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Ever had childhood wishes or dreams and wonder if they would ever come true???  Well today for me a couple did come true.

We left Page and our 70's motel and drove 5 miles to a natural phenom on the Colorado River called Grand Bend to the locals or more commonly known as 'Horsehoe Bend' located about 7klms from the  Glen Canyon Dame Horseshoe Bend is the name for a horseshoe-shaped meander of the Colorado River. The bend is locally known as "King Bend." It is located five miles (8.7 km) downstream from the Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell within Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, about four miles or 6 km southwest of Page. Accessible via a ½-mile (0.8 km) hike from U.S. Route 89, it can be viewed from the steep cliff above. According to Google terrain maps, the overlook is 4,200 feet above sea level and the Colorado River is at 3,200 feet above sea level making it a breathtaking 1,000 foot drop.

The hike there was not too bad.  The day was hot, hot, hot, about 38 degrees celcius.  Some of the track was like walking on beach sand, such is the desert here. You then walk down a long path to the edge of the canyon.  Now there is no fences at the edge of the canyon and to get the best possible view or photo you have to walk to the very, very edge.  I don't know if I mentioned this but I am terrified of heights.  So I worded the kids up before we got there that they cannot run jump or go any where too close to the edge.  Thankfully they agreed, but nobody told the other tourists like the Japanese, Koreans, Germans etc.  I was on tender hooks.

The best way I found to shoot it was to lie on my stomach and crawl to the edge.  Hang my hands over the edge and shoot.  Bring my hands back in adjust settings and reach out and shoot again.  Courtney took some funny shots of me doing this, eventually I worked up the guts to set a tripod out on the edge and take a few shots.

This is a visually spectacular place and I trust you'll enjoy the photo's below.  We stayed there about 30mins taking photo's and walking back up the track was a lot steeper then the way down and we struggled a bit in the heat but I was real proud of how the kids handled it and have generally been great in wanting to be with me on my photo expeditions.

Parched with thirst we drove back to town to refill our water and rehidrate.  When then headed of to Monument Vally.

The drive to Monument Valley took 2.5 hours but boy was it worth it.  This is a much revered place by photographers who if they are like me can see the almost spiritual side of this place like the Navajo people who own it.

Monument Valley (NavajoTsé Biiʼ Ndzisgaii, meaning valley of the rocks) is a region of the Colorado Plateau characterized by a cluster of vast sandstone buttes, the largest reaching 1,000 ft (300 m) above the valley floor. It is located on the Arizona-Utah state line near the Four Corners area. The valley lies within the range of the Navajo Nation Reservation, and is accessible from U.S. Highway 163

As I was driving there we could see all this rain and rain clouds in the distance.  I turned and said to Jodie..."Just my luck, fly 15,000 klms and drive 3 days to get there and the sky will be all blown out with clouds and rain!"  Well thankfully if it was raining it had stopped and what would normally be just a blue sky and red sandstone scene, was entreated with some amazing large spectacular bright white almost cotton wool like clouds.  Very rare for this time of year.   I was truly blessed as you will see in the shots below. 

You drive up from the highway till you reach an escarpment, they have built a magnificent hotel, gift shop and eating area. on the edge looking out over all the valley. It is from here that you will see most photo's taken.  But for $15 you can actually drive down into the valley on a rough sandy rocky road.  The max you can drive is 10miles an hour.  It takes 2-3 hours to circle the valley.  We drove as far as the 'mittons' buttes took photos and left.  We were going to ride on horseback but time beat us.

We then started the 3 hours drive to Arches National Park.  This is the park that has the Delicate Arch.  The quintessential symbol of Utah.  Like the Opera House for Sydney or the Eiffel Tower for Paris etc.  Except this is all natural.  Most of the license plates on the vehicles in Utah carry the picture of "Delicate Arch"

Because of the long drive we got to the park late.  6:30pm.  We asked two important questions.  1. Do you have a souvenir penny machine.  (thomas got another at Monument Vally) 2.  What time is the best time to photography 'Delicate Arch'?  He said no to the first question and sunset for the 2nd.  As it was late we decided to drive straight to the arch.

Delicate Arch is located at the end of a moderately strenuous, 1.5 mi (2.4 km) hiking trail from the parking area at Wolfe Ranch. Taking thirty to forty-five minutes each way, the round trip is slightly more than 3 mi (4.8 km) long and the Arch is completely hidden from view on most of this trail.

The first third of the hike is through rugged, brushy terrain and gains slightly in elevation. The middle third of the hike is along the face of an exposed slickrock outcrop and is strenuous due to the gain in elevation, but offers better views of the geology in the salt valley. Cairns (piles of rocks) have been placed by visitors and park staff to roughly suggest the otherwise unmarked trail to the top, yet visitors tend to wander all over the huge expanse of completely exposed sandstone.

The latter third of the trail is the most rugged, nearing the top of the plateau. The Arch is not yet visible, and the trail runs around outcrops, through washes and between stands of twisted brush and trees. The trail may be easier to follow, but meanders as parts become muddy and difficult to walk through. During the 2004 fall season, the trail clearly followed the left (northern) side of the plateau, and brought visitors along a narrow shelf nearly 150 ft (46 m) above a dry wash.

The arch comes into view suddenly around a corner in the trail and frames the La Sal Mountains to the southeast. The immediate area around the Arch offers views of the southern expanse of the park, and has unguarded cliffs plunging one hundred feet or more.


Concerned I'd miss the light, I took off ahead of Jodie & the kids.  Walking, near a slight jog as ,y gammy hammy would let me.  I covered the first half mile easy.  But then the steep uphill part began, and with no water began to o it really tough.  Passing people who where walking back down I would ask breathlessly, " hi buddy, how much longer??"  Funny enough they all kept saying, "Oh about 25mins...."  It did not matter how much further I climbed the response was always the same.  I found myself envious of those I passed, returning to the cool valley below and the air conditioned comfort of their cars.  They had scaled, they had seen, they had photographed and I still had 25 mins to go!!!!!!!

Finally with the lactic acid burning in my thighs, my lungs struggle for air and my heart rate noticeably throbbing in the veins in my neck, I slowed to a mere stroll to allow Joey and the kids catch up to give me much needed water.

All of them were red faced and sweating with dry parched lips, but all still determined to join Dad on his quest.  Eventually only ten minutes later we summited walking along a thin ledge hundreds of feet above the canyon floor below rounding a samll corner to see the arch revealed before us.  Still basking in late afternoon sun and looking rich in colour and texture.   I was elated!!!!!   We all were. 

There were well over 100 people up there as this is the most popular time to see and shoot the arch.  We walked right out underneath this natural wonder and had a family photo.  The arch is well over 20 metres tall so we look like specks underneath it.  So I took other photos of the family in front just to prove we did it.

This was a unique definite binding moment for my little family as we descended feeling tired yet satisfied with what we accomplished.  A real feeling of unity and accomplishment.  We slowly made our way down and it was just on dark when we got back to the car.  We drove for an hour to Green River getting in closed to 11:30pm.  I then drove to the only restaurant in town to buy dinner before the six of us crashed in the 2 double beds in the room.

What a great rewarding and memorable day.  It will stay with me forever.


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Family @ the foot of the Delicate Arch
Lis Conlon
15/7/2012 06:03:17 pm

Far out Jimbo!!! Those photos are absolutely stunning. Well worth all the lactic acid and the gammy hammy workout :o)

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