After our little desert romp in Bisti, we were under the gun to get to Arizona. Now a couple days behind schedule, we knew we had to move it to get to Vegas so Alia didn't miss her flight. Driving through desert landscapes and bright sun doesn't get old for me. The rocky ups and downs meandering through the New Mexico highways leaves you feeling a sense of nostalgia like you've been here before and everything is good and warm and open.
When you go to Lake Powell, don't be fooled by "Powell Lake Campground". It's a parking lot on the side of the highway that claims to be a campsite. I'm glad in our semi cranky, hungry and tired from driving haze, we still had enough sense to think there was something better. And there was.
If I'm being completely honest, I had no idea how magnificent Lake Powell actually is. I really only had interest in the area because I wanted to go to Antelope Canyon and Page AZ came up as having campgrounds at Lake Powell. It was created by the flooding of the Glen Canyon in order to build the Glen Canyon Dam. Although it's creation was not supported by all, plans went ahead and the dam was created in the canyon, an area that very well could have served as a National park based on it's beautiful rock formations, wildlife, and Navajo archeological sites.
We made our way through Page, crossed the bridge of the dam, and headed into the recreational area. Upon entrance through the gates, we decided almost immediately to cut out the Grand Canyon and camp in this paradise for an extra day instead. Still one of the best choices we made the whole trip. We entered near Glen Canyon National Recreation area and could not believe our eyes.
We weren't alone on the beach. Many people were there enjoying the light show as much as we were. Watching their dark silhouettes dance around in the sunset was calming and beautiful. Thankfully, we hit the spot that had the tiniest, most adorable puppy in all the land. Paired with a child in his diaper, I'm pretty sure I witnessed the real life version of the sunscreen add. Baby boy running away as the puppy drags along behind him trying to tear off the diaper. So cute. And then if that wasn't enough, ANOTHER dog joined the party. Clearly an escape artist, this big guy dragged along his chain, making sure to let all the bushes he could find know "big dog wuz here"
By the time we returned to our campsite, the general store where we can buy firewood has closed. But seeing as this hasn't been my first rodeo, I made new and took some from the campsite next to us but nobody was staying at. They can't fire god rewarded us the next day with a giant stack of perfect firewood own site. Apparently they're cutting dead trees down around the site and I giving you free wood. Perfect. When straightened up the car I washed my hair in the sink because I didn't want to pay $2 for a shower yes, and I couldn't find it, and life was good. We were basically glamping. I don't even think it took the first hour for us to decide that we were staying here for two nights instead of one and cutting out the Grand Canyon. Because really how many Canyons do you actually need?
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