The 'burb' had given us some early warning signs that we mostly attributed to our heavy load. But on trying to leave Cedar City it became obvious that we had a fuel supply problem. Back we went. We changed the fuel filter, cleaned up the carb and started out again but, there was no improvement. Back we went and found a Texaco station with an attendant too busy to check the fuel pump. Fortunately he did have a lighted parking lot and a good relationship with the local NAPA store. After much twiddling and a false 'good' reading from a borrowed fuel pump tester we decided to replace the fuel pump and hope for the best. NAPA delivered the pump after their normal business hours (thanks a bunch) and we went to work.
After a total of 4 hours (Butch and DJ at the wrenches, Martin and Eric on flashlights, Denise 'stimulating' the motion detector on the flood light) we were again on the road. This time to a campground in the mountains where without cold beer, we had to be content with cold bear. Good luck brought us a campground bear that didn't know how to open drybags or rocket boxes and a warm nights sleep was had only by Eric (in the 'burb'). The rest of us, now including Martin who we picked up in Salt Lake, slept in refrigerated tents!
Morning brought us to a restaurant with a jukebox full of old rock tunes. We enjoyed the music but were denied waffles because the iron was not hot. I suspect that no waffles was our punishment for the breakfast concert we gave on the jukebox. Now for a much less exciting drive to Page for dry ice and post cards. Could Page, AZ be the only town in the United States where every store in town sells dry ice?
After an uneventful drive (thank goodness) to Lees Ferry, we unload and try to get organized. Tomorrow we will launch with 2 other trips. One a commercial and the other a full private permit. What's it like to be on the river and in camp with so many people? Maybe I don't want to know.