Spectacular Sedona

Sedona is a very special place.  Besides its spectacular scenic beauty, it claims to be an earth energy center with seven vortex (enegy center) locations around the area.  It is a major center for alternative medicine

Lovely Lake Powell

Lake Powell is known as "The Jewell of the Desert". and it certainly is that.

The only way to appreciate Lake Powell is to get out on the water - so we take a boat tour up some of the side canyons

Having cruised a very small part of the lake (it is over 200 miles long and has over 3000 miles of shoreline!) we decide to cruise the river below the dam on rubber rafts.  The picture below is of "Horseshoe bend"  about 5 miles below the dam.  That tiny spot on the river 1400 ft below is a raft like the one we rode.

And here's the view up from below

The Dam towers 700 ft above the river bed.  Electric power generated by the dam supplies to power to Pheonix and even to Los Angeles.

We even get some entertainment as we drift along the river

The Incomparable Grand Canyon1

Words, and even pictures are hard pressed to convey the jaw-dropping immensity of this spectacular geographical wonder.

 

Yes, Thats the Colorado River down there, almost a mile below us!  According to geologists it has taken 65 million years for the river to carve out this canyon!

There are many individual features with their own names

At the middle right below You can see a small portion of the "Bright Angel Trail" that goes from the rim to Hidden Valley ranch down by the river.  Hikers go down one day and stay over returning up the next day.  It is also possible to ride down by mule back.