The Groover- So named because of the grooves it used to leave on peoples behinds before the high class addition of a toilet seat. It's an important detail near and dear to every boatman's heart. The Groover - toilet of the Canyon. A neccessity, a trial, a fact of river life. The groover is the ammo can that everyone 'goes' in. Number two and toilet paper only please, Canyon rules say urine goes in the river. That's right... pee in the river. This is accomplished with great regularity by virtually all male members of the group. Every pause, every scout of a rapid seems an invitation to go. For the ladies it's more of
an ordeal accomplished by some with more grace and tact than others. I for one, surrounded by the always urinating kayak boys and the sound of rushing water experience a nearly constant urge to pee. I take this as a sign I'm well hydrated and try not to dwell on it too much. I don't walk very far out of the way to go, it's just to much work. Besides, after a few days nobody cares. Burping, farting, snoring and all other manner of bodily functions occur in our tribe out in the open.
Back to the Groover. It's the piece of equipment set up first and taken down last at camp. All campsite selection takes a back seat to the Groover site selection. Because of this, one can take solace in the fact that while sitting on an ammo can with the occasional tripmate strolling by on the beach, what it lacks in comfort and privacy it more than makes up for with it's view. Just as the guides have favorite camps, those who have spent any amount of time in the Canyon have favorite groover spots as well. Also, after a few days on the river have passed and everyone's GI tract kicks back into high gear to dispense of our diet of ample calories and river sand, the groover line becomes like the office water cooler. People hang out. Better yet, iterations of the word groover creep into everyday life. "I'll be back, I gotta go groove." "Have you grooved?"
As it turns out...after a slow start our group turns out to be world class, prolific groovers. There are only so many ammo cans allocated for the task and before our trip is over, we flirt dangerously with reaching our limit.
an ordeal accomplished by some with more grace and tact than others. I for one, surrounded by the always urinating kayak boys and the sound of rushing water experience a nearly constant urge to pee. I take this as a sign I'm well hydrated and try not to dwell on it too much. I don't walk very far out of the way to go, it's just to much work. Besides, after a few days nobody cares. Burping, farting, snoring and all other manner of bodily functions occur in our tribe out in the open.Back to the Groover. It's the piece of equipment set up first and taken down last at camp. All campsite selection takes a back seat to the Groover site selection. Because of this, one can take solace in the fact that while sitting on an ammo can with the occasional tripmate strolling by on the beach, what it lacks in comfort and privacy it more than makes up for with it's view. Just as the guides have favorite camps, those who have spent any amount of time in the Canyon have favorite groover spots as well. Also, after a few days on the river have passed and everyone's GI tract kicks back into high gear to dispense of our diet of ample calories and river sand, the groover line becomes like the office water cooler. People hang out. Better yet, iterations of the word groover creep into everyday life. "I'll be back, I gotta go groove." "Have you grooved?"
As it turns out...after a slow start our group turns out to be world class, prolific groovers. There are only so many ammo cans allocated for the task and before our trip is over, we flirt dangerously with reaching our limit.
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