Breakfast this morning is grits, onions, and melon.  We explore Tuckup Canyon.  It is a little ways to the back of it.  At the end Cliff plays the guitar for us.

Headed into Tuckup Canyon 5-9-2026	Headed into Tuckup Canyon 5-9-2026	Headed into Tuckup Canyon 5-9-2026
Sacred Datura 5-9-2026	Headed into Tuckup Canyon 5-9-2026	Headed into Tuckup Canyon 5-9-2026
Headed into Tuckup Canyon 5-9-2026	Headed into Tuckup Canyon 5-9-2026	Cliff playing the guitar 5-9-2026

     Several of us are watching John climb one of the Canyon walls.  I never knew that he had auditioned for the "Spider-Man" movies.

John climbing a wall 5-9-2026

John climbing a wall 5-9-2026

John climbing a wall 5-9-2026

     As we are hiking out of the Canyon, we see a rattlesnake under a nearby bush.  Needless to say, we all carefully step by the bush.

Rattlesnake under a bush 5-9-2026

Rattlesnake under a bush 5-9-2026

Rattlesnake under a bush 5-9-2026

     We walk back to the boats and pull out at 9:30.  As we go downriver, we are getting ready for Lava Rapids, one of the biggest in the Grand Canyon.  We see more Bighorn Sheep on the way.

Bighorn Sheep 5-9-2026

Bighorn Sheep 5-9-2026

     The views downriver continue to be great.

Great views downriver 5-9-2026

Great views downriver 5-9-2026

Great views downriver 5-9-2026

     At mile 178 we come to Vulcan's Anvil, an impressive rock in the middle of the River.

Vulcan's Anvil 5-9-2026

Vulcan's Anvil 5-9-2026

Vulcan's Anvil 5-9-2026

     Bec lets John drive the boat some.  He gets to shoot Lava Rapids for the first time and does a great job.  We stop for lunch at Tequila Beach near Lower Lava Rapids, mile 180.  Lunch is chicken salad, oranges, and melon. 

Tequila Beach 5-9-2026

Tequila Beach 5-9-2026

Tequila Beach 5-9-2026

     We are back on the River around 1:00.  We pass another smaller rock in the River.  Pretty soon we come to more oar rafts.

Another rock in the River 5-9-2026

Motoring downriver 5-9-2026

We meet some oar rafts 5-9-2026

     We then pass some interesting rock features on the walls.  They are called Basalt Columnar Jointing.  Most are long and round like pipes.

Basalt Columnar Jointing 5-9-2026

Basalt Columnar Jointing 5-9-2026

Basalt Columnar Jointing 5-9-2026

     Our next stop is Whitmore Wash at mile 188.5.  It is a short hike up the hill to see some Pictographs.  They are paintings on the rocks.  Petroglyphs are etchings on the rocks.  Petroglyphs are much more durable and long lasting than Pictographs.  Most of the Pictographs that are still visible were placed under ledges and out of the sun and rain.

Pictographs 5-9-2026

Pictographs 5-9-2026

Pictographs 5-9-2026

     We leave Whitmore Wash just after 3:30 and motor all the way to just past 209 Mile Rapid which is at mile 210.  We arrive in camp at 5:30.  Dinner is chicken fajitas, rice, and salad.  For some reason, my feet are both very swollen, but they do not hurt any.  Several ladies on the boat think the swelling is because the crew has been adding extra salt to our cooked food.  They do look a little sunburned.

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