August 22-23, 2017
After watching part of the partial solar eclipse and enjoying multiple gorgeous sunrises, sets and rainbows I headed off the Kaibab Plateau to Page for a grocery run before staying overnight at Lee’s Ferry to break up the drive home, and sit with the Colorado River a bit as I love to do.
Said goodbye to some crazy monsoon skies at Marble View wondering if I’d head into rain watching the clouds in my intended direction.
Stopped at an overlook along SR67 on the Kaibab and could still see cloudy weather.
Then another look from an overlook along SR89A.
Thought about stopping to grab a campsite at Lee’s Ferry on the way to Page but decided I could camp on House Rock Valley if the campground was full.
Seemed to have left the heavy clouds behind climbing up to Page on SR89 yet could still see them hanging over the Kaibab Plateau.
Took care of shopping business as quick as possible then reversed the drive back down and headed to Lee’s Ferry.
No need to have worried about a full campground as it was half empty and I think there was a group filling the top end. It was only 95°F that day and the night down to high 60s so didn’t feel terribly hot. I snagged my favorite campsite then headed down to the river. Boats were being put in late in the afternoon. Always fun to watch the activity and dream of going along.
Then I moved down stream to hang out in a quieter place along the river and listen to her song.
Startled a blue heron fishing along the shore and flushed out what I believe is a Killdeer, or plover of some kind, feel free to chime in here.
The Paria River was flashing muddy waters into the blue-green Colorado.
The shadows grew long and I headed back to camp for dinner.
Sun set behind the Vermilion Cliffs casting last light on the opposite canyon walls. Plus a little color lit up the clouds.
Woke up to a colorful sunrise above the cliffs and river. And in reverse from the sunset a rosy glow showed up on the opposite canyon walls.
The still invisible sun allowed rays to find their way and reach to the sky.
As the morning lightened the sun finally found its way over the cliffs to brighten the day. Notice I’m seeing more sunrises as I’m motivated by the amazing light and shadows of the golden hour. I could watch the colors of the rocks change throughout the day.
Yet getting up early actually got me on the road by 7:30, as I did have groceries to put away at home.
But first, a stop along the way at Navajo Bridge to look for Condors and didn’t see any.
The old looking visitor center was actually opened in 1997 after the completion of the new and wider bridge. It has a small parking lot that is not big rig friendly but there is parking along SR89A in Marble Canyon only a short walk away.
Then back across the Marble platform and up onto the Kaibab Plateau with another stop to look back where I just came from.
And finally continued up in elevation from desert through juniper/pinyon into ponderosa forest, across meadows, and home.
At Grand Canyon I wasn’t in the path of totality for the August 21st solar eclipse so I settled with camping on the Kaibab National Forest at Marble View for a 73.4% partial solar eclipse, and no crowd.
