pretty soon we had full trip. Sadly, Clay's back was so bad that he couldn't come, but Leslie and Owen came anyway. 

Somehow all this gear fits onto four rafts. 

We got on the river about 1:30 pm Thursday afternoon, Craig, John and I in our kayaks and everyone else loaded onto rafts. Because we had children with us we stopped often to play in the currents and mud. It was a nice reminder to enjoy the river and not focus on the miles ahead of us. The kayak was so much fun. I felt like a shepherd on the river. We paddled around checking on everyone, relayed messages between boats, even paddled up river to see if things were ok. 

Each day after we floated and played in the morning we tied up the rafts, two by two with the kayaks on each side and motored down stream to get the miles in we needed to that day. And wonder of wonders the motor worked!!! The only mishaps were a lost, then found, then broken toy boat and Craig flipping over in his kayak when he got perpindicular to the rafts. John and I were able to paddle out to him, used our emergency bilge pump to get the water out of the kayak (thanks Chris) and stable it so he could back get in. Easy peasy. 

We were warned that there might be swarms of mosquitos on this trip, but we lucked out. We tried to stay away from standing water and riparian areas.  Annie and Owen were the only ones really chewed on with their extra sweet blood, the rest of us just sprayed ourselves liberally with repellant and were left somewhat alone.  

The campsites were great, the first night we were in some cottonwood trees above the water line, it was a little warm and sticky but bearable. The sheer canyon wall soaring above us was incredible. 

  

The second night we camped on a sandbar in the middle of the river. How cool is that?  

Alison and Brandon and  Leslie pitched their tents on top of the sand bar, but after a micro burst blew in Leslie moved her tent down to the beach. Alison and Brandon stayed and were sandblasted all night. 

It was Alison's birthday weekend and we had Dutch oven lasagna and an eclair cake that Annie made for her birthday dinner.  We even had candles, but it was too windy to light them. 

Craig, John, Kashia and Ethan had never been on an over night river trip before, but took to it like champs. Poor Ethan had 3 grand aunts he didn't even know telling him telling him what to do. 

John worried about the little kids and getting too hot on the rafts so he rigged up umbrella stands for each boat. He is a brilliant and kind man.  They totally made the trip enjoyable every one, not just the kids. 

It was nice to go on a river trip that was warm and relaxing. No rapids to fear, no weather to worry about, no cold feet to endure. Just family, good food, the river and sand. 

I love this picture of Owen and Russell trustingly following John and Brett to see what fun they had in store for them. How lucky we are to are to have nieces and nephews who will share their little families with us for a time.