Red Dirt and Heather Clouds

April 29 - 30, 2016
Page, Arizona

Driving north beside the Echo Cliffs on AZ 89 is a beautiful drive. Climbing the cliff face just north of Bitter Springs, the panoramic views to the west are breathtaking. Northbound lanes hug the side, allowing me to take peeks of the vista while not hyperventilating or peeing my pants. We will return to see the Vermillion Cliffs while we're here.

Page, AZ, is a pretty little town along the southwest corner of Lake Powell. Our new home, Page Lake Powell RV Park, is on the out skirts, tucked into red slick rock mounds.

View from our front window when we arrive

Sites are a decent size, gravel, and a few medium trees. FHUs with 50 amp and cable, with a nice picnic table. No fire rings. There are a some long-term residents but most are very neat. Small store at the office, laundry and bath house, an arcade, and short nature trail along the slick rock. 

We're expecting rain for the weekend so we drive over the river to a small dirt road above Glen Canyon Dam while we still have a little sunshine.

Yucca are starting to bloom

Muffin top

Mini arch

Here it comes!

It rains very little over night and the skies are dark and gray Saturday morning. Time to restock the larder and return a package to Amazon. Very nice Safeway in town - and the only grocery store.

We don't have enough time to see everything here even without the rainy weather, so we head out around 11:00 to check out this small piece of the very large Lake Powell.

It is a more subtle landscape under heather-colored skies, but still stunning.

Tower Butte

Wahweap Marina

Glen Canyon Dam

and magical monuments in the distance

My last, and only, visit to Lake Powell (the north side) it was storming as well. Mid June, it rained, the wind blew the whole three days - and we were out on the lake on Seadoos. It was miserable, so I'm happy we have no plans to be on the water this time - and that there is little rain or wind from the solid clouds overhead.

Rivers End Cafe serves a delicious light lunch inside the Colorado River Discovery outfitters store. Across the street Tessa does zoomies on the lawn of the large city park. No pics, she's moving too fast :-)

While it isn't raining or too windy, it is still chilly. Too chilly to be riding in one of the dozens of open-sided tour trucks we see all over the area. They are filled with tourists in parkas, hats and scarves. Nope.

If the weather clears we want to see Antelope Canyon, in the meantime we head out to Antelope Point. 

There is red dirt as far as we can see - which is a very long way. I love it. The whole area speaks to me in ancient voices. I'm immediately sorry I didn't give us more time here. There will definitely be a next visit!

Fluffy feet on the slick rock

Antelope Point

Smishy, swirly shoreline

Rock hound heaven

Frothy rock

More layers

Nice having the place to ourselves

When we get home it smells wonderful! Apple cinnamon pork tenderloin in the crock pot has been cooking all day. Together with wild rice and gingered carrots, it's a tasty ending to a lovely day.

There's still rain in the forecast for tomorrow so we'll see what we get up to :-)))