Fantastic stuff! Can't wait to read the rest -- it's making me want to go back!
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Fantastic stuff! Can't wait to read the rest -- it's making me want to go back!
thanks guys,it's the first chance i've had since returning and it's bringing back good memories as i do it,more to follow.
I know what you mean about typing up a report bringing back memories of the trip. It's great fun, isn't it? I've been writing up a recent trip to Florida on here and it's been making me smile as I remember back.
Here goes!
Day 10 23rd Oct.
On arrival at Hanksville last night we had enjoyed a nice meal in the Red rock restaurant, along with lots of entertainment from a guy called A.J.[I think]. He was born here and just kept coming up with story's and jokes, he was a real character. Being out of season for them and the fact we arrived quite late, we were the only people in there. We couldn't help but see the funny side when there was a big crash of pots and pans in the kitchen and a girl yelled out in a real broad accent "TAYLOOOOORRR YOUR SUCH A FRICKEN' TURKEY" followed by "You mind your mouth we have customers" followed by "Sorry moma". What a script, we were in stitches, it's funny how you remember these little things, but I guess you had to be there to really get it.
Anyway, another good nights sleep, a fine breakfast and it's time to hit the road again, that is after filling up (in the aptly named) "Hollow mountain"gas station, the shop was actually dug out of the mountain!
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We headed down UT95 towards Blanding, a great road with amazing scenery!
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We then turned off onto Highway 261, a road that has been debated many times for the hairpins and steep descent of the Moki dugway. It's a paved road to start with that displays warning signs of what lies 23 miles ahead, it then turns into a twisty, gravel mountain road.
Meet the Moki !
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After taking a peek the decision is made, time to face the challenge.
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Some great views, but for some reason the girls had there eyes shut most of the way down!! To be honest it wasn't that bad, it just needs taking in the lowest gear at a steady pace and all will be fine. It's actually hard to believe the road goes up there from this view at the bottom
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Our reward for coming this way was a side trip to Gooseneck State park, a quiet small park over looking the San Juan river where it has carved it's way around the rock, I believe it travels back and forth 7 miles in 1 mile of width.
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You can see part of Monument valley in the background, our next stop. As we headed of for MV the sun was against us for the famous shot of the road approaching the valley. We paid the entrance fee required to drive down the valley road and admired the views made famous by John Ford's westerns that were filmed there. [He even has a rock named after him]
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From here we were heading towards Cameron, an Indian trading post and our stop for the night. It was a basic RV park and you needed to cross the main road to get to the shop and restaurant, but both were great. The shop is huge and you can buy anything from groceries to jewellery to saddles and Indian head dresses, plus much much more, it certainly kept the ladies happy for a couple of hours. The food was fantastic and embarrassingly cheap. The service wasn't the friendliest, but not to bad.
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Again, the reason for stopping here is we knew we would arrive late in the day and it was only a short drive to the Desert view drive entrance to the Grand canyon, and we didn't want to miss any of the views after daylight hours. So a good nights kip and next we're of to the GC, the main reason were here.
Gommy,
Loved the photos of Gooseneck and Mogi Dugway. I was just there myself about two weeks ago. Mogi in icy an snowy conditions makes that washboard a little more exciting.
Keep the photos coming! This is a great field report.
Mark
Gosh, you found places I never knew about. Mogi Dugway? This is a fantastic travelog! Your photos take my breath away. Of course, as lovely as they are, they just aren't like being there, are they?
I can't wait for the next installment!
The Moki Dugway isn't for the faint hearted, that's for sure!
Judy, you're quite, right photos are nothing like being there and never more true than our next port of call.
Day 11-October 24th the Grand canyon
I woke a little weary this morning, we have had a couple of long days that included quite a bit of time behind the wheel, so I sent the others over for breakfast at the trading post to give myself a bit more time to wake properly.
After a shower I made a cup of tea and sat down with my journal I had been keeping to make some notes [a good idea on a trip like this] and after jotting down yesterdays adventures and recording the mileage [1,380 miles to date] I started to turn back the pages. As things had moved along quickly and we had seen so much in such a short period of time, and the fact everyday was the start of a new adventure, it was the first time I had sat down and reflected on what we had done so far, boy did it feel good! Memories of Yosemite and that fantastic view from Glacier Point came flooding back, Zion, Bryce and all the adventures in between. With a massive grin on my face I was well and truly awake and ready for the canyon, so time to round up the troops and of we go!
