Day 23. The half way point. Considering all that we’ve learned and experienced thus far, it’s crazy to think it could double.
We woke up late at the Bryce Canyon Log Cabins. It was a much needed rest day, so we slept in until 8. After grabbing coffee we started a three and a half hour drive toward Page, Arizona. Zak drove the whole way and I spent my time wishing I could be in Chicago marching with so many of my friends. It was a really hard day to be away from home for that reason.
We skipped dinner last night and forgot to get Clif bars out for breakfast, so we were starving. We found a hipster gastropub, State 48, and enjoyed a much needed meal.
We then went to Glen Canyon Dam. Just as we began working our way through the museum and Ellie told me she had a stomachache. She spent most of the rest of the day in misery. We quickly wrapped up at the dam, but not before Zoe and Zak started adding the word “dam” as an adjective to every noun they uttered.
Not knowing how serious Ellie’s stomachachhe was we drove the 10 minutes to Horseshoe Bend. Ellie decided she should nap and Zak suggested Zoe and I do the quick, flat mile and a quarter hike to the dramatic curve in the water. We agreed and thought that would give Ellie the space to lay out in the backseat.
The hike/walk was horrendous. 200 vertical feet straight up a giant hill and then back down. The temperature was nearing 100 and the path was composed of burning hot sand. We chose the wrong shoes and I have blisters from the heat on the bottom of my feet. Additionally, there were three charter bus loads of tourists carrying huge umbrellas as sun protection. It was tough work dodging them. When we got to the bottom we had to push our way through the tremendous crowds to see a mucky, bendy river. We took a couple of selfies and turned around to head right back up that monsterous hill. We got back to the car and drenched our burnt feet in cold water and asked Zak why in the world he said the hike would be flat.
Shortly after our hell of a hike, Ellie woke up and her stomach still hurt. She said she was up for the one and a half hour drive to Navajo National Monument, where our plan was to camp. We all were playing it by ear and were ready to get a hotel room if needed.
We didn’t spend any time exploring Navajo NM, as we have an awesome ranger led hike tomorrow morning. We did get to see some dinosaur footprints though. That was cool.
After setting up camp and Ellie declaring she was feeling better, we drove 30-some miles to a tiny town for dinner and found Amigos. It is one of the top 100 restaurants in Arizona. Once again we had awesome food!!
Ellie seems to be totally better, but I’m glad I’m her tent partner tonight. I can keep a close eye on her. We do have a most lovely campground to ourselves and our site overlooks a canyon. Tomorrow we get to learn about the Navajos of this land and it thrills me to think of all the others who may have camped throughout the centuries in this very spot.
