No major driving today.
Still without internet or cell phone coverage, but I will create this entry and post later. Read more
We got up early this morning and had breakfast. We then realized that the dogs were gone. Jonathan and Kristi called them, but they never came. The importance of finding them quickly is since there are so many acres out here, the ranchers will shoot first and ask questions later if an animal is on their property. Because of this, Kristi stayed behind and the rest of us headed off to Raft Masters for a day of rafting in Colorado. Jonathan and I took the boys and girls down the class 4 rapids, while Heather took Tess and Jonah down the “floating” river.
We had a guide named Chuck, whom Jonathan knew from previous trips. This guy was a “case”. He was a 19 year veteran of the river and a wealth of information. We then took the short 30 minute bus ride to the place we put-in.
Everything was going great, until about 6 miles in, I did a backflip out of the raft. Yes, pack 674, I went in the river again. However there is a story to this one. We had just finished going through a rough rapid and the water was taming down. Then all of a sudden we had a quick deceleration of the raft and I went overboard. Come to find out that night, Jonathan and Chuck gave the “knod and wink” and planned for me to go overboard. The water was about 50 degrees, but it really didn’t feel too bad. Jonathan had to pull me back in the raft and we went the rest of the way down the river. Hey, it wouldn’t have been as fun or memorable if I had not went in the water and joined the “Arkansas River Swim Team”.
We then went back to the ranch and Jonathan took me on a long tour of the property while the kids played on the zipline, and the ladies prepared dinner. We then took the kids a ride on the quads, and Trevor and Jaxson got to drive. After that, we had dinner and then the kids watched a movie while the adults sat at the campfire and had a cocktail (or two).
Good news is the dogs were found! They just took a casual stroll about 10 miles up the road and a neighbor contacted Kristi and they were quickly retrieved.
We leave for Kansas tomorrow morning…
Atlanta, GeorgiaAugust 6, 2025/
This Post Has 3 Comments
That’s hilarious that not only you fell out of the raft, but that Jon planned it. Are the kids strapped in with a seat belt like thing?? I’m surprised a kid wouldn’t get thrown from the raft.
Yeh, Jonathan is a funny guy. That SO$#%@#!
Looks like the best family vacation. The scenery is breathtaking. Reminds me of many of the things we saw when we took our family road trip when I was nine. Your kids will remember it forever. Thanks for sharing.