Sunday, August 27
Today was spent mostly visiting the three main viewpoints on the north rim of the Grand Canyon. I, along with most others, normally go to the south rim and it has been 14 years since I last came here. The viewpoints are fewer and the panoramas, arguably, less dramatic as there is more erosion on the north side so you are further from the center and rarely see the Colorado River. However, the lack of crowds often enables you to savor the grandeur of the scenes in quiet contemplation.
There was no accommodation available within 50 miles of the Grand Canyon so I headed east to Page, AZ for the night. On the way I passed Vermillion Cliffs and Marble Canyon which are both beautifully captured on the road video here.
While at Marble Canyon I stopped to get a few photos and to reflect on what should have been the final adventure activity of the trip – bungee jumping from the bridge over the Colorado River. I have been wanting to do this for a few years and booked a jump for September 3rd but, when I got the confirmation, it was scheduled for 8 PM to midnight (in the dark). I know how hot it gets during the day because it was 106o F (41o C) when I was there so I had expected an early morning session but I want to be able to see where I am going and get photos/video so I decided to cancel this time around. Some day!
The viewing room at the north rim lodge provides a beautiful environment for enjoying the Grand Canyon.
and this is the view you get.
One of the few places you can see the river from the north rim is at Cape Royal. This is a view of the Angel’s Window and the river is just visible to the left of it.
A classic view from Point Imperial.
Marble Canyon is the last narrow canyon the Colorado River flows through before opening up to become the Grand Canyon. Here it is only 1/3 of a mile wide.
It’s also the last road bridge (and bungee jumping opportunity) for more than 300 miles downstream.
Monday, August 28
Page, AZ is one of my favorite places and, although I was here just six years ago, I decided to stay a second night. I have done most of the touristy things here but, until today, I had not done the boat tour of Antelope Canyon. Antelope Canyon is the famous slot canyon, off Lake Powell, that narrows down to three feet in places but has brightly colored, smooth sculpted, red sandstone walls that rise 120 feet or more. I took a walking tour of the narrow part of the canyon last time I was here but didn’t get great photos because the contrast between sunlight and shadows was just too great. The wider part visited by the boat allowed me to capture the colors in the sandstone much better.
I also visited a couple of other viewpoints around town and this is the Colorado River as seen from a viewpoint in Page.
and in the opposite direction is Glen Canyon Dam.
Antelope Canyon has steep walls and is deep as can be seen in the next two images.
It is mainly known for the variety of color in the walls. The white area at the base is called the “bathtub ring” and is where the water level rises and falls. Chalk is deposited as the water level falls leaving the white coating. 
