Day 8 Part 1 - Canyonlands Airport, Utah to Page, AZ
Departing Canyonlands Airport at daybreak.
   
The helpful FBO attendant had shown me the route the tour planes take so I flew that.  I started off by flying over the "Island in the Sky".
   
The Island in the Sky is a big plateau in the middle of the big V formed by the Green and Colorado Rivers.
   
There's a good look.  It looks like a big landing field to me.
   
Interesting geological formations.
   
Lit up by the sun.
   
This place is a combination of Grand Canyon and Monument Valley.
   
An early start is required to get this great view but it is worth it.
   
 
   
 
   
Abstract art.
   
From Islands in the Sky I headed east to Needles Outpost.  As best I can tell, it's a camping area with a store and restaurant.  You used to be able to fly in -- you can see what looks like an airstrip -- but the airstrip is no longer open according to their webpage.  Too bad.
   
A better look at the airstrip.
   
From Needles, I headed west to an area called "The Maze".  I guess this is it.
   
Or maybe this is The Maze.
   
This looks kind of mazelike too.
   
Another look at the confluence of the Green and Colorado Rivers.
   
Now I'm heading south following the Colorado River.
   
 
Canyon walls getting higher ...
   
A straightaway.
   
Whoops!  Hairpin turn!
   
Amazing, civilization!
   
A deviation to the north to play around some interesting formations.
   
Then back on the river.
   
The Colorado River is starting to turn into Lake Powell.
   
Lake Powell opens up.
   
 
   
 
   
Many of the offshoots off the Lake contained a houseboat.
   
 
   
The water level is clearly low.
   
John Wesley Powell named this area Glen Canyon.  But it became Lake Powell once the Glen Canyon Dam was completed in 1966.
   
A pretty offshoot to the northwest.
   
About halfway down Lake Powell is the Bullfrog Basin area which contains a couple of marinas.  I'm guessing this is where you could rent a houseboat or pontoon boat.
   
Big, flat plateau.
   
Offshoot.
   
Dried up offshoot.
   
I got bored with the big Lake Powell and turned northwest up the Escalante River.  (Note:  I did not know any of these names at the time)
   
 
   
Soon the Escalante River was dried out but the canyon was still going strong.
   
Unbelievable country.
   

I returned back to Lake Powell and crossed over to the south side.

 
   
I'm now approaching my destination for the day -- Page, Arizona -- at the south end of Lake Powell.  Page is in the far distance to the left.
   
I'm not sure what this Butte is called.  But I'm pretty sure it is not Navajo Mountain, which I missed seeing.  I also missed seeing, most regretfully, Rainbow Bridge National Monument.  In my defense, I had never heard of it.  Once in Page, I became aware of it.  Oh well, I have a reason to come back some day.
   
Page visible at left center.
   
There are some big marinas here as well.
   
A good look at the town of Page with the airport in the foreground.  Page (KPGA) was the one airport this entire trip that I had been to before.  I landed the RV here three years ago on the Sante Fe Trail trip.  I made a horrible landing, as I recall.  Not this time though, I greased it on!
   
 
   
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