Rio Chama - Day 3

On Sunday, I awoke at around 7:00 and immediately started to organize my gear so that it could be repacked in the canoe. This would be our longest day on the river, as we had about 13 miles to paddle to the takeout at Big Eddy, so we wanted to get a fairly early start. The rising sun lit up the bluff behind my tent.

Mike provided hot coffee and oatmeal for breakfast.















We were headed down the river by 10:00.

With the sun shining brightly that morning, Wendy and Ralf brought out the umbrella for shade. But did it have to be pink?

As we exited the canyon, the landscape opened up, but was still spectacular (photo below by Mike).

I thought this rock formation could easily be a statue of George Washington (in profile, looking slightly upward) with a pigeon on his head.








Either Mike was thinking "safety first" or I had been pulled over for speeding.


















After leaving the canyon, we soon encountered several commercial rafting groups making the half-day run from Chavez Canyon to Big Eddy.





It looks like the early stages of the development of another amphitheater.









Gary and Julie pulled over to wait for the shredder to catch up.


Mike snapped this photo of me challenging him for the dorkiest helmet prize.

Ralf displayed his climbing skills on a rock overhang. There was a loud splash soon after this photo was taken.

The Big Eddy Takeout was a little crowded during the 2:00 rush hour. A group picture was in order. Sadly, our trip had come to an end, ...

... but the Odd Couple were still friends!

Looking back at the takeout from Forest Road 151.





















The view along FR 151 as I headed back to Highway 84. The mesa here rises to just over 8,000' from the road elevation of about 6,400'.

Forest Road 151 is paved for only a short distance. I pulled over just before the entrance to Highway 84 to take some final photos. Located across the highway is Ghost Ranch, once the home of Georgia O'Keefe. The photo below gives one an idea of the landscape that inspired her work.

With the Rio Chama trip now officially over, I headed north to meet up with the family in Colorado. More river adventures were yet to come.

Note: For 17 additional photos of Day 3 on the Rio Chama, click here and then click on "Slideshow."