Page Title

Secondly, after "g" secured one of the limited and coveted backcountry permits to camp in the Grand Canyon, RB was confronted with a scheduling conflict. This would prove to be little more then a nuisance. However, it was purely by accident that a major no-backcountry-permit-crisis was averted. Three weeks had passed since "g" re-faxed a request to have their backcountry permit dates changed. With no response, "g" became mighty anxious. When he called the Backcountry Office, "g" learned that he faxed the original hiking itinerary instead of the modified one. Consequently, "Grand Canyon Central" became understandably confused by this request-for-a-change-of-date-without-a-change-of-date and filed it at the bottom of a box labeled, Dumb-and-Dumber. Thanks to the ever-giving kindness of the ranger who responded to the desperateness in "g's" voice over the phone, he short circuited protocol and sanctioned "g's" verbal request for a change in their permit. (Something that never happens!)

Finally, there's the "broken toe report." Two weeks before their trip, RB calls "g" and humorously reports that he thinks he has broken his big toe. While showing off in front of his children and about 15 neighborhood kids, RB took a major header on his 5 year old's scooter. As it turns out, the injury was minor and RB was quick to covert this embarrassingly painful moment into a lesson about scooter and helmet safety.

After the race to the rim during the Great Grand Canyon Excursion 2000, The Jogging LaBella Brothers pay a tourist (with 4 of Larry's souvenir stones) to take their picture after their 4 day trek.

"g" quietly swears he will never wear a hat like RB's!

RB secretly promises to never wear a watch the size of a hub cap, like "g's."

(10/00)

OK. The time had come. The stage was set. It's spring: the Boys had survived another winter; there were no skiing or indoor soccer injuries reported; they had mega-hiking and canoeing plans; and they were in varying degrees of in-shape-ness. (Cool.)

Like adrenalin junkies in straight jackets, the Boys were forced to contain their excitement just a little bit longer. In several weeks, they would again become "outward-bound-misfits" with RB and "g" starting the season early with a return trip to the Grand Canyon. The Boys were ready to hike!

So... Sit back and loosen your hikin' boots, grab a cold one, and get ready to see how things unfold for The Boys in:

2001: The New Millennium Hikers!