Jumping from Turtle Head rock
near Mile 213

And all too soon, it was over. We sat around sharing parting gifts and stories of the canyon before going to bed our last night on the river. I knew it would be a different world we would return to. No one leaves the canyon without changing.

But little did I know, in less than two months, on September 11, I would be on a plane headed for a conference in Portland, Oregon when our world would change forever. I often thought back to the Canyon while grounded in Cincinnati for two days and eventually driving back home to Maine. I will be eternally grateful for the time I had with my family and friends rafting the Colorado River through Grand Canyon.

We are stronger for the experience.