I’m going to try to sort this out.  I swear I blogged the day before yesterday, but so much happens, I’m not completely sure.

When we last left our lovely posse, we had arrived in Salida and reunioned with our boys.  On day 2 in Salida, we started with, what else:  breakfast, including copious amounts of coffee and talk.

This is River's Edge, our breakfast place all 3 mornings. We sat on this big comfy, sunny couch and talked politics, adventure, money, love, family, and kayaking.
This is River’s Edge, our breakfast place all 3 mornings. We sat on this big comfy, sunny couch and talked politics, adventure, money, love, family, and kayaking.

This day included time on the river with River:

River on the Arkansas
River on the Arkansas

a picnic in the park

Ark river in the background
Ark river in the background

watching the boys in the playhole (gotta love that river rat term)

 

IMG_0519

 

Ben
Ben
Also Ben
Also Ben
Sam
Sam
Also Sam
Also Sam

and viewing from the Boathouse.

Ben's beautiful girlfriend Kirsten and beautiful sister Amy
 Kirsten and Amy

Tuesday morning brought sad goodbyes as we all headed off in different directions:

No words.
No words.

Ben and Kirsten headed back with their canines to Loveland for school and work.  El and Glenda headed to Denver to go back to Murfreesboro and Knoxville.  Sam went back to work as an Arkansas River Ranger.  Amy and I headed west and north to get Amy ultimately to Orcas Island off the coast of Washington State.

So we now pick up mine and Amy’s adventure through the Black Canyon of the Gunnison.

Best-kept secret in the world of National Parks.
Best-kept secret in the world of National Parks.
Gorgeous.
Gorgeous.
Panorama setting on my iPhone
Panorama setting on my iPhone
One of these cliffs is over 2200 feet high (taller than the Empire State Building).
One of these cliffs is over 2200 feet high (taller than the Empire State Building).
Did I mention this park is off the beaten path?
Did I mention this park is off the beaten path?
As in any canyon, the ubiquitous Balancing Rock.
As in any canyon, the ubiquitous Balancing Rock.

Rolled into Grand Junction, Colorado, to a charming little hotel and Italian restaurant.  I will go as far as Salt Lake City with Amy tomorrow (via Dinosaur National Monument), and send her off the rest of the way on her own.

Hooooooge shoutout to my house and dogsitters Katie and Elliot.  And cow/donkey/chicken sitters.  You two rock!

One more day of adventure, then back to Employment Discrimination and Legal Research.

Thanks for reading!