We arrived at Page and were amazed at the number of hired motorhomes and how big and touristy the town was. Plenty of takeaway food stores including our now favourite Taco Bell - lunch sorted!
Sunset at the Lake Powell RV Park, Page Arizona
Page is home to the Lake Powell Dam - one in a series of dams that controls the water flow of the Colorado River. Tours are conducted from the visitor centre for a mere $5 a head - quite a bit cheaper than the cost of the Lake Mead dam tour.
View of the dam wall
The down river side showing the highway bridge
We have met many wonderful people in the last 6 months and it is extra special when we happen across some fellow Aussies. Walking around the park one night we spotted a 5th wheeler sporting an Aussie flag sticker. As was done to us in Las Vegas we knocked on their door to say 'G'day'. Jenny and Doug are from Adelaide and within minutes we were sitting in the shade of a tree, beer in hand, having a 'yarn'. One beer led to another and then dinner at 'our place' - turkey roast done in the weber. Doug and Jenny are on a similar adventure as us so we had lots to discuss including our intention to drive out to Monument Valley the following day. It didn't take too much to persuade them to join us.
Monument Valley is about 100 miles (a 2 hour drive) from Page so we hit the road pretty early. The Monument Valley Park is run by the Navajo Indians with all proceeds of the gift shop sales and guided tours supporting their education and health care programs. Unfortunately sometimes they out-price themselves. Visitors to the park have the option of driving around the park themselves or pay for an Indian guided tour, sitting in the back of an open air (not so new) dodge truck. After paying the $5 per head park entrance fee we headed to the tour booth. We were initially quoted $300 for the four of us which we very politely declined and headed back to our own vehicle to undertake the self drive option. As we walked away we were followed by an Indian woman offering a cheaper, undefined amount. Once again we declined!
So down the rough dirt road we went with Rose playing tour guide without the $300 fee! Upon entering the park we were given an information brochure itemising the monoliths and other landmarks including a rock that supposedly looks like an elephant, another like a teacher and her 3 students and yet another one like a mitten. Obviously everyone else had a good imagination because they looked just like rocks to me which was an ongoing joke all day.
The road through Monument Valley
Breathtaking
Pictures do not do it justice
Jenny, Doug and Rose, the truck was covered in red dust by the end of the trip
Monument Valley done we headed back to the park for happy hour and dinner. Doug and Jenny were heading off to Zion National Park the following day so happy hour turned into happy 'many' hours - ok for us but not so good for Doug and Jenny - they both looked a little worse for wear when we said goodbye the next morning. As always it was hard to say goodbye.
Antelope Canyon is situated about 5 miles from Page and tours are organised and conducted by the Navajo Indians. The best time to view the slot canyon is between 11.30 and 1.30 as this offers the best light for taking photos. Unfortunately tours during these hours are booked out well in advance so we had to be content with the 1.30 time slot. We travelled to the canyon in the back of an open air bus along a dry creek bed or commonly known as a 'wash'.
The tour buses parked in the 'wash'
The entrance to the Canyon
The canyon is famous for its texture and changing colours and is obviously a photographers delight. The canyon is formed by flood waters and rain washing down the creek bed through the original slot canyon. Our guide Patrick was a mine of information not only regarding the canyon but also where to position yourself to get the best photos. He certainly earned his $5 tip!
The canyon was everything, plus more, than what we had expected.
Awesome!
The sand contributes to the erosion
Ever changing colours
Our guide set this photo up, can you see the torch flame
After 7 days in Page it was time to move on. The trip to our next stop at Williams, the gateway to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, will take longer than we anticipated due to a landslide on highway 89.
Posted by RnR on their IPad
Location:Page Arizona
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