Geo: 36.806, -111.639"In the early 1870's the leaders of the Mormon church in Utah wanted to colonize Arizona, but the Grand Canyon was in the way. Here at the mouth of the Paria River was the only place they could build a road to the river, cross on a ferry and continue south," explains W. L. Rusho and P.T.Reilly, historians of Lees Crossing and the Colorado river.This area echos amongst the footsteps of early explorers, Indian traders, miners and most recently, tourists.Every boat that floats the Grand Canyon puts in here. Every one. This is the only place for hundreds of miles where the canyon walls receed and one can access the Colorado.We walked the River Trail this evening, reading this fastinating history and enjoying the evening light on the vermillion colored cliffs.We're staying right under ... read more

Geo: 48.1987, -114.386This is a really weird feeling, leaving home for a five month adventure. We do a lot of traveling, but never one of this length. It's required an humongous amount of planning and while we've tried to think of all contingencies, we know that's not even possible. And that's OK--part of the seat-of-your-pants traveling we're best at.We have one more party tonight, then we're off in the morning for Salt Lake City, our first 10 hour leg.But tonight we get to eat off Linda's 10# rainbow she snuck out and caught without us. DANG her hide. She really is our hero though--the Fish Dancer extraordinaire.Rick's cooking a gourmet feast, the divas are gathering--husbands beware!... read more