A Horseshoe, a Ferry and a Bridge or two

November 4 (Saturday)

 We were up early to get into Page in time for the Hot Air Balloons launch. It was the annual Page Balloon Festival and on Friday they had close to fifty balloons in the air. It was too windy to launch anything today though, so we bought coffee and went to Horseshoe Bend. I walked to the Bend and got lots of great pictures. Crazy busy, lots of Japanese and German tourists as well as others. Many trying to defy gravity by posing in precarious positions near the cliff edge. Geez!

Got back to the truck and we went down Hwy 89 about 20 miles to #89A, . We travelled back north up 89A to Marble Canyon then up to Lee's Ferry.  Hard to believe the calm water of the Colorado River here, and yet just a few miles downstream the whitewater rapids begin. I hear that a trip from here through the Grand Canyon takes about 14 days as the rafts only move about 4 MPH. We saw some rafts launching to go down the Colorado. 

The Sheriff's Dept. were there doing some training in the rapids (actually called a riffle as they are less than a class 1 rapids). There were about six people who walked with arms linked into the water. They got deeper and closer to the fast water, then each one took turns jumping into the fast flow. They would swim into the current, then swim back out a few hundred yards downstream. I guess they need to practice this in case they need to get into fast flowing water to rescue folks.  We had a quick look at the campground. Seemed pretty tight for big rigs. 

We stopped along the way back to look at balanced rocks. 

We saw a very large bird soaring at the cliff tops. It was likely a Turkey Vulture, but given the markings it just might have been a California Condor. Whatever it was, it was impressive!

We stopped at Marble Canyon to see the Navajo Bridge. Built in 1927/28, then another bridge built parallel to the original in the 1990's. Very similar bridge design. I guess you don't mess with what works! 

The Navajo Bridge was very important to Arizona. Other than the ferry at Lee's Ferry, this was the only bridge across the Colorado River until the one at Glen Canyon was built in the 1950's.

Saw some rafters making their way downstream.

Why would they feel the need to post the sign on the right??

The new bridge

Old on the left, new on the right.

This is a very dry area and over time people have found various way to store water. The modern steel tank, the old stone cistern, and the open pond. Life-giving water is very important.

Stopped for a few things at Walmart on the way back, then to the Wahweap Marina and Campground, and Viewpoint. The campground is very nice. Concrete pads, paved roads. $45/night. We got back to the trailer just before 5, then HH at Ray and Deb's MH. This time I took notes! It was too windy to sit outside as the sand was blowing across the beach changing the location of the soft dunes.

Our View From Here.........one more time at Horseshoe Bend!