Wednesday, September 25, 2024

Onward and upward

Loaded up on groceries. Got an oil change and full tank of gas. I was ready to go. This would be a familiar drive. Up US-89 out of Flagstaff, past the San Francisco Peaks and volcanic remnants, through grasslands into the Navajo Nation, increasingly harsh landscape, red rock country, splitting onto US-89A, then a turn south at Navajo bridge over the Colorado River, cruising along the edge of Vermillion Cliffs, then climbing back up onto the northern part of the Kaibab Plateau to a boondocking spot among the pines.

Navajo Bridge is actually two bridges: one for vehicles and one for pedestrians. The bridges were built back in a time when they believed public works could do more than the absolute minimum.

A short hoodoo at the base of Vermillion Cliffs

Happy Rock is happy you’re happy






This will be home for a few days

From here it’s an hour drive through forest and pasture to the North Rim of Grand Canyon. But first I’ll spend a day or two just hanging at camp, doing nothing much, enjoying milder temperatures, shade, and the luxury of not needing to do anything. I think I’ll make some brunch now.

6 comments:

  1. Amazingly clear water!! After years of hanging around Klitz and her affiliation with Western Watersheds Project and Advocates for the West,

    https://advocateswest.org/the-advocates/

    I see the aquatic moss as a result of nitrogen runoff. It sucks the oxygen out of the water making it uninhabitable for fish.

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    1. That's about 20 miles downstream from Lake Powell.

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  2. One of the most beautiful parts of the country. Thanks for sharing!

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  3. So! You have yet to replace that hubcap, eh?

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    Replies
    1. I ordered one on eBay but then it got cancelled by the seller because he was out of stock.

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  4. What a great camping spot. I enjoy reading about your travels over the years. I found your blog someway that I don't remember, right after you bought the van.

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