Rafting down the Colorado River
These paintings were part of a series painted upon return from a rafting trip down the Grand Canyon.
A Quiet Place 18x24.jpg
Afternoom Glo 30x24.jpg
Around the Bend 24x30.jpg
AFTERNOON LIGHT 20X16.jpg
ARROW WOOD 8X6.jpg
Canyon Temptress-1 12x16.jpg
BARROW CACTUS GLOW 14x11.jpg
CANYON WREN 14x18.jpg
EASTERN COLLARED LIZARD 11x14.jpg
Blue Skys 18x12.jpg
EVENING CALM 14x14.jpg
ELVES CHASM 18x14.jpg
GRANITE GORGE 24X18_.jpg
GREEN SPOT NIGHTSHADE14x18.jpg
Hidden Crevass 18x14.jpg
Shadow Play 18x24.jpg
Redwall Cavern 12x12.jpg
Rivers Edge 18x14.jpg
Still Waters 12x16.jpg
Rockgarden 12x9.jpg
Sandy Shores 18x14.jpg
TIME TO REFLECT 30x40.jpg
SIDE CANYON 20X16.jpg
WESTERN HUMPBACK CHUB 9X12.jpg
Scarlet Monkey Flower 16X8.jpg
TALL GRASS 8X6.jpg
Tranqual Moment 16x12.jpg
ELVES CHASM OASIS 24X12.jpg
Marilyn Taylor
This is one dream I never thought would come true, something about “rapids” terrified me! A certain birthday was looming in my future and I decided it was time to conquer my fear. It was now or never. None of my family or loyal friends had any intention of joining me so I embarked on my journey by myself. I contacted AZRA rafting and they had a cancellation, not only was I going, but I got a 25 percent discount. I never walk away from a sale!The trip began the middle of April, I had no desire to experience 120 degree summer temperatures. The first two days were cold and rainy, at the end of the second day the sun broke through and lasted the entire trip. I overcame my fear of rapids by taking a motorized pontoon trip. We still had plenty of rapids, but when you ride them out sitting in the bottom of the boat, it’s doable. There were twelve people on our trip along with our guides. The guides were amazing, three women who knew their stuff, and they could cook!
We set off at Lee’s Ferry and disembarked 267 miles down river at Diamond Point. No hiking in or climbing out of the canyon for me. It’s a good thing because ten days and nights were challenging enough. The hardest part was dragging our belongings through the sand and setting up camp every night. I dispensed with my tent about night five and slept under the stars. Other than a pink rattlesnake, slithering over my friends sleeping bag, it was wonderful.
Some of the highlights were hiking the side canyons, swimming in the Little Colorado River, seeing the wildlife, the waterfalls, savoring the wonder around me and challenging myself and succeeding. I took more than my share of pictures trying to capture every amazing moment. By the end of the trip, I was bruised, could barely walk (knee replacement was in my future) and thoroughly exhausted. I was also sorry it was over, and “yes“, I would do it again!
I started reliving my trip by painting from my many pictures. Each painting took me back to being in the canyon, so I painted more. I now have finished 28 paintings. I tried to capture as much of my experience as possible. I included many of the little things, no just the grandiose ones. I hope you enjoy my renderings of my adventure as much as I enjoyed painting them.