I started to feel a bit soggy hanging out in rainy Seattle, so I decided that a trip to the desert was in order- you know, to dry out. I paddled 100 miles in four days, 80 of those were against the wind on flat water, uphill. I hitch-hiked for 8 hours: I got a ride with Joe and Diane, the salt of the earth, whom gave me gorp and lemonade and were sure that I would be sleeping right where they left me; some Navajo dude that didn't have any teeth whom promptly lost his transmission 5 miles into the ride, the only thing he said was, "I guess you better get hitchen;" a Mormon missionary that failed to catch any Striper at Powell; and two very kind young men from Amsterdam. I don't know if the rapids or the adventure back to the put-in were more enjoyable. At any rate, you gotta love the desert.
