Dang big Dam and a Garden with a view

November 6 (Monday)

I walked around the campground for a bit before we went out for the day. I saw this interesting cooler on the front steps of the office. I did ask about the contents and the gal behind the desk just said it wasn't real……..but never did tell me what was in it. Just a joke on gullible tourists I suspect!

Another sign did catch my attention though. I asked about the sewage connection at the sites and she said just be sure you 'gradually' open the black valve as some sites tend to 'spew' back at you until the sewer system has a chance to get flowing! I couldn't help but see myself as Robin Williams in the movie classic 'RV' when he dumped his tanks for the first time. If you haven't seen the movie, just think 'geyser'! Yuck!

What the !!!!????

Our site 

Not sure what type of tree was on the left but it had huge pods on it.

First today was the Glen Canyon Dam tour. The visitor center have some wonderful displays. Information about the necessity of the dam and how it was constructed. Our guide said there were three main reasons why the built the dam and the subsequent lake (Lake Powell) behind the dam. The primary reason was water storage and management, the second was power generation and the third was recreation. I would have expected power generation to be the main reason, but this is a desert and if people want to remain living in a desert they need water. Hence the water management reasons.

We enjoyed the 45 minute tour (only $4 senior and $5 adult. Guess who got the senior rate!). We got right to the bottom of the 700 foot dam and saw the turbines. We also walked along the top of the dam and viewed the lake. They had several exhibits on the top of the dam, such as an old turbine wheel, a cement bucket used in construction, and a rod they used to hold back rock from falling.

Concrete core sample from the dam. The stone had to be brought in from Wahweap Creek 8 miles/13 KM's away. The sandstone around the dam is too porous to be used for concrete.

Tour guide said about 1600 gallons per hour seep through the dam and surrounding sandstone.
The pipe shows the flow.

This generator was apart for a scheduled overhaul.

Someone mows the grass down here every two weeks!

The dam was only full twice. It is currently about 60% full.

The bridge was actually built before the dam so they could haul dam building equipment across the Colorado River.

After the Dam we went to a short hike called the Hanging Gardens. Only about a mile long the hike takes you to a rock overhang where the is water seeping out of the rock. Water and shelter form the elements allows these fern-type plants to flourish, and even grow from the overhanging rock……thus creating a 'hanging' garden!

Amazing folds in the sandstone.

Well marked trail

How does the layers of sandstone cling to the rock?

The hanging garden

View from the Hanging Garden out toward Lake Powell.

Yep, they're hanging alright!

Interesting formation in the stone. Looks like a river.

Back to the truck

 Then a scenic drive to some overlooks of the tail end of Glen Canyon Dam and the Colorado River and it's canyon. Very impressive.

The 'steps' into the rock on the way down to the viewpoint.

Rafters launch from below the dam for a river trip out to Horseshoe Bend and back.

The Colorado River downstream of Glen Canyon Dam.

The route back up to the truck

We had driven past Big John's Texas Barbeque joint in Page a few times and thought we better stop in for supper. They had huge smokers out front with big semi-truck style smoke stacks coming out of the smokers. Food didn't disappoint. Cheryl had ribs and I had a sampler plate with sausage, pulled pork and a couple of ribs. Very tasty with strong mesquite smoke flavour. We chatted with the couple at the next table and turns out they were from Stettler, about 45 minutes east of Red Deer. (No pictures, sorry)

That was Our View From Here.........