Day 35: How we floated down the Colorado River

Colorado River Float Trip

Glen Canyon Dam to Lee's Ferry

We signed up for the Colorado River Float Trip. It was not a white water trip. It was a leisurely float down 15 miles of the Colorado River from the Glen Canyon Dam access to Lee's Ferry. 

It was beautiful.

You should have seen Nana going down the 2 mile tunnel access to get to the bottom of the Glen Canyon Dam, where the boats were located. 

She had her eyes closed.

We took a tour bus from the parking lot of the Colorado River Rafting Co. to the tunnel access rd. It was a steep 6% grade downhill in the dark. Like a roller coaster. Except in slow motion.

Every 500 feet there were side tunnels that entered the canyon walls. 

Pretty amazing. 

When they were constructing this tunnel access, they had 2 groups working on it 24 hours per day. One group at the top, while the other group worked from the bottom and were lowered down with ropes. Instead of hauling all the debris to the top, they built these side tunnels and dumped the dirt and rocks out the side. 

We counted 18.

Here's Nana and Paw. She looks relieved to be out of the tunnel. 

We're settled into our raft. It has a motor, so now oars.

Here's a look down the canyon.

Here's a look back at the Dam.

The happy couple with Adam in the background.

He was pretty happy. He met a friend, from Kentucky, who was out on fall break. They hung out together the whole time.

The sides of the canyon.

Natalie looking happy too.

Our only white rapids. Class .05!

Meaning not much there.

The black sides of the canyon are called desert varnish. It's the oldest part that has been baked in the sun. The newer parts are more tan colored. 

Day 33: and How We Gained Another Hour

Zion National Park, UT to

Lake Powell @ Page, AZ

Total Miles: 110

Total Distance: 4635

Our Route:

We left Springdale, UT heading  back through the Mt. Carmel Tunnel Rd. on hwy 9, which is the scenic drive through the hairpin turns and switchbacks.  This is where Nana closed her eyes and put her head down til we reached  level ground again. 

RV backup traffic. They have to close part of the tunnel whenever an RV goes through the tunnel. It's not wide enough for 2 way traffic. 

Looking into the next tunnel on Mt.Carmel Rd.

Fascinating layers of sandstone and mudstone.

When we got on the other side, we turned south on hwy 89 heading to Kanab. 

Still lots of hills and curves on this hwy.

Dad doing his thing behind the wheel. Both eyes on the road. 

This is what he wanted to look at.

We crossed over the AZ state line and gained one hour. We didn't know that AZ doesn't follow the Daylight Saving Time. So when we went into the Visitor's Center the time was all off for us. Took us a while to figure it out. They are in Pacific Time zone til the rest of the area falls back one hour then they are the same?? But the Navajo Indian Reservation does follow Daylight Saving, so they keep with the rest of us. Clear as Mud?? I'm confused too. 

A view of Lake Powell.

Natalie took this picture from Wahweap Lookout. She's doing a great job!

Our campsite at Wahweap Marina RV park.

Finally, we had hamburgers for supper. They were excellent.

Sunset view.