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Okay, we have had requests for more updates and more photos so here is the next chapter. Like Australia the distances here are pretty large so it does take time to get around especially in a Motorhome. As we move to the next location it can take half the day to get there.
After Monument Valley we headed westwards to Page. In the arvo we headed to Horseshoe Bend, we hiked to the river, it is pretty impressive the way the river bends and it is a long way down. I had to wait an hour till after sunset to get the shot, my new 14-24 lens came in handy here. To get the shot you have to be right on the edge and I must say the heart was beating a bit faster while I inched up to the edge. Fortunately Corinne had walked back to the RV by then to start on dinner so she didn’t see me get the shot.
The next day was the highlight of the Page area - Antelope Canyon. We explored the lower canyon first after paying our Tribal fee to the local Navajo. You basically enter by disappearing into a fissure
in the ground and it is a bit tight in places, especially for me wearing a camera backpack and carrying a tripod. We went through to the end and then came back In some sections you climb ladders or steps to continue but most of it is flat and often quite narrow and twisty. Most of the time you can’t see the sky and only parts of the walls are lit by the sun. The overall effect of the curves and texture of the sandstone sculpted by the wind is awesome and Corinne has said it is the highlight of the trip for her so far. It is also quite cool down there. After about 3 hours we climbed back up to the surface and into the heat and we crossed the road and jumped on a tour to Upper Antelope Canyon. The Upper canyon is the best known and considered the most impressive. You can’t self guide this one so you pay the Navajo and they cart you to the canyon in the back of a ute over a few sandy miles of country to the mouth of the canyon. Our guide was an old Navajo by the name
of Henry. “Pure blood, NO Mexican NO nothing” he was careful to point out.
Upper Antelope Canyon is certainly higher and much wider making it very impressive but we both preferred the lower canyon. The problem with the Upper canyon for me is the amount of people going through it. You can’t take a photo without having a dozen people in the shot. Instead of standing back to admire the view they stand in the middle of the shot and talk and frig around with their little cameras that take 2 minutes to focus, bit frustrating but from what I read I expected it and therefore my photography expectations were low. Fortunately the lower canyon was more enjoyable than expected so overall I can’t complain.
The next day we moved onto the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. The North Rim is on average 8000 feet and Imperial Point is 8803 feet. Great views but again smoke from fires and pollution from LA and Mexico cut visibility. Well worth seeing however.
We stayed in the campground and it was very pleasant amongst the trees.
I managed to see a Californian Condor a rare scavenger with a
9 foot wingspan. They are sighted at the Canyon at times. On the drive out of the park we spotted some ice that was yet to melt and did a quick photoshoot with Corinne on Ice.
Before midday we headed north and have stopped for the night at Kanab over the border in Utah on our way to Bryce Canyon tomorrow.
Corinne just got back from a walk here in Kanab. A guy went past her in a ute and wolf whistled. He then did a U turn and pulled up beside her.
“Hey are you a tourist”
“How did you know” she replied
“Are you looking for a good time”
“I am having a good time” she said.
Tomorrow morning we head to Bryce Canyon for two days and then a day in Zion Canyon, I imagine we will be offline during that period.
Cheers
Brett and Corinne
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Ali
Ali Watters
Great shots!
The first one in particular - love the texture on the sand.