September 5th & 6th

I continue eastward from Colorado City via Fredonia, Arizona and Kanab, Utah and finally make my way to Lake Powell near the town of Page, Arizona.

I met some people at Zion who told me about a campground in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area called Lone Rock and where you can drive practically down to the beach. Just be careful of the deep sand on the roads, they say; it may be difficult to get back up to the parking area. So I park up top to have lunch and then I walk down to have a swim. I tell myself that it would be a good place to camp for the night, but I want to see about a motel in Page first. Page, I find, is busy and very expensive. Even a shabby motel costs more than a 100$ per night. And internet connections aren’t necessarily ensured. Since my main concern is to have a good internet connection, I decide to camp instead.

And thus I go back to Lone Rock. It is aptly named for this lone rock sticking up in the middle of an arm off of the main part of the lake:

To the left we see…

…and across the lake:

 

So this is my new swimming hole:

I’ll take full advantage of it while I’m here.

 

I’ve parked at some distance from the main campground:

 

My campsite, in the waning light of the afternoon:

Making dinner:

 

 

 

As the light changes in the late afternoon…

…Lone Rock…

the trail down to the beach.

 

Lone Rock at dusk…

… and with the sunset the campground settles down…

…which means no more motor boats or water skiers, no more OHVs…silence descends upon us.

 

And the show in the western sky begins:

 

Finally, the moon rises over the lake:

It isn’t yet the full moon, though you wouldn’t think so from the picture.  Notice the reflection of the moon in the water at the bottom left of the picture.  Here I have to admit that a better photographer than I am would no doubt have noticed it and caught it on camera.  Some of you readers out there have complimented me on my photography. I’m flattered, but I realize that I have a long way to go before my photos are  really good.  I’m taking all my pictures on a small but very good Canon A3100 IS that Maureen and Norris gave me for Christmas three years ago and for which I am very grateful.

You can see some excellent pictures of Lake Powell here.

And while I’m giving out links:

– you can learn more about the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area at the National Park Service site here.

– more about the Glen Canyon Dam here.

– more about Lake Powell here.

 

Moving right along… of course the clouds bring rain during the night. Not a lot, but the thirsty earth got a welcome drink.

I spend the evening sipping my wine and watching the sky. The next morning, I’m up at dawn. Coffee ready, I take a few pictures of the sunrise…

…every few minutes:

 

Lone Rock in the first light of dawn:

 

The cliffs to the west; my neighbor walks her dog:

 

To the north of my swimming hole:

 

The night’s rain appears to have brought out a few wildflowers. Or perhaps these just close up later in the day:

In any case the low-lying vegetation seems to have appreciated the rain:

 

I pack up to leave and then have one last swim and also take a picture of the beach in the morning light:

 

Now, will Van make it up the hill to the park entrance on these sandy beach roads? I cross my fingers and he makes it, hands down. Good old Van.

As I drive away from the park I stop to take pictures of two rock formations, unimpressive compared to what we’ve already seen…

…but they serve to remind us that we haven’t yet finished with red rock.