A short trip from Cameron and we was heading for Desert view drive, and after a stop at one of many Indian trading places dotted along the side of the road and purchasing some of there hand made jewellery, we arrived at the Watchtower and had our first glimpses of the canyon.
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A fantastic wide view of the canyon and the Colorado greeted us. I found myself starting to compare it with other views we had seen, but I stopped myself as we only had one foot in the door so to speak. We had a good look around and took our time trying to take in how vast it was [impossible task] before going up in the Watchtower, unfortunately the roof terrace was closed but you got good views from the windows. We then had a look around the shop before heading of towards the GC village, stopping at all the viewpoints along the way.
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Along the way I decided a detour was in order. We had looked at some combined helicopter tours prior to coming here, one of them being a Heli/jeep tour, but decided that the jeep tour would take to much of our limited time here and decided just to book the helicopter flight.[more on that later].
However I done a bit of research and found the route the jeeps take, so I decided that after the Moki, a little trip in the woods wouldn't be so bad in the RV! We ventured in and found this 'parking spot', as the road was narrowing and I didn't want to have to get in a situation where I would have to reverse out, it was ideal.
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The reason for this little diversion was an old fire watchtower that was built by the civilian corps in the mid 1930's, prior to this they used horseman to ride out to find the source of the fire, then they moved on to building platforms in the trees, and finally this tower, held together together with nuts and bolts.
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The view from the top
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We get back on the main road, stopping along the way at viewpoints and eventually arrive at Mather point for sunset. What a fantastic experience, as the sun plays with the shadows in the canyon it is forever changing it's form, brilliant! Everyone should witness this at least once, the atmosphere is electric as people stand silently in awe of this occasion, like it's your first or last ever sunset.
It gives me goose bumps thinking about it.
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It's then of to Mather campground for the night where we settle in and once again have a nice 'home cooked' meal around the camp fire with a couple of beers.
Day 12-25th October
1 wake up just after 6am with the memory of last nights sunset fresh in my mind. I peak out the curtain to see day is breaking, everyone else is asleep and I cannot resist the temptation to throw some clothes on and head straight to Yavapai point at a quick pace so I don't miss the chance to witness a sunrise. Once again the shadows play with the canyon and starts to light it up for the day ahead.
.
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I stay longer than intended, mesmerised by the canyon, and then suddenly I think "Oops they'll be wondering where I've got to. I head back to the campground where they're finishing getting ready and it's off by shuttle bus to explore the views all the way up to Hermits rest and take another million pics. We have a drink and snack at Hermits rest and start heading back to the village to get picked up for our appointment with a helicopter.
As we got to the Grand canyon airport and seeing the helicopters coming in and out the excitement was growing. Bearing in mind that prior to leaving England my wife had never flown before, she was even more excited to discover she was sitting up front with the pilot.
Well what can I say? After take off it takes a while flying above the tree tops before you get to the canyon itself, and then WOW! The ground beneath you opens up before your eyes, it's the most incredible feeling ever. It gives you a whole new perspective of the canyon and a much better feel of how large and 'Grand' it actually is. You get much better views of the Colorado, what looked like a tiny stream from the view points yesterday was a large flowing river with good views of the rapids, it's hard to believe that it's responsible for carving out the canyon in the first place. We had also spotted helicopters yesterday from the view points, we commented on how they looked like wasps compared to the scale of the canyon, and here we were!
A couple of pics from the helicopter.
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It's back to the RV with a big grin on each of our faces, it's time for a feed and some rest for tomorrow we head to ........... 'VIVA LAS VEGAS'!!
I want to go back to the Grand Canyon. NOW! Awesome. The text is fascinating but the photos add so much. Thanks so much ;)
Thats exactly what I was thinking whilst writing the report, I could go tomorrowQuote:
Originally Posted by UKCraig
I've been sitting here daydreaming about it, lol.
It's my pleasure. pm'd you by the way.
Great report and pictures - brings back great memories for me of my trip in that area back in August. I also went through the booming metropolis of Hanksville and stopped for gas at the Hollow Mountain station. Zion was one of my favorite places and if you make it back you should try a hike of the "the narrows" that takes you about 12 miles through....I can't remember the name of the river, maybe Virgin river? When you left Zion did you go through the long tunnel leaving the east side of the park? If so, just curious how it was with the RV as I felt it was a tight fit with my van.