XPost: misc.rural   
   From: firstnamelastinitial@peaksky.com   
      
   I went on the Hellgate Dinner Cruise on the Rogue River out of Grants   
   Pass this afternoon.  Initially, I thought the $50 price tag was pretty   
   steep, but it turned out to be an incredible bargain.   
      
   We loaded up about 3:30 in the afternoon, on jet sleds that seated about   
   60 to 80 people, depending on the size of the boat.  We ran downstream   
   for about an hour, stopping to watch fishermen pull in fall Chinook.  I   
   saw one that was at least 40 lbs., and several successful catches.  It   
   looks like a good fall run.  We squirreled around a little, saw lots of   
   osprey nests, spotted a couple bald eagles, eagle nests, and the   
   Hellgate rock formation.   
      
   Then we stopped at the OK Corral (0wned by Hellgate Tours), where they   
   put on a BBQ pork and chicken meal for 300.  It was actually a pretty   
   good meal.  It included all the beer and wine you could drink, lemonade,   
   water and coffee for non-alcoholic sorts, vegetables, some really tasty   
   scalloped potatoes and a berry tart for desert.   
      
   Then we piled back onto the boats for the run back up the river to   
   Grants Pass.  The boats played leapfrog across each other's wakes, cut   
   cookies, and did everything they could to soak the passengers.  The   
   temperature was in the 80s and the humidity was low, so nobody stayed   
   wet for long.  The boats run at a top speed of about 45 knots, so it was   
   a pretty exciting ride.  Total time for the whole trip was about 4   
   hours.  counting the meal and booze, it was a real bargain.   
      
   I've decided I need to do the Hell's Canyon by jetboat on the Snake.   
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