Jet Boat Trip

While we were parked at the Gold Bar group site, a jet boat would speed by on the river several times a day. Every time I saw it, I remarked to anyone standing nearby, "I want to do that." Nobody cared. So after the WINs left, I talked Ron, Diana, and Phil into the trip. I hope everybody enjoyed it as much as I did.

The riverboat company is called Canyonlands by Night and Day because their big draw is a night trip where they shine lights on the red cliffs as the boat drifts along. But we chose their 4-hour trip that leaves from the route 191 bridge north of Moab and heads down the Colorado, past Dead Horse Point, and into Canyonlands. We also thought this would be a cool thing to do on one of the 90 degree days we've been having.

The pretty scenery began immediately.


There was a boat ramp where we stopped to use the facilities. Andrew, our captain and guide said, if we wanted, we could use the 'facilitrees' later. Ron got this shot of our boat (with Diana and I still on it.)


Because of the rock layering, there were places where I swore we were going up or down hill. As you can see, this is a downhill spot.


And although not everyone agrees, I see a pink tint in the clouds from all that red rock.


This is Andrew. At one point, he pulled over to the shore and encouraged us all to take a walk. We weren't too sure if we wanted to do that, since it was nice and cool on the river, but he promised it would be worth it.


He took us to see these petrified logs that are embedded in rock. Since the trees are not native to the area, he said the theory is that they were washed down from the Rocky Mountains in a giant flood and trapped in the mud when it hardened. We're not totally sold on that explanation, but the rock did look like flowing mud and it was very interesting.


Here Diana poses with one of the logs.


Then she led us back to the boat. Diana, are you sure this is the path?


More of the interesting rock formations. . .


And on the way back, the reflections were amazing.


This is to support the theory that the grass is always greener on the other side of the boat (or something like that.)

The tour was a nice mix of fast travel interspersed with times of drifting along while Andrew told us about the sights and the area in general. I was certainly glad I went.