Antelope Canyon X - Page, AZ - October 7, 2024

Did you know that Page, Arizona was established in 1958.  That's only 2 years older than John.  I literally had no idea that there were towns/cities that were that young in the USA.  If you're interested in the history here is a link.  I wish I had time to snap a pic of the the "Entering Page" sign.  But I saw it and it initiated a little investigation History of Page, Arizona.  

So tonight is our 2nd night here at ROAM America Horseshoe Bend Campground I know, I am super out of order, but I just can't go back now.  I will recap later, but today I am here.  I am happy that I finally got to finish Yellowstone which was nearly a month ago.  WTH???  As I have probably said before I am not a desert fan, but we are staying in a really nice campground.  Super NEW!!!  The pool is open and we were swimming today and yesterday.  Super hot during the day, but as I am writing this I am outside with John near our fire.  VERY comfortable.  

We did a mini hike to the place next door to the campground which is apparently a little amphitheater.  John has the pics on his real camera so those will have to come later,  Here are pics from yesterday (well now a couple of days ago), then I'll get on to Antelope Canyon X

We traveled from Utah to Arizona back to Utah and then finally Arizona.  The time change around here is super confusing.  It can literally happen a mile down the road.  We had to careful we were using the right time zone to arrive to our tour on time.  Plus we started in Mountain time in Utah, switched to PST, so we were (are) all out of whack.  We called the boys too late cuz we forgot we were back to being 3 hours behind versus 2.  As we travel on to 4 Corners and then Durango, CO we will be in MST again.  

                                                

     

I prefer a campsite under some beautiful pines, but much of our camping south has looked like this....

....but this is a really nice bathroom

and laundry room.  All in the same place and in each of the 3 different bathrooms in the campground 

view from that bathroom

and this.

and this

that's the bathroom/shower/laundry room building 1/3.

I mean the view is pretty cool

Then today (10/7) we went to Antelope Canyon X.  We originally booked a tour with Upper Antelope Canyon, but it was twice the cost and was told they don't stop, you have to move along.  So we found this one.  The guide, Ethel, was amazing. She took our pics along the way and even showed us a new way to photograph.  When I used to use PANO it was mostly left to right.  But she took these pics of us using pano down to up.  Then I started to use it. So many of us had never seen this approach.  Wish we knew this in Zion.  We could have gotten so many better pics.  Ah well.  We know now. 

A documentary about this canyon is at the film festivals now, hoping it will be out soon.

We saw these hand marks just outside the entrance to the slot canyon. They didn't mention it, so I asked.  The guides say they like to tease the guests and say they are thousands of years old, but they said it's their hands.  Seems when it rains they get like clay so they pick up the clay on the ground and "help boost" the walls up.  She chuckled about it.  I still thought it was cool.

Apparently, Navajo revere sheep.  They were a big food source in the past, so they have them here in the canyon.  

A man named Lloyd C. Ashley carved his name into the sandstone in October of 1918. He was working for the Navajo Copper Mine at the time, searching for a spot to build a dam to generate power for the mine.

The reason this is called Canyon X.

Another view of the X, but the lighting caused it to be blue this time.