Burn....

A couple of funny situations and here I am.

I live in a van down by the river. I know that you know that it wouldnt be any different. The only difference is that I have all the beer and none of the firewood. And every morning that I sleep outside I wake to rain in the face. WTF?

Just a quick rant on the tipping policy with river rats. Lets say your entire family goes rafting and the entire trip is nothing but laughter and good times and awesome soaked to the bone whitewater, nothing short of great. Now its important to note that when you dine out you dont leave a quarter behind on a $150 tab where the server was there for your every need, right? So dont tip a guide $3 after spending the last 4 hours or awesomeness with em, or that guide might just give it back and punch you in the face, because its deserved.

Aside of that Ive hada great time laughing and experiencing some odd cool thingies by the tree, the one by the rock....you know?

1. Sunburn leaves funny lasting impressions but the chaco tan is back. And I got a spectacular jacket burn and rare form of coon eyes from the sunglasses.

2. Driving down the road with muggles, Matt, noticed that the rafts were leaning to the side and he thought of trashing the guides who didnt tie em down enough....well, after a turn and the trailer kinda swung out he noticed that it wasnt the strapping but a missing trailer wheel. About a mile later a passer-by showed up and delivered the said wheel. It snapped off right on the axle inside of the leaf springs and dragged from there. Ouch.

3. The 10 year tradition was broken when one of the new guides was going through a rapid called the "beartooth drop" and was backsurfed and dumped. This all happened in a duckie. I was right there waiting when he came up all wide eyed and out of breath from the cold. I always wear that big smile when people surface cold and wet, and towed him out of the surf. At the same time we watched the duckie float and wrap on the bridge pilon. Damn.

4. An amazing horseback ride on the Stoney Lonesome Ranch. Wow. I think he said he had more than 8000 acres and most of it was at the foot to the Absarokas.

5. Embrace the swim!

6. During the high water extravaganza, we measured the distance from the top of a raft to the the bottom of the lowest bridge, we only found three inches. That was interesting, how do you get 6 people that low, one might ask? I never reveal my secrets....mwahaha!!