Grand Canyon River Adventure 2
June 21, 2009 Hi all!
We were without Internet for a while, obviously. That bittersweet state has come to an end so it's time for updates. Lloyd will upload a photo gallery, but here's a sample set:
We met at a hotel for a 5 a.m. pickup to find we weren't expected there for another hour. :/ Eventually a tour bus picked us up and dropped us at the Grand Canyon airport where we boarded a 17 person passenger plane for the first leg of our tour, a flight to, across and over the great canyon.
The moment we encountered the canyon rim the turbulence picked up - a profusion of punches. We were 'this close' to giving up our breakfast like the poor fellow up front. :P Fortunately (?), barf bags were available by the dozen behind each seat.
Of course, the views were amazing - most amazing from Lloyd's position as he had the best seat. I hope you'll check out his upcoming gallery.
After about 35 minutes of grand vistas and churned tummies we staggered off at Lake Powell, which is as picturesque from land as from above.
Within minutes our Navajo guides corralled and loaded us into "Jeeps" then herded us into a Native American gift shop/gas station featuring local handcrafted goods and touristy stuff. That's not our thing, however, we did enjoy the follow up offering of a traditional song and dance.
Alright. These "Jeeps" are pickup trucks with pew-like seats in the back, trucks that ricochet so hard across the washboard wash that all the welding joints have fractured and beat against one another as you try to hold yourself together. Fortunately, that part of the ride lasts for just three miles to Upper Antelope Canyon.
My pics of the slot canyon are hardly representative or worthy of the spectacle so look forward to Lloyd's. However, I'm sticking in a glimpse of the 18" entrance to Upper Antelope Canyon which we toured on our own, a couple days the River Adventure:
So. Another 3 miles of organ shaking back to the soothing ride of the tour bus and we headed to the Glen Canyon Dam to board our river raft with smart, kind, funny guide Pat. No white water - this is a 16-mile float trip. :)
3 1/3 hours on water to Lee's Ferry with sun, smooth gliding and geologic wonders.
A rare vertical stratification in the sandstone cliffs:
We stopped twice at beaches, once for a short hike to petroglyphs ...
... and once for lunch.
At Lee's Ferry, 12 hours after the beginning of our adventure, we plopped into our tour bus seats for the return to Grand Canyon.
-P