We got a very unexpected phone call from Dave, our first contact with him since he left September 5th for a 2-month long trip with Outward Bound. Upon completion, he will receive certifications for kayaking and rafting and a wilderness ‘first responder’ ranking as well.

His group stopped briefly in Moab, Utah for showers and ‘real food’ this past weekend.  They cook for themselves daily with food that they are carrying on a supply raft, so their first stop this weekend was a grocery store, second stop – a restaurant.  For the most part, they are in an area of the country so remote that any communication they have for emergencies is by satellite telephone – if it works.

They spent the first 1/2 of the trip on the water, kayaking and whitewater rafting.  They will be on dry land for the next week and a half for intensive wilderness first aid – before heading  back the the river.

Dave is loving every minute of the adventure, even downplaying his side trip to the ER for a torn shoulder muscle that happened during kayak rolling drills.

Here is a photo from his cellphone of the area where they stayed this weekend near Moab; and their first sightings of modern civilization in almost a month…