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| The walk into the Toadstools was like a moonscape. |
Yes, we
have shifted town but are back in a Walmart tonight, but more of that later.
We had a
slow start this morning, somehow with what is going on there seems no rush to
do anything! We wandered down to the small town of Kanab
and had a look around the shops before heading east along Route 89 with our
destination of Page on Lake
Powell. The magnificent
scenery continues as we followed the Vermillion Hills, it is just huge
landscape on a scale that is indescribable. We were travelling through National
Monument country and were very surprised when we came to a pull off where we
could hike a 1.5 mile round trip to view what they called the “Toadstools”. It
was so good to be able to actually walk into amongst this amazing scenery, the
colours are so vibrant with so many contrasts. But all along the way we talked
with people and heard so many stories about their issues with the closures.
Spoke to a group from the East Coast who had taken holidays to fly out and see
the canyons. Everyone it trying to find things to do and make “Lemonade” out of
the situation.
But when we
arrived at Lake Powell and found that all the roads to
the lake and marina had been closed, it really hit home. We had no idea that it
would be closed and were looking forward to staying at an RV park on the Marina and enjoying the
lake and maybe doing a boat trip. Ian was really keen to look around the marina
and all the boats….he was really frustrated.
We were
able to view the dam and a few surrounding areas, although many viewing areas
were blocked off. The roads are really quiet, you see buses with tours trying
to find things to entertain their guests and people just seem to be meandering
around. Spoke with some girls from London, they
had booked a hotel at the Marina
for a few nights only to find they could not stay there and were unlikely to
get their money back. They had managed to secure a room in an hotel in town.
Also heard about a chap who for the last 20 years had been applying to raft the
Colorado River, evidently there is a draw like
a lottery and only 1% who apply get lucky. Finally this year he had got the
right to float the Colorado
for a 20 day trip. He had got 3 weeks food organised and 20 of his friends from
all over the US had flown in to join him….only to find on the day of departure
that the river was closed and they couldn’t go. Everywhere we go we hear stories
like this. We feel that we are fortunate in that hopefully when things get
reopened we will return.
There was
only one other campground in town and that was full, so we have ended up in
Walmart, along with about 20 others. Our “neighbours” are from Switzerland,
travelling with their teenage sons on a once in a lifetime trip to the parks of
the South West. They are so disappointed and frustrated, we enjoyed a drink
together and sharing of stories.
Tomorrow is
another day and we will head further south in Arizona.
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| The only view we got of Lake Powell in the distance. |
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| Impressed with the style of these RV'ers...saw by the number plates they were from Quebec. |
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| We had a good view of the back of the dam. |
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| The Colorado on its way to the Grand Canyon. This view was pretty spectacular. |
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