Moab - Mecca (for) outdoor adventure buffs

Standing in the Visitors Centre at Moab.....I'm feeling overwhelmed. This City packs a mighty punch in what it offers in outdoor activities and places to stay. My mind was exhausted trying to take it all in....where do we stay and for how long, what do we want to do....white water rafting, climbing, canyoning, jetboat rides, horseback riding, ballooning, jeep tours, jeep hire, ATV tours, mountain bike riding, scenic plane rides, Hummer tours, hikes to canyons-arches, motorcycle tours........and more!

While John secured a site in an RV campground,  I laden my arms up with tourist brochures and headed back to Dude, to digest some of this information, but not for long. We didn't need to be at the RV park until 4pm so we strolled down main street and ended up at the Moab Adventure Centre. Here is a link to our activity for the next day.

http://www.moabadventurecenter.com/trips/rafting/westwater.php

My eyes popped open at 5.30am, with an exciting day of whitewater rafting ahead it was time to get moving. When we arrived, the throng of participants were milling around at the front of the Adventure Centre, life jackets in hand excitedly waiting for their assigned bus. Inside I enjoyed "the best cappuccino in Moab", as stated by the framed certificate, on the counter....and it was.

Our young rafting guides entertained us on the drive up to Westwater Canyon, and the driver even had a sense of humour, stating he would find us some water to put the rafts in, because it looked like the last place of earth you would find water, and we had been driving for an hour and a half. We entertained ourselves by spotting Prairie Dogs and counting them by punching each others arms. I saw 4 Pronghorn Antelope although they were way off in the distance and could have been a manifestation of my imagination).

Shortly after put-in at Westwater

Last winters record snowfall had Colorado River running at levels not seen since the 1980's. Our guide advised that even though some of the rapids were "topped out" it would still be an adventure with the speed and level of the water adding new thrills.....whirlpools could suck the front of the raft down!

I must be crazy to be out here.....

The scenery and Canyon walls zoomed by, as we were easily making 8 knots. Our guide had to really strain to get the raft out of the current so we could go ashore and explore petroglyphs, mining cabins and have our lunch. We were expecting a nice hot day but clouds had been forming and all around you could see rain falling but it looked like it was drying before reaching the ground. Up until now we had remained relatively dry so the clouds and wind hadn't chilled us ....yet. 


Our capable guide

It was now time to enter the Westwater Canyon and experience the rapids. John and I were soaked over and over again..sitting in the front. It started to rain and the wind made it cold....I really did not want to be thrown into THAT brown, raging, couldron full of floating logs and submerged rocks and boulders. Did the guide say to hold the rescue rope facing forwards or backwards....yes backwards the life jacket had a neck piece to cushion the head and would create an air space for you to breathe.

I did it.....

It was a thrilling ride and it took some time for me to take in what I had just experienced.