June 20, 2005

Last river journal entry (at least for the Grand.  We're not even going to talk about the Middle Finger, I mean, Middle Fork):

Monday, June 20, 2005

Camping at Rm 6255, Thunderbird Lodge, South Rim. 

Wasn't sure we were going to get here.  This morning went smoothly.  When Steve and I got up at 5:36 am, almost everyone else was already up.  We got rigged and on the water early.  It reminded both Steve and me of all those early morning floats on our last trip.  It was very nice.  We saw a bunch of wildlife because we were out so early.

The whole derigging/shuttle process went well although it was ghastly hot.  We headed out of Peach Springs at ~1 pm.  We stopped in Seligman at Delgadillo's Snow Cap and Steve got a shave and haircut from Angel.  The food at the Snow Cap really is not very good but it's such an institution we have to stop.

Heading into Williams, the discharge battery light went on.  Turns out the alternator is shot.  Hung around Williams for a couple of hours, figuring that out and charging the battery while we watched a building in the historic district burn.  Right next to the Red Garter Bed and Bakery.

Finally made it to the South Rim at about 7 pm.  We had an awesome dinner at the El Tovar.  Preston from New Mexico took great care of us.

We have to go back to Williams tomorrow am to get the alternator replaced.  Don't know when we'll get back to Aspen.