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See, good thing we didn't move on. This route would have
been dangerous after nightfall. Wait till you see what's next!
Sun-up in the canyons!
No matter how many pictures I take of the canyons there are
always a few more. After the switchbacks the trail heads southeast bumping along
through the desert. Massive layered benches of sandstone direct our way. It's not
a straight line. Sorry Glenn, no Starbucks here. You'll have to wait. I'm thinking
if we time it right, or wrong, we can hit the restaurant at Bullfrog marina for a
bite. Unfortunately, or fortunately, we have less than half an hour wait for the
11 o'clock ferry. Ferry? In the desert? Well yeah, across Lake Powell. It's a 100
mile drive north and then sharp east if you don't.
The Lake is down. Still way down from its full pool ten
years ago. It took 17 years to fill the thing up, and just a handful to drop it to
one third its capacity. Global warming, water management, mismanagement? I don't
know. It will fill back up. It will dry away. Right now it's down 100 feet and
at half pool.
LAKE POWELL WATER LEVEL DATA
I was so tempted to dive in but I resisted and satisfied myself with
a wade while we waited for the ferry.
These guys act like they are surprised that a bunch of cars
have arrived. The ferry only passes here every other hour. Sorry, we've only had
a banana for breakfast.
I'm just happy to be in this place. I figured it was worth
a picture. From Lake Powell the road heads northeast to Natural Bridges.
We take a quick tour of the loop looking down at the bridges and walking down to
Owachomo. Guess they used to call it Edwin Bridge.
The car looks pretty good in the Comb Wash.
After a stop for a burger and fries at the Patio in Blanding
it's time to get moving towards Durango. Sadly we leave the colorful canyons behind
but set ourselves on new sites, the convention.
Well, it's a room. After three days in the car we really needed a hot
shower.
Our hotel was nothing special. Steve and I stayed here in
2000 and it's not been the same since. I thought the pool would be nice but we never
had the time to jump in. We were excited that they had Hi-Fi service but we never
found it to be working. After asking about it twice we gave up. Fortunately there
was service at The Double Tree, the convention hotel, as well as at the fairgrounds
where the trade show was held. After our showers, we headed down to the convention
to check-in. I should have taken a picture of The Serious Texas Barbecue where we
ate dinner. It was just what we needed.
Tomorrow- TRAINS!
TUE. August 22, a train ride to Silverton
WED. August 23, a Goose ride
THUR. August 24, we're here (in Red Mountain)
FRI. August 25, the show, San Juan Shops, dead time.
SAT. August 26, teardown, Aztec ruins and Chama
SUN. August 27, ride The Cumbres & Toltec
MON. August 28, Creede, Lake City, Crested Butte and Gunnison
TUE. August 29, Northern Nevada RR, Route 50
WED. August 30, N. Cal., DQ and home.
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