Arizona, Page - Friday, April 15, 2016 - Leaving Mesa

We were pulling out the back gate of the resort by 8:30 this morning.  It was already sunny and mid 70’s.

We didn’t really get started out of Phoenix until about 10:15.  We had to stop for fuel and a propane fill up.  We enjoyed lots of scenery changes during the drive north.  The familiar Saguaros surrounded us as we left the Phoenix area.

We stopped at the Sunset Point rest area on 17N so we could fix some lunch and take a short break.  This mesquite tree was part of the scenic overlook.  However, what it looked over didn’t come through too well in pictures, the weather is a little hazy.  Or, it may be dust, really strong winds are coming from California into the Phoenix area this evening.

After we left the rest area the Saguaros disappeared and these small shrubs started showing up.

I’ve been amazed at the different kinds of mountains we have seen as we travel.  These are almost white as if they are made of limestone.

All that work Greg did to get the coach shined up may have been in vain.  We ran into a couple of showers today.  That isn’t just rain hitting the windshield, it’s really big sloppy snowflakes.  It’s been a few years since we saw snow – I could have waited a while longer.  We hit this storm as we were going through the mountains at about 7000 feet.  There was no accumulation on the road and Greg said the coach handled well even though the wind was beginning to pick up.

As we got higher in elevation the shrubs turned to pine trees.

Then there was nothing (looks like parts of Kansas).

Then some red “shale looking” outcroppings started showing up.  Maybe during the week we are here I will learn what they are really called.

The next area looked a lot like some of the Painted Desert.

I read a brochure about the layered mountains in this area – more on them later.

Then there were tall red mountains.

These mountains were the last change we saw before we reached our destination.

Snow accumulation!!!!!  We are now in the mid-40s with drizzle and wind.  The warm weather didn’t follow us.

This bridge is over the Glen Canyon Dam.  We plan to visit this again, more detail in a couple of days.

This is a view of Lake Powell going into Wahweap Campground in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.  That Senior Park Pass we bought for a one-time fee of $10 a couple of years ago paid off once again.  We got in free rather than having to pay the $25 entrance fee.

The Utah-Arizona state line runs right through the campground.  Our site is in Arizona but we plan on walking to Utah several times while we are here – sounds pretty ambitious doesn’t it?