Mighty Mojo

Mighty Mojo just before we put in.

Uncle Brett's unofficial rule is that anyone who rafts down the river on a summer day deserves ice cream from Kalidescoops in Glenwood. 

The "big kids" got to go on a paddling trip today down the Roaring Fork River.  And around here, big kids means anyone over the age of five who wants to go.  So Julia (5), Violet (6), David (7) and AJ (newly 9) got to go.  We are so lucky to have Uncle Brett, who leads outdoor ed trips for the school where he works, as our uncle and unofficial guide.  Brett has his own river raft, called "Mojo" that he bought secondhand somewhere.  Plus a bunch of life jackets, a boat trailer, his own pump to blow up the raft, etc.  All we had to do was show up and he made it so easy and fun to float along the river with him for the afternoon.

I don't think I have ever seen AJ and David with such big grins on their faces as they had when we were riding those rapids.  They named each set of rapids we went through--AJ's Adventure, Davey's Doom, Julia's Joy, and last but not least, Violet's Vibrations.  They whooped and hollered and generally ate it up.  "This is the best day of my life!" was heard from both.  Julia liked it too, although she did decide she wanted to ride in the bottom of the raft on a few of the rapids.  AJ even jumped in and swam next to the raft several times, not caring or complaining that the water was frigid.  And their first question when we stopped was "can we do it again tomorrow, Uncle Brett??"