We hadn’t been so excited for a trip in ages when we took off on a big road trip last October. Our destination: a journey down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon in dories.

In a rush of excitement, we signed up for the river trip a year prior as the bucket list and low-Covid-risk opportunity presented itself. It was a financial splurge to celebrate our 30th anniversary and we didn’t have time to debate or the last two remaining seats for 2021 would disappear.

We finished the trip full of insights into canyon life and river time. Now, a river runs through us: a river of laughter, a river of light, a river of love.

Ann couldn’t resist writing about it, so here are some excerpts from her blog:

“I thought nothing sounded better than floating downstream, gazing at walls of glossy black Precambrian schist and polished red granite topped by the bedded sands and shales of ancient shorelines and limestones from ancient coral reefs. (Right?)

That was until we rode rollicking waves and bucked through standing waves along the way!

That said, when the rapids weren’t grabbing my full attention and drenching me straight down the upturned collar of my Gore-Tex coat, I found myself distracted by the ever-changing bare-rock scenery, which — like the rapids — changed with every oarstroke.

Add soaking up warm sunshine, watching for bighorn sheep and Puebloan granaries on the cliffs, swimming a rapid, cliff jumping, and exploring slot canyons at nearly every lunch stop and campsite, and the trip was perfect.

But, if you haven’t guessed yet, it was the river guides who gave the most meaning to it.

Literally, they gave of themselves — their heart and soul on top of 16-hour days — as they shared their history, knowledge and rituals of life married to the river for six months of the year.

Professionals in their craft of running the Colorado River rapids in a wooden dory, our guides were also professionals at guiding passengers into secret canyons and the secrets of canyon life. They finish a hot day of rowing and then set up the kitchen to cook and serve dinner for 24 people all while keeping their humor. When it wasn’t their turn to cook, they shared their poetry, guitar, and encouraged us to try our hand at molding River clay into beads and bowls.

As you can tell, dory passengers get an insider’s view of people who are dedicated to absorbing the spirit of the canyon and living on river time.

What drives them? Perhaps this haiku that Dave wrote captures some of the reason:

tango of rapids

slow waltz of stars across sky

this is the real world.

Despite naked rocks and a hydrologist’s dream of a river, our biggest thrill was experiencing the canyon’s magic through the eyes and hearts of our river guides.

A bargain at any price.”

About the presenters

Dave Shreffler and Ann Soule have lived and worked in Sequim since 1990 and have traveled to five continents. While Covid put the clamps on their international travels, it opened their eyes to many adventures available in the U.S.

Regardless of destination, their travel philosophy remains unchanged over the three-plus decades of their marriage: be present, be kind, be grateful.

About the presentations

Traveler’s Journal, a presentation of the Peninsula Trails Coalition, raises funds to buy project supplies and food for volunteers working on Olympic Discovery Trail projects. Shows start at 7 p.m. at the Dungeness River Nature Center, 2099 W. Hendrickson Road. Suggested donation is $5 for adults. To protect speakers and others, attendees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to attend the presentations; have vaccination cards available at the door. For more information, email Arvo Johnson at amjcgj@gmail.com.

2022 Traveler’s Journal

When: 7 p.m., Thursday, March 3 (door open at 6:30 p.m.)

Presenters: Dave Shreffler and Ann Soule

Presentation: “A River Runs Through Us: Grand Canyon by Dory”

Where: Dungeness River Nature Center, 2099 W. Hendrickson Road

Cost: Suggested $5 donation

Coming up: “Coast to Coast in Costa Rica” with Mike and Chris Barton, March 10

Dave Shreffler and Ann Soule celebrate their 30th anniversary on an 11-day dory trip down the Colorado River. Photo by Sue Kappel

The view from Maricopa Point on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Photo by Dave Shreffler

Taking a dory through Lava Falls, the biggest of the Colorado River rapids. Photo by Dave Shreffler

Dory oarsmen scout the Bedrock Rapid prior to running it. Photo by Dave Shreffler

Moonglow and meteor in the Grand Canyon. Photo by Dave Shreffler

Anasazi and Paiute pictographs in a tapeats sandstone cliff near Whitmore Wash. Photo by Dave Shreffler

A side hike up National Canyon in search of a water source. Photo by Dave Shreffler