UMTravels

On the river at 9:45am this morning with me out of bed at 6am (to bed before 10pm last night). A record — but not much good for making up lost time so we can have layovers.
Today was easy. Was on MarkMark’s boat and he was doing all the rowing except for the “power assist” [...]

I am on the trip because of my friend Whitewater. This will be his last trip through the canyon as a boatman, and most likely even as a raft potato (that’s my job this trip). He has the shakes — Parkinson’s at 53 — two years older than me.. There are many others on the [...]

Celebrated my 51st circle around the sun with 14 friends and soon to be friends. It culminated in peach cobbler with candles (had to rush to blow them out before the wind got them), two birthday cards and a rubber chicken (from Archie McPhee!) — not a bad introduction from people who have been rafting [...]

Put in day. Rangers to deal with. Last minute things like the people we rented the shitters from didn’t supply toilet paper as ordered.
The quest for toilet paper turned out to be a fortuitous one… Cafe/General Store/Exxon Station… Two rolls of the double ply we need. Next stop is the motel up the road (Lee’s [...]

Did what I could. Filled water bottles. Jumped when asked. Managed a cocktail or three.
Dinner at something cliffs a way down the road. Cute gay shaved head waiter who I think was shocked to find 7 gay men in his restaurant — invited one back to his trailer.
On the way back, Dancing Sage our permit [...]

Great Reuben for lunch. Even had a Corona. Next stop Lee’s Ferry and the put in spot.

7:30 turned into 7:45 turns into 8. But the show is on the road. I was ready on time due to the previous room occupant setting the alarm to go off at 5:15.
Two breakfast burritos from Ronny Macs and a Grande Latte from Starbucks and I’m good to go..

Well — who’d have thought I’d end up at the Virgin River Casino in Mesquite, Nevada — just over the border from that place called Arizona. Turns out you can get clean modern rooms for $29 a night. Seems odd that this small town has three huge neon lit casinos (and probably more.
Of course, you [...]

Greetings from the middle of Nevada. Tonopah — home of the burning ring of fire at the Mexican restaurant. Humorous name for the place: El Marque Restaurant and Lounge.
Half way through today’s 800 mile drive. Headed to Mesquite, NV.
Totally easy drive. I’m the sweeper in this wagon train. It means I pick up all the [...]

Just a quick late night note to comment on a stunning mac and cheese from scratch dinner. Finished all the red… Forgot to check on the white.
In the van, ready for bed, listening to some lovely B3 jazz on CD, farting up a storm from the heavy carb based diet. So much for losing those [...]

Had a nice nap while the rest of the gang was shopping for their last minute items. That’s what wine with your pizza lunch will do!
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is a test posting from my cell phone — the rest of the entries from the trip, probably posted post-trip will be in this format. No service [...]

Dinner last night was a hoot. I think the trip is going to be wild. Lots of drinking, pizza and salad.
Slept in the car with the seats all folded together — works fine for sleeping on your back — which I’d trained myself out of since it makes me snore more.
Up at 8am, packing by [...]

Yesterday must have been busy — short blog entry. Time got away from me with dinner for the boys, and Nibilicious and Matt (two of the other gay rafters).
Dinner was a stunning success with Lunetta doing the dishes, me doing the Chicken Florenmarkie, and the most amazing salad by Mr. Onyx.
So — yesterday’s wine haul? [...]

Well, dinner last night was the three of us — but out for sushi instead of Chicken Florenmarkie which we will have tonight with Nippilicious and maybe Matt, and the boys.
Here is the link to the restaurant…
http://sanfrancisco.citysearch.com/review/1018742
And here is an amusing link from Dan about Japanese Vending Machines:
http://www.photomann.com/japan/machines/index.htm

Here is the booze situation as of 4pm this afternoon:

I’m working on a glass of 15 year old Trader Joes Glenlivet….. 
I have a small orange bag (great for dragging in the river to keep cold) filled with:

(4) 8oz Long Island Iced Tea (premixed with real booze) in plastic bottles
(4) Margaritas – of said [...]

Checked out at noon — jut under the wire.
Curvy drive back to 101 south — stopped in Santa Rosa (or there abouts) for Carne Asada in a strip mall (how appropriate since it’s strip steak in Carne Asada) — which was stunning good, or I was stunned from hunger.
Gassed up — 20.5 mpg on the [...]

OK - so my travel buddy Jill pointed out this site all www.travbuddy.com — and it has this great feature… where have I been.

A fine breakfast of leftover pork products from last nights dinner. Oh, and coffee that I brought.
Next up was an “owner re-education” $50 AMEX meeting in the morning. Looks like if I want “TravelShare” which gives me a 3-week (rather than 2) for Bonus Time (4.4 cents per credit) and “Fun Time” (6 cents a credit for [...]

Well – that is the phrase from WhiteWater about the Nice, Lucerne area of Clear Lake, California — the “White Trash Riviera”.
The day started with a quick breakfast of waffles and eggs and the last bit of packing. Out the door by 10:30 — and to the Germain-Robin “warehouse” for a tasting — ended up buying [...]

After a lovely breakfast of sourdough waffles and bacon — we started the process of gear checkout. Whitewater is a god-send. Means I won’t be doing this on the ramp at put in which wouldn’t make me very popular.
Here I am with everything for the three weeks, minus the pink river purse. That’s my borrowed [...]