Utah & Arizona
17:00 - Las Vegas - Michael
After Albuquerque we had a change of pace for a few days; the focus of our trip became not the people and towns of America but the geology and nature of its more remote parts. Heading out of New Mexico the scenery got better and better. We first headed towards 'Four Corners', a unique point in the USA where the states of Colarado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico meet. Unfortunately the monument itself was closed for construction, but it was cool nonetheless.
We then headed westwards through Utah, and our journey took us through what we all agreed was some of the most spectacular scenery we had ever seen. The roads became more and more remote, and the surrounding views and rock formations became better and better. Passing back over the border into Arizona, we drove south through Monument Valley, a region of the Colorado Plateau with impressively huge sandstone rocks rising from the desert. We continued on to our stop for the night - Page.
The following morning, we headed for Antelope Canyon, another unique rock feature, and a perennial photographer's favourite (thus Zihao's keen insistence that we go). Despite our seemingly uninterested Navajo native tour guide, it was enjoyed by all.
Following this we drove to Lake Powell, parking at the end of a dirt road and walking over rocks for 20 minutes to find a place that Zihao, on a mental solo mission at sunset the previous day, had declared to be "the best place on earth". Zihao might have oversold the location, but with calm blue green waters and a remote setting we spent a very enjoyable hour swimming and skimming stones.
We then headed south, turning off the highway after ninety minutes to drive along the south rim of the Grand Canyon. Arriving at Lipan Point, the "Most Dramatic Rim View" according to an guide website, we were not disappointed. All the cliches about the sheer scale of the Grand Canyon are true - you could not hope to understand the vast size of the canyon without visiting it.
We pushed on to Flagstaff, where we were to spend two nights. The following day the group divided. Benji revised for his upcoming exams in Vegas; Zihao finally got a haircut; Alec rented a bicycle (not a Harley Davidson, as he initially wanted to) and went on a long ride; Michael and Mole went up the "Scenic Skyride" and visited the Flagstaff Observatory, and unrestrained by the others in the group, had so much for lunch at a local pizza restaurant that they didn't eat for the rest of the day. Chatting to the barman however had led to some recommendations, both for the evening - including a bar where Mole proceeded to set a high score on the pub punch bag machine (a fact he insisted made it to the blog) - and for Las Vegas.
The next day we set off for Vegas, once again in search of the more heady pleasures America has to offer.
