Page and North Rim, Arizona

25 Sept, 2017 - Traveling - Bryce Utah to Page, Arizona

We departed the Bryce-Zion Campground with an unclear destination. Our original plan was to spend a couple or three nights in Page, Arizona and then head to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon for a day or two....they are not too far apart. As like many other planned stops we could not get a reservation when we tried calling all campgrounds....we even considered going to Grand Canyon first and then Page but they didn't have any room either....but they did have room two days out at the Grand Canyon so we needed somewhere to stay for at least two days. So now our hopes were to find somewhere to camp in Page (maybe without hook ups) for two nights. I had a place on my radar called Lee's Ferry which was a fair drive south of Page but on the way we called our preferred place, Wahweap Campground in the Glen Canyon Recreation area....still no room but he did say they had some dry camping available so as we pulled into Page we decided to stop there and at least give it a look.....wow, what a beautiful place and our luck improved as they now had a site with electric and water available for two nights. Great place overlooking the water (Lake Powell) and the temps were a mild 76 and sunny....just when we thought it couldn't get an better we learned that we had reasonable cell reception and we can pick up 5 TV stations. It's only been about 10 days since we've been able to get a TV station but it didn't seem like we'd missed much.

Sun-setting view of Lake Powell from Campsite

After setting up we immediately began exploring the park and learned that they had some boat tours of the Lake and soon after checking in we were locked on for a tour that went to the Glen Canyon Dam and up the Antelope canyon via water. It was a very enjoyable couple of hours and educational. The water at the Dam is 500 feet deep and this dam provides water and electric to millions of people in the Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, Nevada and California area.

Boat Tour - Lake Powell in a canyon

When the tour was done we began exploring the Page area and made a stop by the R&R Solar company to get our propane bottle filled and a nice lesson in solar energy. The gentleman there was very nice and took a lot of time explaining it to me and offering tips on our next purchase. He also mentioned another boondocking campground in the area that we should give a look at before we leave called Lone Rock recreation area.

Leaving his shop and driving around a bit more we headed to the Horseshoe Bend site to check it out. I'd heard that sunset was the time to try to photograph that site and we were an hour and a half before sun set. It was a nice walk 3/4 mile to the site from the parking lot and what an amazing view that was....the Colorado river in a deep canyon makes a 270 degree turn....very pretty. So we decided to join many other folks there for the sunset and it was a sight to see. My photography skills are not up to the standard of many of the folks there but I had fun trying. There were many people taking photos of each other on the cliffs overlooked the bend also.

Horseshoe Bend Sunset

Silhouette of Photographer at work

Another Silhouette

Another late night back at the camper for some dinner and getting ready for the next day. Overnight temps were dropping (expected mid 50's) and we learned that our heater has decided not to work. It has been acting up off and on for several days but was now mostly off. We can turn it on and it will run for about 10-15 minutes and then shut down.....it was a cool night. By this time my traveling partner is getting worried about our next destination as temps are predicted to be mid 50's for a highs and overnight lows in the 30's. She started talking about skipping the grand canyon part for now and I started talking about purchasing a space heater ;-)

26 Sept, 2017 - Touring Page, Arizona

We had a reservation for the Antelope Canyon (Lower) tour for 10:10 so we headed out a bit early for a breakfast stop at McDonalds followed by a Walmart visit before the tour. Surprisingly Walmart does not have any space heaters yet....they have not transitioned from fans yet. I called a couple of spots and found some at a home improvement store and we went by there and purchased one....tonight will be the test of how it works and if we think we can survive the cold wet weather we expect up there.

Next we went to the Lower Antelope Canyon tour along with many other people...it was unbelievably crowded. Our tour left the starting area on time but we stood in line for a very long time before we actually made it into the Canyon. Our tour guide, Chavez, was a very nice Navajo kid and he was an excellent guide....advising on where to take photos and how in some cases and he even used our cameras to take photos of most of the people on the tour. There was one area that had an arch where some people get married (odd to me but....) and as we approached that area sure enough there was a gal in a wedding dress. I tried to sneak a couple photos of her in that surrounding but not such good luck with the quality of them. It was a great tour of a very interesting and beautiful place.

