We made slow progress during the morning since we were in no hurry and there was a lot of stopping for photos and to watch a river trip or two pass us by. As we approached Cardenas Creek we started looking for a campsite down by the river. We followed a dry creek bed that I thought was Cardenas Creek but was not. It had access to the river but there were not really any good campsites.

Shortly after that Alysia suggested that we just give up on looking for a campsite and try to make it all the way to Escalante Creek and have a full lay-over day there for day three. I immediately had a bad feeling about this since we had started late, were not making very good time, and it was already after noon. At that point I figured we had come maybe 2.5 or 3 miles and probably had another 5 miles more to go to Escalante Creek. Sure it was doable but we would have do seriously hoof it. The Unkar Creek overlook and ruin was on the way and I knew that would eat up some time as well. Then Alysia said she needed more water before we could start into that so we following the next drainage down to the Colorado to get water. This one really was Cardenas Creek and had good access to the river and a couple of good campsites.

While we were getting water I was getting even more nervous about continuing on to Escalante as it was now approaching 1pm and over half the day was gone and there was still a long way to go. So I started dropping hints about it being a bad idea. Then we saw another river trip pass us by and just as it did it slowed down and pulled into a spot about 100 yards downriver from where we were. I think there were 6 or 7 rafts plus a kayak so there had to be a much bigger beach down there. I went to say hello and investigate while the rest of the group continued to fill water bottles and bladders.

The beach the rafts had pulled into was enormous and had lots of great campsites. I figured we were out of luck if the river trip was staying there but when I asked they said they were just stopping for lunch and would be moving on. I was talking with the trip leader for a bit and he offered me a beer while we were talking---first one of the trip. When I hadn't opened it after a while he said I should before it got warm and drink it. I said I had to take it back and share it with my hiking my hiking buddies and he said "Send them over and we'll give them their own." Gotta love river rats!

I did go back and to the group and promptly told them we were not going any further that day, that the beach the rafts had pulled into was awesome and it would be camp for the night. I also told them there was beer waiting for them.

We had a nice time for a couple of hours or so chatting it up with the folks from the river trip while they had lunch. A bunch of the rafters took off for a day hike up to the ruin near the Unkar delta overlook and several of the others had a little siesta while waiting for them to return. When they did return everyone packed up the rafts and they were off... and the beach was ours.

We had a nice time at camp that afternoon and it was very relaxing. I don't think anyone was bothered by the fact that we had not continued on to Escalante Creek. I certainly was not as I still believe that would have been a major mistake and we would have arrived there very late in the day.