Splashes, Sturgeon, and Jet Boats: A Day on the Rogue River

Gold Beach, OR

Today with The Grand Western Tour, we stayed put in Oregon, and the Rogue River gave us a day we won’t soon forget.

The main event was a fantastic jet boat ride up the river. Our captain, Andy, kept things exciting the whole way, soaking us more than a few times with splashing stops and swirling donuts that had everyone laughing and shrieking. Along the way, we kept our eyes peeled and spotted ospreys, deer, elk, and even a sturgeon on the shore that had to be at least four feet long.

Andy also shared some fascinating history about the river and the area. We heard about its gold rush past, when, as our captain told us, over $70 million worth of gold was panned right here, and about the essential mail boat delivery service that predates the use of motors and still runs to this day.

Around midday, we pulled up for lunch at a lodge in Agness, where we sat outside on the porch overlooking a pebble-filled beach before cruising back down the river.

Back at the resort, the rest of the day was ours to enjoy. We swam in the river, lounged in the pool and jacuzzi, and worked up a sweat in the sauna. A few of the boys brought out their fishing poles, and Meg quickly showed them how it’s done by reeling in a fish of her own.

We capped the night off with a big pizza delivery, because nothing beats pizza after a day on the water.

Tomorrow, we trade the river for the city as we set our sights on San Francisco. City life, here we come!