Wednesday, 30th July
(Kayenta)
We're up pretty early, at 7 a.m., since we'd like to get to Page
in time to reserve a place in some midday Antelope Canyon's tour.
In fact, at this hour, the midday sun's rays penetrate the Antelope
Canyon from above creating beautiful light effects. After eating
the complimentary breakfast offered by the Hampton Inn, at about
8 a.m. we're in our car driving to Page.
Next three hours pass pleasantly by as we discuss a possible schedule
change. Our final decision is to use the time we gained in Kayenta
to get earlier to the Grand Canyon and shorten the Grand Canyon
to LA leg of the trip. We are in Page a bit earlier than 11 a.m.
...at least that's what we believe. It's 10 a.m. instead, local
time. We're a bit confused cause we thought that Utah and Arizona
are in the same time zone and in Kayenta (AZ) the clock was set
on the same time we'd in Utah. At the end we discover that: Utah
and Arizona are in the same time zone but Arizona doesn't have
daylight saving time. Differently, the Navajo Nation (it's in
Arizona but with its own rules) has daylight saving time and follows
Utah's time. That's the answer to our riddle. Be careful!
Antelope Canyon
In this way we gained one hour and we can take it easy. We look
for the Antelope Canyon Tour's, one
of the many tours offered in town. We reserve a place for the
midday tour that cost 27$ per person. We fill the empty time roaming
around Page. I need some 400ASA film and we should also send some
emails. We can do all in the same shop, Quick Photo,
which offers free internet access to their customers. We also
visit the Page Information Point where
we get information to reach the Horseshoe Bend and reserve a place
for a Lake Powell's cruise.
At midday we're ready to get on the truck that will take us to
the Antelope Canyon. Our guide introduces himself saying that
his name is Ken and it's easier to be remembered thinking of Barbie's
boyfriend!
In 20 minutes, half of which on an unpaved road, we get right
in front of the canyon's entrance.
As soon as we get in Antelope Canyon
we are astonished. There is no doubt that it deserves all its
fame. Fortunately there are not many people around and I've all
the time I want to set my tripod and take photos. The sun's rays,
coming from directly above, gently light the delicate rock's surface
and the soft sand on the ground creating amazing effects.
It takes 20 minutes to cross all the canyons and after hearing
some tales by Ken, we take our way back. Chatting with Ken we
discover that Black Widows, attracted by the low temperature and
darkness, inhabit the Antelope Canyon. Just after 1 p.m. we get
on our truck and Ken takes us back to Page. We say goodbye to
him and we feel very satisfied of this experience.
Horseshoe Bend
It so hot outside that we decide to postpone our visit to Lake
Powell. Our Motel6 is exactly the same
as all the other ones we've stayed in and fundamentally, that's
what we like about them. We buy some food at the next Walmart.
Lunch consists in some of those ready-to-make soups that you must
just warm up with hot water. Unfortunately we don't have spoons
and we must manage it just by the only knife we've, but it's not
as bad! A Chinese would have been proud of us!
We leave our hotel when the sun is still high, in fact we read
that the first afternoon hours are the best to enjoy the Horseshoe
Bend panorama. It's just outside Page but there
aren't any sign to indicate it. We have to look for the right
mile marker and then turn as soon as we find a sandy parking lot.
There's a 1.25 miles long trail leading to this place. Up until
the very last moment, you can't see anything. Then, once we get
on the rim, the gooseneck created by the Colorado river appears
suddenly. It's color is indescribable, almost unreal. We're almost
alone except for two girls. In this perfect silence, the only
thing we can hear is the wind blowing. We stay there long, just
sitting and admiring the landscape while a thunderstorm's rumbling
in the distance.
Glen Canyon NRA
We leave Horseshoe Bend when it's almost 5 p.m. and head to the
Glen Canyon NRA visitor center. We
pick up lots of brochures and maps and the rangers advise us what
to do in this area waiting for tomorrow's cruise. Unfortunately
we're no longer in time for the Dam's tour and so decide to drive
along Lake Powell stopping at its view points. Photos of Lake
Powell's are easily recognizable for the "very blue"
color of its water but viewed on the spot, the color is even bluer.
Along the road to the recreation area's heart we have some nice
view. We park to walk at the beach. We don't have our swimsuits
with us and the sky's getting cloudy. So, after a short walk,
we come back to our car and then, after a lots of shopping, return
to our hotel.
Thursday, 31st July
Lake Powell & Rainbow Bridge
NM
Our cruise starts at 8 a.m. so we must be up at 6.30 a.m. to be
on time at the pier. The half-day cruise will take us till the
Rainbow Bridge NM. Lake Powell is so
big that during the cruise we'll also cross over the Arizona-Utah
border!
Our cruise is very interesting, specially at the beginning. Unfortunately
the water level is pretty low and this impedes many views. After
an hour or so, the views become repetitive and our interest declines.
Fortunately, at about 1 p.m. we get to the Rainbow Bridge's trail-head.
We all get off the boat and start the 1.25 miles long hike. When
the water's level is not as low the boat can get right under Rainbow
Bridge arch but now this part of the canyon is dry so that we
have to walk.
Rainbow Bridge natural arch is very large, about the same dimensions
of the Delicate Arch in Arches NP. Since this is a National Monument
and we're also on Navajo territory, maximum attention is required
and there's not much else to do than to take some photos. Since
the boat leaves in an hour we have to explore the area quickly.
The journey's second half doesn't offers much more than the first
and after three hours of partial boredom we dock at the Wahweap
Marina. It's about 3 p.m.
We return to the same beach we were at yesterday but today we
have our swimsuits and can spend the afternoon relaxing under
the warm Arizona sun.
We leave the beach at 6 p.m. and after roaming around Page we
get back to our motel. I eat a huge triple cheeseburger and Magda
prepares a healthier sandwich for herself.
We just enjoy a lazy evening in our motel room and we go to sleep
early. Tomorrow we go to the Grand Canyon!
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