Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Bighorn Canyons

(Yet another post that I meant to make two months ago. Oops. Better late than never.)

Bighorn Canyons

Back at the end of August (about our first week in the St. Xavier/Pretty Eagle community) one of the teachers, Jack Joyce, invited us down to the Bighorn Canyons, which are just about 20 miles south of us. We found out he owns the marina there (well, the National Park Service owns it but contracts him to run it, I think), so we were hoping to get invited out for a boat ride. Well, he invited us the second day we met him, after we asked about the marina, and said to come down that Saturday, the last weekend before their final Labor Day weekend. It was AWESOME! One of the best things we've gotten to do. And I've never seen any sort of canyons before, so it was pretty neat!


Bighorn Canyons
Ok A Beh marina at Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area

When I heard we'd be going on a boat ride, I thought of a short little motor boat ride down a river- so boy was I surprised when he sent us out on one of his party boats for a three-hour tour through towering, majestic canyons. It was amazing. The most perfect afternoon. We even got to stop at one of the mile markers, hop in and go cliff jumping! (By cliff jumping I mean everyone else jumped off the 20-foot-ledge while I jumped from the little 8-foot stepping stone next to it, but that felt adventurous enough for me!) Nothing to put human insignificance in perspective like floating there in the lake with enormous canyons rising up on all sides. Breathtaking!

Bighorn Canyons
Part of the Canyons called "Black Canyons," since from afar it is dark with forests. It was a little inlet of sorts where we veered off from the main lake and were met with this wonder. My favorite spot of the canyons!

Bighorn Canyons

Bighorn Canyons
Sarah riding on the end of the boat.

Riding around on the party boat reminded me of being in Bonny Eagle... I loved it! Though I have to admit, the immense, striking canyons slightly put our little old Bonny Eagle lake to shame (though I wouldn't trade it for anything!)

Bighorn Canyons

...and the thank you card I made for Jack afterwards.

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