Many Thanks to TIVA...
Lt. J.P. Troy
October 13th
Hello Mr. Troy. (Uncle George)
Just wanted to drop you a note to show our strong appreciation and gratitude for the generous gift of the "TIVA PRO" ATRATO water shoes that you and your company, TIVA, sent to us here at the Oakland Fire Dept. Water Rescue Team. As you know, the city has experienced some budget deficits lately, and programs such as the "Water Rescue Team" also seems to feel the pinch. There are 12+ committed members on this team, 4 on each shift, A,B and C. The team responds to all water related incidents within the city of Oakland on a 24/7 bases. The 4 pairs of the ATRATO water shoes you sent are a vast improvement from the dive booty's we were issued through the Dept. They work very well both in the water or on the boat with greater safety and support in these ever changing environments. Some of our team members have asked if they can purchase these on their own, as they are size specific. (and I wont give up mine).
Once again please pass on our sincere gratitude to the representatives of TIVA.
Wishing you all the best with the upcoming holiday season.
A friend gave me my 1st pair
PAT LAMBERT
October 10th
A friend gave me my 1st pair of Teva sandals. She didn't wear them much so I got them. They were a size larger than I wear, but I wore them anyway. I was hooked. So I bought another pair in my size. Then another pair and another pair. I have at least 13 or 14 pair if not more. And I just ordered another pair. I have short wide feet & Tevas work so well for me. I was a Birkenstock fan, but now I seldom wear the Birkies.
I'm the "Emelda" of Tevas I think.
Met da' Man at Deer Creek
Kevin Mequet
October 6th
I took my first trip down the Colorado in August of 1989. I'm partial I guess but I think my outfitter was the best in Grand Canyon at that time. Our trip leader was Cam Staveley of Arizona Raft Adventures. Who he is is another story all together. Suffice it to say his pedigree and experience is exceptional. He's since moved on to becoming a co-owner of Canyon Explorations & Expeditions.
On our fifth day on-river we pulled into Deer Creek canyon beach to hike up the Vishnu/Zoroaster into the hanging sidecanyon & creek well above the falls. Three experiences stand out as truly memorable and fundamentally impactful. First, on the way up one of the toughest trails I've ever been on we stepped through 1.2 billion years of time -- the transition from the Vishnu Schist/Zoroaster Gneiss agglomeration to the Tapeats Sandstone formation. That was an amazing moment so very few get to appreciate and it changes your perspective in a way that can't be explained, which kinda led to the next experience. Along the trail on top of the Tapeats there's a section of shear cliff that that falls vertically more than 1,000' to the river below! I had never until that time stood with my toes at the edge of such a drop. I'd zip-lined, Tyrolean traversed and rappelled many times, but never looked straight down 1,000'. Cam said it was a shame to come all this way and not partake of the experience. So I did and it chnged me again -- don't wrong, I have a healthy respect for heights but now I'm not terrified of them. My best friend, though, had another reaction. She freaked. I had never seen someone so affected by acrophobia before. She was hysterical and paralyzed by fear. She could not go on, no way. My heart broke for her but I couldn't tear myself away from the experience. She was escorted down by one of the river guides. Later she said that my standing at the brink just flipped her out. Me, I had never thought I would or could do such a thing. It inspired me.
We made our way into a cleft in the Bright Angel Shale which gave on to the side canyon cut by Deer Creek. You have to remember the Vishnu/Zoroaster is a thousand feet high, the Muav Limestone, Bright Angel and then Tapeats rests upon it and the creek could very easily cut through all that but not so easily through the Vishnu/Zoroaster, so the falls downstream exit about 1,000' above the Colorado River. Bad slip into the main current and you're WORKED! This was definitely running through my mind. Above our heads the Bright Angel Shale and Muav Limestone are gnarled into fantastic shapes over the Tapeats. The scene was totally surreal having been carved over eons by the creek. Bizarre overhangs and undercutting abounded. We were NOT only ones to first find our way into the sidecanyon. Along our path the Ancient Puebloan Ancestors had marked their path a thousand years before us with pictograms using ordinary items -- their hands, much smaller than our own, maze, creosote sprigs, simple implements -- silhouetted onto the shale by blowing mouthfuls of pigment from their pursed lips. That's amazing, right? Yeah, but the best was soon coming.
We made our way to a hanging pool in the creek. A safe fun place to play where we would be assured of not being caught into a one-way trip to the falls. We had a blast slip sliding away on carved water shoots into the "Jacuzzi". Man, that was FUN. I was relaxing and vegging a bit -- in full-on blur-mode. Cam and I had developed an easygoing camaraderie. He kinda made me an honorary swamper in-training. I liked that a great deal. We both looked a little up-creek and Cam nudges me in the ribs, "Hey, Kev, know who that is?" "Nope." "That's Mr. 'Teeva'." "No way." "Yup. Why don't ya say hi." WHAT!?! "Naw, he's busy with his friends." "They're guests like you, go ahead."
Just then Mark Thatcher looks our way, "Hey, Face, what's up?" with a wide grin. Crazy, wild, sun-bleached locks going every which way, faded roughed-up sportifs and *his* sandals. Cam touches the brim of his hat in salute, "Hey, Mark, meet my friend here, Kev."
That did it. I slid on over with my hand out, "Nice to meet-cha, Mark. Hey, I own a pair of Teevas." Without missing a beat he shakes my hand, "It's pronounced 'Tevuh'. It's Hebrew for 'Life'." SHOOT! "Um, OK, sorry about the mispronounciation." We chat and it turns out he's from Long Beach like me and went to University of California at Long Beach. He then gives me one the best field lectures on fossil features in the Bright Angel Shale. Only this talk was the most unusual of my life. We scrambled on our backs in a slot about 3' high by 20' or so long and 10' or so deep. We were looking UP to the underside of the most bizarre maze of giant worm trails left in a 530-million-years-ago muddy swampy marine wetland terrain. We were looking at the underside of this event carved by Deer Creek. Mark spent an hour with me explaining what we seeing -- Paleontology was his minor at Long Beah State.
Can you believe my good luck? I still can't. I got a Paleontological lesson by Mark Thatcher in the best classroom on the Planet! I love that memory -- one the best of my life. Thank you, Mark.
Fellow river rat, Kevin
ATV spectacular
Karen Farberow
October 2nd
On September 3rd 2007 Karen Farberow and Kathi Butt took a spectacular ATV ride through the El Yunque rain forest in San Juan Puerto Rico. We had our Dozer shoes on that let us ride the ATV without getting hot feet and when we stopped at a beautiful river, we were able to walk off the ATV and into the refreshing waters. Thank you for letting us enjoy our trip and feel comfortable and safe at the same time. Remember no matter how old you might be you can always have a great time.
Karen
X-1 Racer
Adam Zavislak
October 2nd
The X-1 Racers were all I need to navigate around South Manitou Island of northern Michigan. They provided the proper support and protection to keep me flying.
Adam Zavislak
Grand Rapids, MI
