|
|
2008 West Vacation -- Southern Utah and Colorado, Day 8
Index
 |
| Day 8, Bryce Canyon National Park to Glen Canyon National Recreation Area |
Went back into Bryce to finish the last four pullouts, Inspiration Point to Fairyland. Thunder at Fairyland, and by that I mean thunder after lightning at Fairyland, and being on the high edge of the amphitheater makes me wonder if I shouldn't be in the car...
On the way out, we run into a Pronghorn. It doesn't care. It looks at up at us, then just starts grazing again, giving us his best side...
Gas at Texaco, early lunch again at Cowboy. Foods okay, nothing special, but there's nothing else around, either.
Bryce Canyon National Park (Day 2)
Back to Top
Westbound on 12 to Red Canyon, then South on US-89 all the way to Glen Canyon NRA. Stop in at Coral Pink Sand Dunes SP. They have pink sand dunes here because the sand comes from the erosion of Navajo Sandstone. A little rain. Man, these Utah state parks are in the middle of nowhere. Sand is pinkish-red, very fine. We decide to take a walk to the fences. Uh-oh. One step down on the sand, and you take 1 1/2 steps. Only means one thing. On the way up, one step = 1/2 step. I'm right. Sand gets in shoe, turns inside of shoe and sock pink. Shoelaces are pink too, and last that way for weeks. The sand is so fine, that it finds it way into the sock and between the toes. Next time, bring boots or hiking shoes.
Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park
Back to Top
Further down the staircase, the familiar red rows of mesas appear, and it looks like we're near the Colorado River, Glen Canyon and Grand Canyon.
We come over a ridge, and can see Lake Powell. Got here faster than I thought. See the sign to Wahweep, and turn in. Check in was reasonably fast. We're here for two days, our midway point of the trip.
We're in room 102. It's a lake view, but not the best. If you go, get a lake view, but get rooms in the 400-800 range, which faces the main part of the lake instead of the boat harbor and launch. the 100's are also farthest from the lobby, and couldn't get an internet connection. (They only have wireless in their lobby.)
We're also in Arizona time, which means no daylight savings, so we're essentially on Pacific time, two hours removed from Central Time. We go to the Dam, and find we're too late for a tour. Sign up for one the next morning. Good thing we're here two days.
Take some pictures, then go onto bridge to take a few more. Ugh. We're high. I got this irrational fear of heights. Not too bad, though, we're fenced in like animals, and the bridge feels pretty sturdy, until a semi comes by. Just look ahead, don't look down...
Cross the bridge to get dinner in Page. Jo wants pictures of the canyon side of the bridge. I tell her okay, but only if there's parking on the other side of the bridge. There's parking on the other side of the bridge, and I'm forced to keep my word, and am standing 700 feet above the river again. Nice pictures, no backbone.
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (Day 1)
Back to Top
Go into Page, drive the entire main road to the high school, and settle on the Blue Corn Restaurant in the Quality Inn, which is supposed to serve traditional Navajo dishes. I have the Navajo taco, very good. Jo has the Pork Chop special (real Navaho special there, not). She isn't impressed, but I had a bite, and it was moist and pretty good.
Hung around the outside of the restaurant for the Sunset. Okay sunset, but we haven't had a real spectacular one yet.
Back to the resort, to the lobby and find out about the boat tour we're on the next day to Rainbow Bridge, and buy a couple of keychains. Look at the menu for the Rainbow Room. Not impressed. We'll eat there if things go okay tomorrow.
After dark, we go for a walk to look at the stars, Jo buys a smoothie, and I pour myself a bourbon on ice. Nice stars, but still too much light. Its better if you go out into the parking lot, but the lights on the buildings are still too bright.
The room is okay, the shower doesn't have any water flow. Rate the room maybe 3 of 10 and the shower 2 of 10. (The room would be rated 3 of 10 for all the added "taxes and fees" they charge. For just about everything.)
Sunset from Page
Back to Top
End Part 4, Day 8.
Go to previous part
|
Go to next part