Fire and Ice

[gwmayf47124]

Jim,

Great to see you back on here. I really enjoyed your last adventure and will be looking forward to more posts on this one.
Your photos are beautiful.
Back here in Indiana the trees are just starting to turn colors.
Keep up the good work, I just wish I had someone to take a long road trip with right now. I am ready for another one.

Gary

[JimmieS]

Thanks Bob - I remember you mentioning that the Motel 6 in Beatty was the best Motel in town, but not until after we got the rooms .

Thanks also to Linda1 and Bill Range and Gary - You folks would have loved this ride. At least until today when it got both windy and dusty. Glad you are all coming along.

Next post will be for todays ride - short though it was.

Cheers!

Jim

[JimmieS]

Page, Az. was incorporated in 1957 during the construction of the Glen Canyon Dam and the resulting Lake Powell. The 'city' originally housed about 300 workers. Today the city has a population of nealy 9000. It's quite a nice little town, and Rich and I spent the night there last night, and a good part of the day today in its environ's.

The first order of business today was to take the Antelope Canyon tour. We we able to get on the 10:15 AM tour which is touted to be the best time to visit the canyon because the lighting is the best at that time. Well, we weren't disapointed. First things first. The canyon is what is known as a "Slot Canyon" meaning that the Sandstone rock is split from floor to roof and is accessable via that slot. Imagine a 4 mile treck through deep sand to arrive at a sheer wall with a crack in it. This is the first impression of the canyon.



Once inside you start taking pictures and don't stop till you are out the other side.



Your's truly-->



And a couple more -->





We learned all kinds of very interesting facts about this canyon and others like it. For example, the floor the the canyon is sand. The sand accumulates over time and the depth of the sand grows. We were walking on sand that was estimanted to be 50 feet deep. If the naturally occuring flash floods didn't happen the canyon would eventually fill up and disappear. The flash floods literally wash all of the sand out of the canyon leaving a new floor that is significantly lower than before the flood. Our guide was able to experience the 2001 flood from above the canyon - and gave us vivid descriptions of the terror he felt when mother nature unleashed.

[JimmieS]

A few more pics from the canyon and then I'll move on.











If your curious about how the canyon walls got to looking the way they do - well it's caused by the same flooding that cleans the floor -- the water crashes into the walls and scoures them with all of the sand, and floating debries. Mother Nature at its finest .

More --->

[gwmayf47124]

Again, very nice photos. Maybe next year we can stop by there.

[JimmieS]

The Page area has a lot of things to see and do. Most of which requires a skilled desert scout and driver and the ability to flat out HIKE. There are a number of other slot canyons as well as 'The Wave'. Most of these activities take at least 4 hours to get to, experience and return from. We couldn't take any more time so all I can do is share a picture of the owner of the tour company and a client he took to the wave:



We got back into our riding gear and were heading out of town about 1:00. The next stop was to be Monument Valley -- Highway 161 and 163 in Northern Arizona and Southern Utah.

A few shots from along the way.









We decided to stop in Kayenta for the night and actually do the Monument Valley loop in the morning. Hoping for some early morning lighting for the camera and besides we both could use a bit of rest.

We just finished dinner - Navajo, beef on Navajo Fry Bread .

Till next!

Jim

[Ally House]

Jim,
You have some wonderfull pics in here, and it sounds like the trip is just what the doctor ordered. Cain't hardly wait for the next round!

[demenshea]

Great stuff Jim!!! WOW!

Wasn't Antelope Canyon simply amazing! Both Gary and I were awestruck. What i found most astounding was that by looking at the terrain, you would not even have noticed that slot canyon, but once to find it and start working your way in, it is totally surreal. Hard to get a bad pic!!

[JimmieS]

Well today was another 'Ice' Day. We planned on being awake and breakfasted and ready to ride by 08:00. We were. The clouds and the cold front however, were'nt!




But we decided to press on.

This, being my first time in Monument Valley, thought I would have 'more than ample' time to photograph the monumnets. Well I wasn't quite right, but I don't thing I was completely wrong either.









I admit there is some different perspectives here, but still, it's Monument Valley.

[JimmieS]

Now, being at 5000 ft. in elevation at the tail end of October can be quite chilly when there is no sun to warm the air - OR - to beat down upon the weary bones. There were however ample opportunities to spot a photo op in the mirrior and stop. Well, OK -- it was really to plug in the heated gear .



But we did get to see this first.....









If anyone ever tells you that this area of Aridzona isn't interesting you can call them out.