I just completed a two day 16 mile kayaking trip from Glen Canyon Dam to Lees Ferry. It was in the very upper tier of nature experiences I've ever had. Fucking epic. A crown jewel.
The trip started off with a boat charter up the river. An epic one hour long preview of what was to come, excitement boiling, and the LSD starting to hit. Mountain goats roamed the steep cliffside, while wild mustangs roamed the flatter parts. Truly idyllic. The weather was perfect. Fly fisherman stood in the shallow parts with their dogs playing in the water.
Is this heaven?
I was in for an epic two days.
I got in my kayak and strapped my speaker in.
Tee up Long Haired Country Boy by Charlie Daniels. The vibe was set. This was some fully blown cowboy shit. I am a cowboy.
One thing I discovered quickly, the current was moving me down this canyon at the wrong pace. It was moving quick. I wanted slow. The key to this "race" was to end in dead last, milking the experience for every ounce. Not that anyone was racing, but I was dead set on finishing dead last.
I would frequently paddle out of the current to just float in solitude, marveling at the surrounding canyon. Riverside beaches sprinkled the route, making for fun pit stops and solo beach parties. A solo music festival, hosted by me, crushing.
Wilderness cruises full of tourists would cycle every hour or so. I was so in my own universe, blasting music, rocking out, having the time of my life, I was surely the animal they didn't expect, and likely the spectacle of their day. A human, peaking.
After 4 hours I made my way to the camp site, settled far below the outlook point at Horseshoe Bend. I hiked up with my gear to find my perfect little nook, nestled below a huge rock face, facing the river. Surely the coolest place I've ever camped. Pure joy, a 10/10 life experience. Something I'll remember for the rest of my life. I can't wait to go back.
Add that shit to your bucket list.
In the morning, I had a solo dance party to the Beatles, full of joy.
The Beatles Dance Party at Horseshoe Bend
Tee up I Saw Her Standing There.
The perfect start to a dance party. A song that is full of happiness. A song for today.
The Beatles are my favorite band. The range, the volume of good music, the story, the brevity, the people. It all adds up to this beautiful decade of music that will forever be the holy grail for me.
I Want You, She's So Heavy
I love this song. It may be my favorite song of all time. Paul's bass line is superb. The song just keeps looping in a beautiful way. It's dark, it's mean, it's raw. A perfect song.
Hey Jude
Pretty much every time I'm on LSD I play this song. It brings me so much joy. I love to sing it loud. It's a happy song. It's been that soundtrack song during some of my most impactful moments on this earth. Another perfect song.
Let It Be
Frequently played immediately after Hey Jude in those impactful / important life moments. A song I've cried to many times. It brings me peace. A simple reminder to let go of my struggles and carry on. An important message, and one that brings about a better life if applied right. Another perfect song.
I Will
My song for Julia. The song that makes me think of her. Love you forever and forever -- my favorite Beatles lyric.
I Feel Fine
This is the first song on my Chill Charters playlist. For two years I would play this song to kick off every charter, and many times, clients would let me play my own music through the charter because of the initial impression from this song. A very fun and joyful song.
With a Little Help From My Friends
I love all my friends. I get by with a little help from my friends. I love to get high with my friends too.
I Saw Her Standing There
We played this song to start the dance party at my wedding.
Golden Slumbers --> Carry That Weight
The last two Beatles songs. Heavy and beautiful. An epic encore to the best run of any band that ever was.
No other band has a top 8 with as much power as the Beatles. I could easily work myself up to a top 20. So many emotions, so much joy and power and love and meaning in all of these songs. Some of my best moments in life have been high on LSD running through these songs. True peak life experiences, they just connect on that platinum level. The best of the best.