Monday, May 29, was the Best Adventure Ever for us when we shot the rapids of the Taos Box with Wendy, our most intrepid river guide, under the care and auspices of New Mexico River Adventures, located in Embudo, NM. NMRA got us geared up early in the morning (8 a.m. after an hour drive from Santa Fe) on Memorial Day with all the right stuff, wet suits and splash jackets, helmets and PFD's (what I used to call Life Jackets when vacationing in the summer along the coast of Maine). Wendy then schooled us on all of the necessary and requisite safety procedures and what to do and what not to do. Above all else, she mainly emphasized that whatever happened, it was always, absolutely always, better to stay in the raft, not out of the raft! (Of course, if anyone decided otherwise, Wendy provided us with the express details about how we could get retrieved and put back in the raft or how we could proceed with our very own solo float through the Class IV waters.) We then headed out, the four of us who would fill the raft, along with Wendy and Luke, our Alt-Guide In Charge of All Things Food for Lunch, for one of the most amazing days ever. After traveling in the NMRA van for about an hour (I think) from NMRA's office and equipment compound to slightly north of Taos, really just outside of it, we put in on the Rio Grande at John Dunn Bridge and started our wild and crazy ride down the river. And believe me, this wasn't no lazy river cruise, nosiree! While cruising along at the beginning and just flowing with fast water, Wendy got us totally prepped on our paddling techniques and moved us into synchronicity just like that. She's got that special energy that just gets you and got us all fired up. But once again, as she had said several times earlier in the morning, when you go in the Taos Box with a raft, the only way you're comin' out of the Box is on a raft; it's that kind of a river and rapids adventure. (The Taos Box is actually the result of and is located in a geological phenomenon known as the Rio Grande Rift, which was formed by the shifting of the earth's tectonic plates. Unlike other canyons and rivers within elsewhere in the U.S., the Rio Grande did not carve the canyon; the river just flowed to the lowest point which took it through the Taos Box. It is altogether a very remarkable thing to see up close.) So, thereafter, we floated really, practiced paddling techniques, and shot some minor rapids, really just fast water, breaking for an early lunch of chicken fajitas with all the fixings (a masterful meal well prepared and coordinated by Luke -- by now known as Luke Waterwalker), Jalapeno Pringles (desperately, but unsuccessfully, sought by a guest chipmunk), PB&J, a super good honeydew melon. But the excitement continued even on the shore with the discovery of a mystery guest in our midst -- we never saw him or her, but that very distinctive rattle sound clued us in that we might want to steer clear of some certain rocks. So, with belly full, we loaded back up and took off to accomplish the serious business of taming the Rio Grande. (Both before and more so after lunch, we saw many Big Horn Sheep.) As we flowed along, the river picked the pace and, hearing the roar of the upcoming rapids, the four of us quickly revived from that post-lunch lethargy into adrenalized paddling fiends. This is where four intrepid souls and one very skilled and experienced guide faced the coming onslaught of numerous Class IV rapids and falls, well known as Dead Car Rapid, Powerline Falls (a huge drop where the only thing to do upon Wendy's command is to GET DOWN with the hope that you don't go down), Pinball, THEN Rock Garden (a 1/2 mile of amazing water, waves and peril with its Dead Texans -- Wendy still owes us an explanation about how the DT's got its name), and Sunset, the one and only one to end on just before exiting the raft and river scene. Lasting from about 9:30 or 10 a.m., when we put in, until 3:00 or 3:30 p.m., it was an amazing trip full day rafting trip; the best adventure ever! While I don't know anything about any of the other rafting companies in the area, I can only say that for the price, NMRA absolutely delivers on the product and the service for a full day of Taos Box river rafting. We're anticipating that we'll be back in Santa Fe next year and with luck and opportunity, we'll do it again with NMRA.