about 20 hours. that’s about how long it takes. to be with one person in the same car to get your boats and dogs and mushrooms to the rogue river. sweating bullets at the put in gearing up and trying to get your shit together. we did well. neither backed out at the last minute like each of us surely thought the other might do. we really did that.

about two hours outside of bozeman on our way back, when we had both been over driving since Hermiston, OR, it dawned on me that there really aren’t many people in this world I would be willing to get into a car with for that long. I am having a bromance with Alex.

rogue river was amazing. I loved rowing my boat and I had two of my favorite people with me. and my dog.

gallatin river makes me tired. I have good days and I have bad days. and the good days really make it worth it. the bad days really make you wonder why the hell you are giving up your time to do something that pays you peanuts. now I am working everyday. it’s a lot to ask, but somehow I love to be punished. I love getting on the river with the crew, running a trip and getting back to the boat yard to regroup. talk about our boats over beers in the boat yard.

I’m doing it for the discipline. I said I would. my name is on the board.

It’s a weird feeling. and great to be good at something like guiding a boat. on the tricky as fuck gallabezi. when I think about guiding a boat, I get nervous thinking I’ll fuck up. I toss at night worrying about putting people through bad swims or pinning a boat. but somehow people stay in the boat, people are stoked, we make it to the take out and they tip me.

I go home for another lavender epsom salt bath.