Rafting the Colorado River (Glen Canyon Dam to Lee's Ferry)
1 After taking a two mile long tunnel down to the base of the dam, we wear hard hats as we walk under the bridge high above us.
2 Anni photographs us as we are about to the rafts where we ditch our hard hats. That's Glor, followed by Ken, followed by someone (?), followed by Don.
3 There's the bridge high above us, with the dam visitor center to the left, just beyond the bridge.
4 Ok, we're now loaded on our raft (along with a few other people) and beginning our 15 mile trip down to Lee's Ferry. We will have lunch on the raft.
5 The canyon walll. The dark hole in the center of the picture is a window into the tunnel we used to get to the river.
6 We pass another raft just like ours, on the river.
7 Gloria captures this photo of the dam and bridge and our place of departure. That's the power house at the base of the dam. It houses the water turbines which turn generators that produce electricity. Great shot, Gloria.
8 We see lots of Blue Heron along the river. This one is standing on a sand or rock bar in the river.
9 A Blue Heron taking flight.
10 Heading downstream
11 Don takes this shot back up toward the dam and bridge.
12 Some fishermen in that boat ahead. This stretch of the river used to be world class fishing for trout until it was fished out. It is now on the rebound.
13 A raft heading back upstream - yes, they are powered.
14 We just sit back and enjoy the scenery, except for Will who just keeps seeing the same thing over and over.
15 We're nearing the beginning of Horseshoe Bend, but we will stop on the sand bar to the left for a restroom break. There are some petroglyphs on the walls of the canyon here.
16 Looking across the sandbar toward the base of Horseshow Bend.
17 One panel of petroglyphs
18 Another panel
19 A 12' monster guarding the petroglyphs - oops, make that 12".
20 He has a friend
21 Getting ready to board the rafts again.
22 Anni captures the base of Horseshoe Bend. We were up on top of there the night before.
23 This is the picture we took the night before. The X marks the spot from which Anni shot the previous picture.
24 A side canyon joining this canyon
25 Another Heron. I don't have an IS/ES telephoto lens so the image is blurred.
26 For some reason they call this "finger" rock.
27 Do you see a candy cane; or a turkey head; or something else?
28 A closer look
29 We are nearing Lee's Ferry
30 You can actually see some of the buildings at Lee's Ferry ahead.
31 Glor and Jer getting ready to "de-board" the boat.
32 Ken getting his things together.
33 Bob and Anni waiting their turn.
34 That night we went to see an Indian dancer perform. Here he starts off playing the flute. Bob&Anni picture.
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