An unexpected turn

Coming out of Grand Canyon National Park, we were planning on turning our wheels toward Zion National Park. But when we stopped  at a little Navajo grocery, we learned otherwise. There had been a landslide on the road we were planning to take back in February and the road was still closed. We were rerouted 60 miles east through Navajo reservation land. 

Looking for a place to camp, we saw Lake Powell in the map. This huge lake straddles the Utah/ Arizona border and is the second largest man made reservoir in the U.S.  We read that there were slot canyons and unusual rock formations there, and it seemed like a perfect kayaking stop. 

We rolled into town in the dark of night, with flat topped rocks silhouetted against the moon. A hydroelectric plant glowed to the west. This was one of the many times we have run low on fuel in remote locations, but luckily we have a gas can strapped to the back for reserves. We didn't need it this time and we rolled into a gas station that seemed to be the happenin' spot in town. Sarah got out of the truck and talked to the first cowboy she saw. He asked where we were from and welcomed us to Arizona. He was in his finest cowboy hat, boots and Wrangler jeans with Navajo skin and beer on his breath, steppin' out to the Circle K on a Sunday night. He gave us vague directions to a camping area, and we headed two lights down looking for Wahweap Rd. 

We found our way into the park and started driving around the lake. The first campground we found was a parking lot, so we decided to press on. We had heard there was a place called Lone Rock Beach with beachside camping. We found the spot, tired, and followed what we thought was the road to the lake. We drove along the sand in the pitch black darkness until it started to get soft and sugary. This place wasn't what we expected, but we had committed, driving down a one lane sandy road toward the lake, which we didn't find. We were too tired to try and back out. So we decided to call it camp. The lake must be close. 

We got out our camp chairs and cracked a couple beers. Sitting out in the cool breeze looking up at the magnitude of the stars we realized that even though we might be stuck in the sand with no clue where the lake was, it was still all worth it. We saw many shooting stars in the few minutes we sat there, and then turned in for the night. 

In the morning, the kids woke up first and entertained themselves in their new surroundings. Sarah woke up and told me the lake was behind us. So I closed my eyes, resigned to the fact that we would be backing up this road. Being half awake, I kept hearing RVs and trucks going by. I finally opened my eyes to find two things. First, the lake was in front of us. Second, there was a hard packed dirt road not 100 ft. across the sand dunes. There wasn't a tree in site, and the beach was covered in a plant that was like a cross between cactus and sand spurs. 

We looked around to assess the situation. We determined that it was probably better to drive forward than to try to back up. So without hesitation, we jumped  in the Warrior and drove right in to the soft sand where we got firmly stuck. The kids were patient, wondering when we might make it to the water. The desert temperature was rising. We hiked down to the beach and found a ranger. Sarah asked if he had a chain. He told her he didn't like to drive in the soft sand, but he could try to help after he got done hosing out all the little wooden beach bathrooms on skids. 

We returned to the Warrior, dug the sand from the tires as best we could and put our doormats under the tires. With Lilye at the wheel, the rest of us got ready to push. Lilye put it in gear, stepped on the gas, and slowly but surely we inched along out of the soft sand and onto firmer earth. We reassessed again. More soft sand meant we couldn't drive forward and we couldn't back up. So we went left, driving in between the dunes with lots of momentum to make it to the hard packed sandy road. We headed down to the beach, giving the ranger the thumbs up on the way by. 

We parked on the edge of a drop leading down to blue green water with huge rocks jutting out. We went for a swim but I couldn't stop thinking "Are we going to make it out of here?" We didn't stay long. The desert heat dries you almost instantly. We pushed on out of the park successfully. 

The drive west from there was beautiful, surrounded by huge painted canyons. We decided we had enough of the desert. Although majestic, it's pretty hot here. So, off toward California we go, driving toward the sunset. 

~ Sky and Sarah