<p>Anyone else have a great summer adventure?
H and I just got back from a 7 day raft trip through the Grand Canyon. Something we have always wanted to do - he loves the canyon scenery and I’m a bit acrophobic, so thought seeing it from the bottom up would be better than “top down”.
Wow. It was one of the trips of a lifetime. Beautiful, difficult, freeing, exciting. I haven’t slept on the ground for 7 nights in a row in decades, not to mention the “leave no trace” toilet policies… Great boatmen, great food, great companions, sand in every tiny place in my pack and whitewater way beyond my comfort level before I left. But the overwhelming stillness and beauty just can’t be communicated. America the Beautiful really is. (The land, not the politicians…)
If you ever get a chance, do it.</p>
<p>Any other great vacations?</p>
<p>You and H went alone? Just the two of you?</p>
<p>No, group trip with a prof. organization. Real river guides!</p>
<p>While you were there did you imagine what it must have been like for Powell to do that with the technology of the time and then climb the canyon at multiple points - one-armed?</p>
<p>Peru!</p>
<p>Avoid Europe! Gas is more than $9 a gallon!</p>
<p>Saint Petersburg is the most amazing place in Europe! I’d go back in a heartbeat. And compared to the rest of Europe, Russia is still affordable…</p>
<p>But if you go, go in June to experience the white nights…
St. Petersburd, in my time known as Leningrad, has been known as the Venice of the North. It is beautiful…
Gas will still be pricey…</p>
<p>Kelowna, it would be suicidal to drive in Saint Petersburg! The only traffic rule they seem to observe there is that the biggest, baddest car always has the right of way. Gas was, according to our calculations, about $4/gallon in June (they, of course, price it roubles/liter). However, public transpotation is fantastic, and we used the subway all the time.</p>
<p>dragonmom - the trip sounds awesome! I’ve considered that kind of vacation many times, and am terribly embarassed to say that the one thing that keeps me from committing is my fear of… snakes. Really.</p>
<p>I’ve done white-water rafting before (just day trips) and love it. But I just don’t know how I could deal with my unfounded worry that a snake lurks around every corner.</p>
<p>My big adventure? Going down to the Rio Grande Valley the Friday after Hurricane Dolly hit on Wednesday. A different kind of adventure you might say. We’re going to San Francisco next week for five nights… hopefully my bad karma will have lifted. But I think it will be an awesome trip as neither one of my daughters has ever been. I think they will love it there.</p>
<p>One month from today, I’m on my way (with just H) to spend two weeks in Peru, including a 4-day trek on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. I’ll let you know when I get back if it’s as memorable as I expect it will be!</p>
<p>Machu Pichu mootmom - I am in awe of you!
teriwitt, no snakes were in evidence; the guides say they are rare even though it’s their envronmental niche. Don’t let it keep you away.</p>
<p>ucla dad, one of the friends I met on the river actually had Powell’s same disability. She managed to out-hike me most of the time. Quite humbling.<br>
We hiked up several canyons but not to the rim - just enough to see the geology the prof in charge wanted to look at.</p>
<p>I found Peru to be one of the most memorable trips I have ever made. But it was almost 30 years ago! So I am sure things have changed somewhat…Now that I am sipping my morning coffee, I remember the coffee there. It is wonderul as well as the scenery!</p>
<p>I spent the night on the rim of the G. Canyon around the same time period. I think it wasn’t legal but no one shooed us off and I woke up to the sunrise. I would love to take that rafting adventure. Sounds wonderful. I love the huge SouthWest of the U.S. including all the parks!</p>
<p>I have heard Croatia is wonderful so I am going in the spring.</p>