Two weeks ago we embarked on a raft trip down the Colorado River through the length of the Grand Canyon. We had been warned by the outfitter that we would need to be in good enough shape to manage the physical challenges of hiking rugged side canyons and the daily loading and unloading of the boat. For weeks ahead of time I walked up and down country roads, hiked rocky hillsides, and in general felt modestly prepared. Imagine my shock when the first challenge was to figure out how to lift myself into the boat. No footstool, no ladder, no ropes, just squeeze yourself between a pontoon and the boat, put one elbow on each and swing your legs over the prow. Small matter that the tops of these things rose to shoulder height. Upper body strength fell far short of the requirement.
Until I finally figured another strategy for raising myself over the edge, I was reduced to depending on my husband to push me from the bottom up and over like a very big sack of flour. He, on the other hand, simply lifted himself up and in as did most of the younger passengers.
This was just the beginning. No room for pride or dignity on this trip.
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