Andy: We spent the morning listening to the September 11th memorial on NPR. We then kayaked the South Fork Payette, which involved me biking the five mile shuttle. My biking attire: kayaking helmet with facemask, neoprene shorts, pile vest, wetsuit booties, all on a bike that was too small for me (Wendy's). I'm sure all the logging trucks racing by me wanted to run this silly looking Californian off the road! The water was low (500 cfs), but the run is still fun at this level. Lots of rock dodging, and even some worthwhile play. We still had a few hours of daylight left, so we headed back to the Gutter for some more concrete kayak bashing. All this was topped off by a tasty (if not bizarre) sushi meal in Boise. We sat at the sushi bar but the sushi chefs never made eye contact with us! We ordered from a waiter who walked the order behind the sushi bar (like three feet) and gave it to the chefs. Very strange.
Wendy: This day has been one of mixed emotions. In many ways it was wonderful to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors. Floating down the Payette river, looking up at the blue sky and around at the pine trees, feeling the chill of the water, hearing the calm and quiet, and experiencing the thrill of the rapids. But it was also a day of sadness. Like last year at the same time, we awoke and listened to NPR and the chilling accounts of the terrorist attacks. An amazing rendition of the Star Spangled Banner by a string quartet started the tears falling. Thankfully, we didn't have a TV this year to see those visual images played and replayed, feeling the emotions rise and fall endlessly. I thought a lot about three friends in particular, Jen, Suzanne V, and Mary Jane, and hoped in my heart that this day was as easy for them as it could possibly be. Tears have streamed off an on all day, but in the end I'm so grateful to be on this amazing planet.