Lake Powell

We left the Grand Canyon yesterday morning and drove east to Cameron and then on into Page, AZ and Lake Powell. We had planned to visit the north rim of the canyon but the road is closed until the end of May. We enjoyed our first family vacation with the Eddy’s about 26 years ago (Joel was just a baby!) in this area – took our first houseboat trip on Lake Powell, so there a lots of good memories here. We are camped on Lone Rock Beach – right near the water – you can “dry camp” anywhere on the beach – just don’t get stuck in the sand!

The trip between the canyon and here was lovely – through the Navajo Nation, the Little Colorado River Canyon and the Painted Desert. Mostly downhill, you can practically “coast” all the way! We stopped in Cameron, AZ at the Trading Post – Mike & Lorraine told us they had the best “fry bread” – it is a Native Indian food – bread dough, fried in grease – puffs up like a bumpy, pancake. “When in Rome…..” - so we had Navajo Tacos for lunch – fry bread with hamburger & pinto beans, lettuce, cheese, green chilis and hot sauce on top. Not bad! I found some really cute Native Indian dolls for Samantha & Emily, a T-shirt for Roger and a new sweatshirt jacket for me – all in all a good shopping stop!

We took a river raft trip from Page to Lee’s Ferry yesterday afternoon. We rode a bus from Page through a 2 mile tunnel and then down to the river – no public access – but we ended up at the base of the Glen Canyon Dam – WOW it is mammoth!  No white water just a leisurely float down through the canyon. They stopped about half way so we could hike back and see the petroglyphs on the cliff side. This is the time of the year for children’s school trips so there were several rafts full of kids – our driver was glad to have senior citizens – he said the group he had the day before was more interested in going fast and beating the other raft than any scenery! I put my feet in the water – a Lake Superior like experience! But, there were kids swimming!

They frequently see California Condors in this area but no luck yesterday. They were almost extinct but researchers started a “double harvest” program that has increased their population to around 300. All the condors have big number tags – we met hikers on the Bright Angel Trail that had seen #33!

Lee’s Ferry is the only spot in hundreds of miles where you can actually cross the Colorado  River. The ferry was operated by the Mormons from the early 1800 to 1900’s until the first bridge was built. It is the “point of no return” if you go downstream – you’re committed to running the rapids through the Grand Canyon. It was fascinating to watch the large group get ready to leave on what I’m sure is the adventure of a lifetime! You can take 3 to 22 day “cruises” – on the 3 day trip you walk 9 miles up Bright Angel Trail to get out! I’m afraid “fear” would override “exhilaration” for me so Roger is on a mission to find someone else to do the trip with him - anyone interested give him a call!

The return trip to Page is through the Navajo Nation. You see many small octagon shaped buildings - “hut” like – called “hogans.” There are male, female and ceremonial hogans. They have no interior walls, the doors always face the east, few if any windows, and you must walk clockwise while inside. Sometimes they are lived in but mostly they are now only used for ceremonies. The Navajo’s are a matriarchal society so the women rule! Typically, the Navajo dwellings have no water or electricity. They buy water at “watering stations” in town and fill up large 500 gallon containers as their only source of water for their family and livestock.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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