Since I’m in Page getting provisions I thought I’d post today’s instalment even though the day isn’t over yet. I was too hard on Page, by the way. It’s a nice enough town, now that I can see it in daylight. The girls in the tourist office were very helpful for a start.
Oh wow! What a shame the circumstances aren’t happier, because I think I’ve found camper’s paradise. How can anything possibly beat this:
Not a bad camping spot, eh? And only $10 per night. As you can see, it’s right on the beach at Lake Powell, near to Lone Rock, just inside Utah. My next-door neighbours (about half a mile further up the beach) are tour guides in, guess where? Sedona, where I was a few days ago. They drive the pink jeeps I saw everywhere. Jessie and Jennifer are very nice, and lent me some long tent pegs in return for a ride to the nearest gas station for ice. It’s just as well they did, because just after I took the above photo a storm came through and all afternoon it has been blowing 30 knots, gusting 40. My tent just goes flat in a sandstorm like that, and if it wasn’t for the two tons of rocks I’ve put inside it, the whole thing would be in Colorado by now. I hope it calms down or I’ll be sleeping in a thin canvas sandwich, and will be dug up from the sand like a mummified pharoah in a thousand years’ time. But man, what a view!!! My own beach. The water hasn’t warmed up enough for swimming yet, but I’ve had a paddle (me and some ducks, in the middle of a sandstorm).
Anyway, must get back with my new possessions from the dollar store and see if my tent is still there. More about Lake Powell tomorrow.
37° 1’43.59″N, 111°33’4.93″W
Today’s sensations: Sand in my eyes, mixing with tears at the beauty of it all.
Just beautiful, Steve! Lisa and I just love your little campsite in the sand.
Lake Powel is where they filmed “Planet of the Apes” way back in 1968. My grandmother was there then, and had lunch with a couple of actors in full ape headgear. She said they had to use mirrors to eat, in order to get past the plastic ape mouths.
I’m glad you got to see our little canyon, too. I say that because I hear that Mars has an even bigger one: the Valles Marineris, said to be more than 4,000 km long, 200 km wide and up to 7 km deep. Wouldn’t that be something to see?!
By the way, have you ever read John Steinbeck’s wonderful book called “Travels with Charley: In Search of America?” Late in his life, Steinbeck took a trip across America in his little camper, with his dog, Charlie, and wrote about his experiences. A warmhearted and delightful read. Here’s more about it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Travels_with_Charley
Well aren’t you a mine of information? 🙂 I didn’t see any apes, just a couple of ducks that adopted me.
As for Mars, you book the tickets and I’ll pack!!!
Nope, never read that, but I love travelogues (travelogs?). I’ll see if I can get hold of it to remind me of this trip.
haha, so- it’s even bigger than the big thing I thought it was. Big, then.
Didn’t they end ‘Contact’ with that darn Jodie Foster sitting on the rim thinking much the same things you were? It must be, er, big. x
Dammit. THAT was the word I was searching for. Big. You nailed it.
What a wonderful place for sun, sea, sand and contemplation .
Hope you had a quiet and peaceful night and there were no more sand storms .
I expect it was freshly hand caught fish on a small open fire this morning for breakfast – no ? ok , it was probably a “dunkin doughnut ” but I did have images of you as Robinson Crusoe for a split second at least !!!!!
I am off into hospital early in the morning and depending whether I have keyhole or “proper ” surgery I am not sure when I will be able to write next – did I hear a sigh of relief ? !!!! 🙂
So stay safe and I look forward to catching up with your travel experiances as soon as I can.
Onwards and upwards !
Your loving sis xxx
Norm – Thanks for the interesting info on “The planet of the apes ” I loved that film as a child and still do now. Although , if Steve hasnt shaved for a few days they may think that they have left one of the actors in their monkey suits still there !!!!
Woo! Is that what day it is already? Sorry, I’ve lost track of time. Well good luck, Sis, if you read this before you go. I’m sure Dad will let me know how it goes. I’ll be thinking of you.
XXX
Is that Tony – Tony ?
If so how are you doing ?
L-O-N-G time no see.
Last time I saw you , you very kindly saved me from a fate worse than death – a “Monster” of a spider in my bath tub – I hasten to add I wasnt in the bath at the time !
If you are not Tony – Tony I appologise as you wont know on earth what I am going on about ! , and if you are Tony – Tony I expect you have forgotten the spider anyway and dont know what on earth I am going on about either ! 🙂
x