Moab is a community built around the outdoor adventure recreation industry, and there is always a service to meet your needs, until the late October rolls around. The main reason we headed to Moab was to explore the canyons of the Colorado River via our kayaks. The Old Man feigned some old hockey injury, and was unwilling to provide shuttle service with his hard tail Trek, so we had to find a local service. Attempt #1 was directed at Coyote Shuttle Service, the nice lady said they were swamped for October 19, but said she might be able to squeeze us in for today. We needed about 90 minutes of their time. This was not an epic shuttle. By 10:00 this morning, we had heard nothing and could only reach her voice mail. Apparently, all local shuttle companies operate on the “cell phone only” plan, with no traditional brick and mortar retail outlet. Next up was Roadrunner Shuttle, Jim answered the phone, we gave our request, he said, when do you want to meet. Naturally, we weren’t ready that instant, so we said, make it 11:30am at the visitor center in downtown.
Jim was prompt, but we had to wait in line for the ATM as the armored car refreshed before a long weekend. Jim loaded our kayaks, and then we followed him down the road to Potash, about 20 miles downstream from Moab. We parked our car at the Potash boat ramp, and climbed in with Jim and his obnoxious dog, and plenty of conversation about the best kinds of guns to take camping. The ride back to Moab Bridge went quickly. By 1:00pm, we were unloaded and on the water, paddling beneath the new Moab bridge, just past the huge piles of Uranium tailings. How huge? About 16 million tons worth of radioactive material, all of which is being moved 30 miles away over the next 17 years. Why ? Because LA wants CLEAN water? Picky, picky.
The first two river miles went smoothly, especially mile #2 with a nice swift current that carried us downstream at 7 mph. Then the Colorado slack water arrived. We paddled from side to side looking for current, any kind of current. We had 20 miles to make before sunset. This little kid’s current was going to force us to paddle, steadily, leaving few moments for relaxing and simply enjoying the scenery while floating down this majestic river.
With the FJ parked at Potash boat ramp, we had little choice but to simply suck it up and get to the ramp before darkness and coldness set in. We stopped paddling long enough to enjoy lunch while floating past the Gold Bar campground. Hmmm, maybe we should have left the FJ here, oh well, only 7 miles to go.
Jim was prompt, but we had to wait in line for the ATM as the armored car refreshed before a long weekend. Jim loaded our kayaks, and then we followed him down the road to Potash, about 20 miles downstream from Moab. We parked our car at the Potash boat ramp, and climbed in with Jim and his obnoxious dog, and plenty of conversation about the best kinds of guns to take camping. The ride back to Moab Bridge went quickly. By 1:00pm, we were unloaded and on the water, paddling beneath the new Moab bridge, just past the huge piles of Uranium tailings. How huge? About 16 million tons worth of radioactive material, all of which is being moved 30 miles away over the next 17 years. Why ? Because LA wants CLEAN water? Picky, picky.
The first two river miles went smoothly, especially mile #2 with a nice swift current that carried us downstream at 7 mph. Then the Colorado slack water arrived. We paddled from side to side looking for current, any kind of current. We had 20 miles to make before sunset. This little kid’s current was going to force us to paddle, steadily, leaving few moments for relaxing and simply enjoying the scenery while floating down this majestic river.
With the FJ parked at Potash boat ramp, we had little choice but to simply suck it up and get to the ramp before darkness and coldness set in. We stopped paddling long enough to enjoy lunch while floating past the Gold Bar campground. Hmmm, maybe we should have left the FJ here, oh well, only 7 miles to go.
In the end, we bit off the right amount, we beached the boats in Potash, just as the sun fell behind the canyon rim. The river pulled us in. We wanted to see what is around the next bend.
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