Sunday was a hot afternoon.,

The Roaring Fork has reached summer conditions. The long runoff is over but plenty of water remains to make the float exciting and enjoyable. The water temperature is still cool at about 65 and with the daytime air at 93 Sunday was a perfect time.

Coming around the bend at the compound area (family hangout) I saw this boat backed into the sandbar with the captain standing on the chair casting into the pool I have fished many times. She threw perfect loops and laid the line out flat above the water and her fly fell perfectly into the head of the pool and began its drift. Her form was perfect. So was her cast.

She stood tall in a string bikini with her hair flying in the wind off the river. She saw me headed straight for her in my hobby tube boat and set her pole down, grabbed the oars and with two flicks of her arms was popping out into the current of the rapids run just ahead of her boat. I quickly made it to rivers edge and just in time squeezed off this photo as her boat headed into the rapids. Her arms were conducting this big catamaran directly into the hot area of the river with small moves as she barely moved her arms. She was obviously very good at this.

I held back for a long time not wanting to embarass myself with my flailing and smacking of the water. On a few rapids I entered sideways or backwards and had no control over the boat. I was only hoping to make it through without falling in the rapid moving current.

After a three hour float I finally arrived at Confluence Park on the Colorado River. My heart was pounding and I was ready to do it again.

I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Now I want a larger boat.