Back from PA and Cataract Canyon River Trip

Hello all! I haven't posted for a little while because we haven't been around much! We just got back yesterday from a camp in Pennsylvania. Tate and I were lucky enough to go with Cael and hang out while he worked the camp. We had to stay in the dorms, but Tate was amused by so many things, so it wasn't hard to stay busy. And we got to see Cael a lot more than I expected, so that was really awesome! The people out there were really nice also, so it was cool. However, the plane ride home was a nightmare with Mr. Tate. He was just tired and cranky and he threw a few fits and screamed a little. But boy oh boy is he glad to be home!!!!

Before we went to PA, I joined Cael and his team on a river trip in Cataract Canyon (southern UT). I left the Tater man with my mom and had a nice break. I really had no expectations going into the trip, so I really had a good time. I just relaxed, swam, ate, read my book, and hung out. Cael also had fun but was a little disappointed because there weren't big rapids like in the Grand Canyon, but seriously, what could compare to that trip?

I would like to share some stuff about the trip though, so here goes:

-The first couple days were basically a lake bake--there were no rapids or fast moving water at all, we just floated. But the water was so awesome, and we got to jump in and float a bunch. We stopped at a few different areas and got to check out old Indian graneries and petrified wood.

-On one of the lake bake days, I was floating in the river and i swam over to the boat where Cael was dillydallying, and grabbed his leg and pulled him in. I'm a real stinker. The next day, we were all on the boat floating down the river, and I was sitting on the edge of the raft. Cael reached down and tapped my back, and into the water I went! He felt bad and helped pull me back in, but I made it difficult because I was laughing so hard. He swears it was an accident. Hmmmm...accident or revenge? You decide. :)

-Our second night camping we had the most awesome campground--huge, open, with almost a white sand beach. The interesting thing was that in the areas where there were trees, there were TONS of spiders hanging on the branches! It was one of the most disgusting things I have ever seen. I guess the park service in the canyon has been trying to get rid of a non-native tree growing there, called tamarisks, so they released tons of these little green bugs (beetles?). So we were all guessing that the spider population just exploded with beetles to eat!! Interesting what kind of effects something like that would have the area.

-The third (and final) day was our day of rapids. I think the guide told us there were 38, but it didn't feel like that many. Still fun though! There was a big rapid named "Satan's gut" which somehow, Cael's wrestlers managed to turn into "devil's butt". Sorry, I like immature humor. :)

-There was a rapid called Repeat. We literally jumped out of the boat before the rapid and floated through it. I made Cael hold my hand, I was so scared. Basically, you bust through the middle of the waves and swallow a lot of water. And I could not figure out when to breathe and when to hold my breath! But it was over quick. The hard part was after the rapid--we had to swim as hard as we could through the current to get to the left side of the river so we didn't get swept downstream. I don't remember a time when my arms and legs have been more tired than that. About three of the wrestlers got swept down a bit and the boat had to bring them back up. I am a dummy, though. When we got to the shore, we climbed back up the rocks and jumped into the water and rode the rapid again. My heart was beating so hard I could hardly breathe. What a rush!

-On the third night, our camp site totally sucked. We basically pulled up to a rocky ledge with barely enough space to fit everyone's cots. There was a rocky ledge hanging over us, which freaked me out too. Once it got dark, a ton of scorpions came out and were crawling around. It was crazy! I was seriously having a hard time not feeling like there was something crawling on me.

I had a great time! Well, hope you are all doing well! Cael, Tate and I are heading to San Antonio next Thursday to visit Ann, Tyler and Izzy. Momo and Bobo are going as well, so it will be lots of fun! Shopping, golfing, Sea World and more!