Rocking in the Rockies: Day 18 Colorado National Monument & Glenwood Springs

[CrispyA]

Friday 12 August - Rafting in Glenwood Springs

We were saying "Goodbye" to Utah today and heading back to Colorado. We had enjoyed Utah on our previous trip to California, visiting Bryce and Zion Canyons, and had been keen to go back and do more of the "Grand Circle". Being able to add on another Utah visit to this trip felt like a real treat and we were all really glad to have spent more time in this state.

We packed up and checked out, calling at Denny's for breakfast on the way out of Moab. It was pretty busy but our server, Danielle, was absolutely lovely and was working so hard to keep on top of all the orders. We had a great breakfast and were then ready to hit the I-70.

Colorado National Monument is on the way and we decided to stop and have a look at it - it is a National Park so included in our pass and we thought it would be a shame to be so close and not visit.

It is a huge plateau with magnificent views and deep canyons with massive rock formations towering above the canyon floor. You can drive along the rim trail, stopping off at the plentiful viewpoints along the way.

We walked along some of the short trails to look out across the canyons. The scenery is fantastic and we could see eagles flying around just above us.

With more time, we could have hiked into the canyons but this was just a flying visit to get a taste of the park.

After this, we got back on the road and it wasn't too long before we arrived at the Holiday Inn Express in Glenwood Springs. We had a whitewater rafting trip booked so we didn't have long to spend in the hotel. We quickly got changed and headed back out. Fortunately, the hotel gave us some discount vouchers for the same rafting company as we had booked with, and they agreed to give us a store credit as the trip had been prepaid. Result!

The headquarters for Colorado Whitewater Rafting was pretty near the hotel so it didn't take long to get there. The river looks very peaceful here!

We got our lifejackets on, which were incredibly tight, and then sat on the bleachers for our safety briefing. We surreptitiously loosened the straps on our vests very slightly, as we were actually having trouble breathing, before being given our groups for the trip.

The four of us were with a couple of moody emo teenagers, who we nicknamed Wednesday and Pugsley Addams. . We all piled onto a school bus, driven by a portly gentleman with white hair and beard who goes by the name of Santa! (Apparently he won a santa-lookalike competition last year). Once we were sitting down, one of the river guides asked everyone to raise their hands if it was their first time. We all did and then she said, "Okay everyone, this is a bus . . ." It was Dad-joke quality but made us all laugh!

It wasn't a long drive and before too long we were off the bus and helping to carry the boats, oars and paddles down to the water's edge. Our guide was Lianna, who was super friendly and really helpful. The boys volunteered to go at the front of the boat, with me and Hannah behind them and the Addams family at the back. The girl was quite sweet but the lad was a complete pain - a real know-all who was actually quite rude to the guide, asking smart-ass questions and challenging her at times. She handled him really well but I'm sure none of us would have minded very much if he'd fallen in the water!

We hooked our feet under the seats, grabbed our paddles and set off. It was such good fun - Lianna was shouting instructions as we paddled forwards or backwards and we got thoroughly soaked going through the Shoshone Rapids. After we had been through them all, we had a choice of either floating the rest of the way back to the HQ or, as we were the last trip of the day, we could do the Rapids again. We voted to do them again. Pugsley said he wasn't keen, but when Lianna offered to find him another boat to go on and Wednesday Addams said she would like to do the rapids again, he grumpily agreed to stay on the boat.

So we carried all the boats and gear back up the ramp, loaded the bus, and set off to do the rapids again. We offered for the Addams kids to go at the front but they didn't want to, so this time it was Hannah and Evan. Pugsley kept complaining about getting wet, but we all ignored him - you're whitewater rafting mate - what did you expect?

Wednesday came out of her shell a bit and was quite chatty but the boy continued to be a real idiot. They didn't seem to be related and she lived in New Jersey, so we wondered if it was an internet romance? He said that he lived in Aspen and when we asked what that was like, the answer was "It sucks." Proper charmer.

We did all the rapids again, getting to spin the boat around in one set of them and it was all really good fun. We were shattered afterwards though - those boats are heaving and carrying them up the ramps was hard work.

Back at the HQ, we used our store credit to buy our photo and I'm really glad we did. Even the Addams kids are smiling in it!

We dried off and got changed then set off back to the hotel. We were all really hungry, so we called at Burger King for our tea. It wasn't great but it was cheap and easy and sometimes that's what you need!

Back at the hotel, the kids chilled and snapchatted or whatever.

There was a hot tub at the hotel, so me and Paul had a nice soak in there, before we all had quick stroll around Glenwood Springs before watching some Olympics and a bit more pre-season football back in the room.

[Melbatb]

Wow to the scenery (again! )

The rafting looks like a lot of fun - well except for Moaning Minnie!

Sometimes a simple meal is just what everyone needs!

[WileyCoyote]

I really want to try whitewater rafting, your day further inspires me !

[Jools2]

How long was the rafting? It looked great fun

[CrispyA]

Originally Posted by Jools2

How long was the rafting? It looked great fun

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A couple of hours I think - it was great fun

[Jools2]

Going to put it on our list of must do s