Day 10, the toenail painting fairy visits

It rained a bit during the night and in the morning, but with my trusty head shield (disc) I dozed through it until it was time for coffee and breakfast.  Rumour had it the cake last night was the best dessert so far, so I had to sample it for breakfast.  Eggs, potatoes, sausages, and chocolate cake with raspberry filling.  Yum.

And on the river.  First stop today was just a couple miles down the river, Matkatamiba Canyon.  On the way we saw a cool spring with lots of travertine deposits.

and the typical stunning canyon views.

There are two routes into Matkatamiba canyon, the fairly standard around the drainage route, and then the through the drainage route.  The later was for the adventurous.

Stefanie brought a guitar to this small ampetheater.  She started playing shortly after we got there.  Folks went exploring, or sat and listened.  I layed on the flat rock with my fanny pack as a pillow, hat over my face, and relaxed and listened to music.  I could hear folks walking around, talking quietly, and guitar strumming with Stefanie singing.  After awhile Tommy played a few songs, then stopped.  I figured maybe we were getting ready to go.  When I started to look around, folks were smiling at me, but I just figured it was another wonderful day.  Then I slowly sat up and saw my toes.  I smiled too.  My first time with turquoise tonails, or any other color except bruised for that matter.  Thanks Margeaux.

Fittingly, just down the canyon from Matkatamiba canyon is where Havasuapi Creek empties into the Grand Canyon.  I tried to get Susan to sit next to me so we could get here turquoise toes also, but the water was not pretty enough, and the dog ate my homework, and she didn't go for it. 

Just a couple more pictures this day, one great canyon view, 

and another spring weeping into the river with lots of travertine.  How many pictures of rocks and water can one take?

On the way down the river that afternoon, a couple of the guides allowed a passenger to take over as boat captain for a time.  Naomi took advantage of that opportunity and did well.  She did find it more difficult than originally thought, the water moves in so many ways as you go down the river.

The Havasupai Natives did not want folks coming up their canyon, and we also skipped over the Little Colorado in respect of the Navajo Natives wishes.  So we had a bit of extra time.  Tommy decided to use that time for a layover day at Tuck-up Canyon.  We arrived there in the afternoon, and set up camp knowing we would not move in the morning.  What a great feeling!  There was singing by the river, and good food and good friends.  Honey got a great picture of the sun shining through Tuck Up Window.  We watched some condors (or turkey vultures?) soaring up over the ridge in the evening also.  

Link to Day 11