Lake Powell 2.0

We enjoyed another great week on the Star Chaser Houseboat on Lake Powell. The water was up about 25 feet from 2006 and we enjoyed new views and different campsites. We flew to Phoenix and picked up friends and a rental mini van for the drive to Page, AZ. On the US Airways plane (where even coffee costs $1 now) I read about breakfast places in Phoenix, so when the question of food came up, I suggested The Original Pancake House in Scottsdale. It took a while to find it, mostly because we didn't have a very good map or sense of direction, but finally found it. This is part of a chain, but a quirky one. Authentic pancake house, everything from scratch. Blueberry pancakes were outstanding, as were the egg dishes. At this location, they don't take credit cards, so be prepared with cash.

Anyway, we made our way up state to Page and met the rest of our group at the Antelope Point Marina, run jointly by the US National Park Service and the Navajo Nation. Great kids driving golf carts with trailers take your stuff from the parking lots to the docks. We planned to spend Friday night on the boat in the marina and take off up river on Saturday.

Friday night found DH and myself at the Page Walmart picking up last-minute items for the group, mostly alcoholic....The Page Walmart sells liquor, as do the other grocery stores. Very convenient!

We went into town and found the R.D. Drive In (Page's original drive-in). Definitely a local hang-out, with video games in the back and the older people sitting at the patio tables outside. We had pretty good burgers and fries, and a milk shake for dessert. Finally got to the boat with all the supplies and helped getting things shipshape for departure.

Saturday am was bright and clear and we set off after being checked out by the marina master.
We were planning to get about 40 miles up the lake and camp in Oak Canyon Bay.
This photo shows the digging of the anchor holes so that the boat doesn't float away.



We stayed 2 nights in Oak Canyon, and visited Rainbow Bridge again. The water was much further up the canyon, so the walk in was a lot shorter.
We went about 20 miles further up and stayed in Cottonwood Canyon, behind Register Rocks (our 2006 campsite) for 3 nights. We took boat rides and explored slot canyons on the jet skis.



We also revisited Forbidding Canyon and the Anasazi Ruins called Defiance House. Again, the water level made the walk in about half as far.
This canyon is known for the wall paintings.

The last 2 nights we spent in Padre Bay under the Cookie Jar Butte.
We had great food, thanks to the wonderful cooks, good weather, except for one rainstorm that turned the canyon walls shiny and covered with water falls, and a very relaxing week!
Lake Powell is always interesting!

But, at the end of the week, we had to come into the marina, unload the boat, pack up the cars and head south. We stopped in Flagstaff at the cafe at the Little America Hotel and did some shopping and sightseeing in Sedona. Stayed in Phoenix and went home on Sunday. Hope we can do that trip again before too long. Thanks to PW and JJ and the rest of the group!