Day Four: Saturday, July 26th

 

We woke up this morning to heavy fog and temperatures in the range of seven degrees Celsius (43 F); we could see our breath.  The smoke seems to be lifting a little and a distinct change in the weather pattern appears to be in the offing.

 

Thankfully, the bugs are considerably knocked down with the cooler temperatures. We started breakfast with coffee and hot chocolate, then on to eggs, à la US Army rations, and porridge. We broke camp by around 11:00 a.m. and started down the river—hoping this day would not be as challenging.  A group of six women in three canoes passed us.  We soon encountered some areas of white water followed several sections of rather flat water where we used the kickers. About 4:00 p.m. we came to some more challenging white water and for perhaps two hours we either maneuvered rafts around rocks and boulders or got into the water and walked the boats through the shallowest areas.

 

The boulder fields of this broad and shallow river bed extended for several miles.  We traversed one last section of rapids then found a good camping spot on the east side of the river, set up tents, had a later dinner, then to bed by around 10:30.  I estimate we made approximately 15 miles this day.