More water in the river due to recent thunderstorms made navigating easier, but paddling was strenuous against the current in many places. We made it upstream to Medio Canyon, but the only place to land for lunch was very muddy.

The amazing cliffs and birds made it a memorable occasion. We saw more than a dozen Snowy Egrets, scattered at various mudflats, a Merganser, Canada Geese, Great Blue Herons, and Turkey Vultures riding the wind.

But the best of all was as we neared the boat ramp on the return journey — a Mama Osprey soaring overhead and her recently-fledged young ‘un perched on a snag. Marvelous!