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This article first appeared in the PB August 2000 issue of Pro Builder.

Randy Harris, Vice President of Realen Homes Illinois Division

Randy Harris’s wet and wild summer trip might be a little more adventuresome than most. The Illinois division vp of Realen Homes spent his summer vacation with his wife Sandra cruising through the Grand Canyon on a raft on the Colorado River.

The most amazing part of the 180-mile trip, he says, was witnessing the beauty around him. "It gives you a great amount of respect for the short time we’re here on earth -- these canyons were created 1.4 billion years ago. Knowing that makes you feel like a grain of sand."

The six-day/six-night trek through the canyons allowed time for day hikes up canyon walls, into side streams and canyons and even to a significant pre-historic Indian site. Guides accompanied each of the two rafts in the expedition, crewing the rafts and teaching the rafters about the geology and history of the area. And, says Harris, they even did all the cooking. Everything was provided by the rafting company, says Harris-tents, food, bedrolls, life preservers-all the participants had to bring was themselves and a sense of adventure.

Since this column is really about work spaces, PB asked what Harris took away from the trip to help him in the home building industry-respect for teamwork, new leadership skills, great Mother Nature-inspired design ideas... He laughed and replied, "The nice thing about this trip is that I spent a week not thinking about home building."

Oh well, everybody needs a vacation.

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