Pulling out of the RV park we have a whole lot of sunshine. That is a good sign. Checking the weather in Page it going to be in the 70’s and 80’s for our time there.

The land had flattened out, then we made a right turn following the GPS and we were into some serious climbing through a cut in the mountain. The drive to Page wasn’t a long trip so when we got camp set up we were off to find lunch.

We passed Big Johns then turned around. It just looked too good. Kelly was our waitress. She was great and the BBQ was quite tasty. Big Johns is located in an old gas station. Their smokers are out in the front lot. From the size of them they are quite serious about their meats. By the way their potato salad is really good.

Today finds us in the back of a truck headed down a huge dusty wash to the Antelope Canyon. Is gonna be so cool!

The Antelope Canyon I have seen photos over the years. I didn’t know where it was. About 3 weeks ago CBSMorning had a parting shot of it and gave the location.  Wow, we were so close I told Jim, we have to go see this. Checking into it I found out because it is on Navajo Land a guide is necessary to go and visit the canyon. I made reservations and we were set to go. Eric was our guide on this trip. He was great!  The photos above were taken with my iPhone. This is what it really looks like.

Every few feet walking through the canyon there was another cut in the sandstone that made you wonder how the wind and water could create this beautiful canyon. Above is the end of the canyon. The best part is we have to walk back through to get back to the beginning.

Today we drove around and explored Powell Lake. It was created when the Glen Canyon Dam was built. They blasted into the bedrock for the first time in 1956. President Eisenhower pushed the key at his desk in the Oval Office to set off the blast October 1,1956. In 1966 Lady Bird Johnson dedicated the Dam. It tool 17 years for the lake to fill. Each bucket of concrete held 24 tons and it took over 400,000 buckets to build the Dam. Lake Powell is 186 miles long. We did find a beach area, however it was quite a hike to get down to it.

We were so intrigued with the Upper Antelope Canyon we decided seeing the Lower. That would complete our adventure into slot canyons. This time we walked over to the area. We climbed metal ladders down into the canyon. This one was much more narrow. The crack in the ground is the top of the slot canyon.

Again around each turn is something more amazing. This canyon was as magical as the upper canyon was. It is difficult to choose the best photos to share. Did my best hope you enjoy them as well.

The guide took this panorama of us. The photo on the right shows crack in the stone that an earthquake created.

There are several boat trips to see Lake Powell. We chose one that would take a 3 hour trip. We decided that would be enough time on a boat. It proved to be an excellent  choice. In and out of canyons and right up close to the dam. It is equally impressive from the water.  We asked the fisherman to show us their catch. They had some really big fish.

We went into one canyon the walls of the canyon were called Navajo Tapestries. They were beautiful.

Floating down the river we finally come back to a formation called Castle Rock.

Captain Paula got us safely back to shore. Walking back to shore these fish were looking for a hand out.

Off to Zion National Park, we  wanted to check it out.  We could not get reservations there. The landscape changes dramatically. On the way into the park we stopped at the Thunderbird Resturant. In a condensed  story  Jack Morrison married Fern in 1907 they settled down after quite a journey. When the tunnel in Zion was completed in 1930 Jack figured out where the road would travel out On the east side.He tied a cedar tree to his Model-T Ford and made it down the hill. Using his Homstead rights he bought land there. They worked to make it livable. Fern sold pies to the truck drivers to earn money. They eventually built the Thunderbird Resturant. Jack made a sign to advertise the pies. His board was too small for all the words. So it was made with the spelling it said. HOME OF THE HO-MADE PIES. Fern and Jack’s history is amazing. It makes for a good read.

It’s official we were in Zion National Park. One thing we realized quickly, is riding here would be a challenge. A lot of climbing and descending and not to mention the amount of traffic here.

The tunnel is over a mile long and gets  pretty dark. There are large cut outs to let light in? What made us smile and feel good was the sign about bicyclist in the tunnel.By golly there is that light at the end of the tunnel!

After tunnel we started the descent it was steep and really a lot of switch backs. In the photo you can see the road way down and that still wasn’t the bottom. We stopped for a look around small paths go off through the woods. The pups enjoyed sniffing around. The small middle photo actually has a big horn on the ledge. He pretty much looks like a rock.

As we left Zion each turn brought many more outstanding cliffs. Driving on the landscape became long vistas with huge Mesas off in the distance. Today was a great day for a road trip.

The next day we didn’t have much of a plan but a lunch at a very colorful and really great Mexican food place we started talking about the dam and decided we really wanted to go back to the visitors center and check out the dam.

Heading home we we decided we would spend a few days in Palo Duro Canyon. I had never been there and wanted to see it. First we will get to Albuquerque New Mexico. We seem to travel the Navajo Reservation forever. No wonder the Navajo land is 27,413 square miles. It in compasses the 4 corners of Utah, Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico. Whew, the way the highway travels it is long stretches with mesas in the distance.

We made it to New Mexico and will stay in Albuquerque for the night. Tomorrow on to Palo Duro Canyon

Ah, we can breath deep now, we are back home in Texas.  On our way to Palo Duro canyon,  we head toward Amarillo. There is a famous place called  Cadillac Ranch. In 1974 Chip Lord,Hudson Marquez, and Doug Michels were part of an art group called Ant Farm. They buried Cadillacs.  It represented the evolution of the car, especially the “tail fins”.Now days people stop to take photos paint their names  in the cars.

Palo Duro Canyon is like a small Grand Canyon. It is 120 miles long and at it’s widest point 20 miles wide. Also it a a max depth of 800 feet. It’s claim to fame, it is the second largest canyon in the U.S. The biggest is the Grand Canyon-277 miles long,18 miles wide, 6,00 feet deep. I like the name of the river that eroded the canyon. It’s name is the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River. There is a lot of mesquite and juniper trees, hence the name Palo Duro which means hard wood.

This morning we got the bikes out. It was 65 degrees and sunny, what a great day. We went into town for a quick errand. By the time  we got back it was 46 degrees and cloudy and really windy. Checking the weather, we realized it was only going to get worse. Well, if it’s going to be that way we just decided to head back to Richardson. The weather there was a definite improvement. It will be home for a while till our next adventure starts in May. In our travels trains always are out there on the landscape when we get home Jim checks the mileage. We left on November 28 and arrive back home on April 13. We traveled 11,582.6 miles. Wow, what fun is that!

Home in front of the trailer one of our more colorful customers, Jaun stops by to say Hi! Fun to be home.