I’m back!
Honestly, though, I’m back physically, but mentally I’m somewhere else entirely. In case you’re new here or you hadn’t heard, I just finished a 17 day, 225 mile, self-supported rafting trip in the Grand Canyon with 16 other people.
Trying to process the last three weeks is going to take some time.
Some stats from the trip:
- We used five 18-foot long oar rigs paddled by non-professional, non-paid oarsmen (including Nelson – who used be a guide on the New and Gauley Rivers)
- Sleeping outside without a tent for 17 nights is awesome
- Daytime temps were between 100 – 110 degrees. HOT.
- Carrying all of our food was a logistical challenge – we ate chicken, burgers, spaghetti, brats, and more. Keeping ice around for that long means someone has to monitor all five coolers.
- Sixteen people were on the trip – we all knew some people, but no one knew everyone. Talk about a group challenge!
- We did everything outside – eating, sleeping, pooping (hello, groover system!), cooking, bathing, and laundry.
- The stars at night were simply incredible. We were blessed to see shooting stars, the Big Dipper, the Milky Way, and a nearly full moon by the end of the trip.
- Scorpions make quite a noise when they are mad at you. You’ll have to ask Nelson for details!
- The rapids rating system usually goes from 1 – 5. In the Grand Canyon, because the water is SO big, it goes from 1- 10. Yes, we ran several 9’s and one 10. Scary shit? Yes.
- Rattlesnakes encountered: zero
- Big horn sheep sightings: 40+
It was an amazing trip for these and so many other ways.
I know there are lessons in simplicity, organization, teamwork, and systems to share.
Right now, I don’t care so much about that stuff. It was a remarkable experience and I’ll take my time with it. My spirit of adventure is once again fully aflame. So much so that Nelson and I are talking about getting prepared to hike the 900+ mile Mountains-to-Sea Trail across North Carolina next year.
As I return and settle back in to writing, I do it for me, but I also want to inspire you. And if I haven’t said it recently, thanks for being part of my tribe. Thanks for reading this note twice a week and for indulging in my out-of-the-box thoughts on business and life. You matter to me!
Sincerely,
Angie
P.S. So as not to confuse what this blog is about, I will share more stories and thoughts about travel, adventure, and simple living in a new blog Nelson and I are creating called Yukon and Bean. The “Your Organized Guide, Inc.” notes will continue to focus on organization, time management, business systems/processes and delegation.
[…] I realized I didn’t actually sleep outside, under the stars, without a tent, until my 2013 rafting trip on the Colorado River! We slept outside, under the stars ever single […]