Antelope Canyon

Bride in Antelope Canyon

Leaving there for lunch in downtown Page...the Mexican food must be good as you get closer to Mexico, right? Well - it was a pretty good lunch. From there back to the camp for a bit of rest in the afternoon before heading out to the last two things on my list for here - visiting the Glen Canyon Dam visitors center and a short ride back into Utah (just across the border) to check out the Lone Rock Campground we'd heard about. That was a treat and is on our list when we ever come back this way. It is dispersed (boondocking) camping right on the shores of Lake Powell and really a cool looking place.

Glen Canyon Dam

Lone Rock Campground - Dispersed Camping

27 Sept, 2017 - Traveling & Touring the Grand Canyon

We left Page after a very enjoyable stop and for a change we headed off with a reservation for a place to stay. We are headed for the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and staying in the Kaibab National Forest at the Kaibab camper village.....full hook-ups but not TV reception and cell and internet are not great but some service. It was an easy two hour drive and we arrived at noon. Funny thing as we were checking in, the folks who came in behind us were from Butts County Georgia - the next county over from us. We've met plenty of folks from back east and down south but most of them flew to Vegas and drove into the area...these folks had also driven an RV.

After setting up the camper we headed off to the Grand Canyon which is about 45 miles from the campground and wow, what a beautiful drive. We are right at the prime for the aspens in full color here and they are really pretty. The weather forecast for today was 50% rain with thunderstorms in the afternoon so we were keeping a close eye on the weather....so far we had been pretty lucky - it rained on us driving up but seemed to clear after we got here. We made our standard trip to the visitors center to get tips on how best to tour the park and what hikes were best for us. The North Rim basically has two areas - the area by the visitor center and lodge and a lengthy scenic drive to several vistas and hiking trails. We opt to limit our visit the first day to the lodge area where there was a great viewing deck and some trails around that area. After a visit to the gift shop, some photos of the canyon and a good look around that area we decided to sample the offerings at the saloon. Turned out to be good timing because as we were in there a thunder storm (with snow we learned later) rolled in. By this time it is getting later in the day and we decide to head on back but on the way we did take a detour on a dirt/gravel road into the national forest just for a look.....I like exploring dirt roads in case you hadn't noticed.

North Rim - Grand Canyon

Aspens in full color

Thunder snow results

Back at camp, nearing dark and the temp is dropping fast.....supposed to be 33 tonight and as you know our heating situation is not great. Our camper heater doesn't work well/right much of the time and the rest of the time it doesn't work at all. This is a not at all time so we prepare to deploy our recently purchased space heater knowing that it has a big job to do. On for a pretty short time and the power goes out...we learned that the power in this campground is very unstable....on and off regularly. We did end up running a dedicated extension cord to the heater and performed like a champ we were comfortable all night.

28 Sept, 2017 - Touring Grand Canyon
After a big breakfast we headed back to the park with a day of hiking planned. This time we took the scenic drive road where we made multiple stops to view the canyon from different angles...quite a sight to see. Back when we were at the Black Canyon of the Gunnison I wondered just how much bigger the Grand Canyon could be - well it is huge by comparison. We kept an eye out for a unique looking squirrel (Kaibab Squirrel) that is basically black with pointed ears and a white tail...different looking. We saw a few but they didn't like being photographed. We didn't pack a lunch today as we intended to get lunch at the lodge deli after we finished hiking....well we walked until my feet were aching and we ended up eating lunch at 3:30 in the afternoon.....but a very enjoyable day. Temps were in the mid 50's but sunny so it was perfect hiking weather.

Pine Cone

Bench with a view

Kaibab Squirrel

On the way back to camp and another detour on the forest service dirt road and we were home before dark....tired and pretty happy with the two days we spent here. Now we will leave here in headed in a southerly and easterly direction....the National Park touring is done for this trip.