 |
Bill Bikes My bicycling expeditions and jaunts |
 |
Lees Ferry, April 2019
On the Colorado River: A Photographic Log
12 April 2019, 16 miles
While my ace support crew backpacked the Grand Canyon, I established my basecamp in Flagstaff and planned to undertake a series of nearby day rides before our Sunday rendezvous. On Thursday I explored red rock trails near Sedona.Due to a cold, rainy forecast for Friday in Flagstaff, I drove a couple of hours north in order to spend the day riding in a warmer, drier climate. I visited Navajo Bridge, left the car there, and pedaled along the Vermilion Cliffs on Lees Ferry Road, not sure what I'd find.
At the end of Lees Ferry Road, what do we have? The site of Lees Ferry. (No apostrophe.)
Prior to opening of Navajo Bridge, this was the only way across the Colorado River into far northern Arizona.
The site was chosen because—due to steep canyons along most of the river—it was just about the only place where the water could be accessed by foot, horseback, and wagons (and, later, automobiles) from north and south. Lees Ferry operated from 1872 until 1928. Nowadays, in addition to the historical site under auspices of the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area of the National Park Service, it serves as the launch ramp for rafting expeditions heading into the Grand Canyon.
The view back toward Navajo Bridge, with clouds continuing to accumulate.
Black dots in the sky are hundreds of birds on the wing.
Ruins of a cabin at Lees Ferry. Several old buildings and various artifacts remain.
The old cabin.
Under the eaves, showing log and adobe construction of the cabin roof.
Tumbled down part of the cabin, with spare wheel for the Ogre thoughtfully provided by National Park Service.
A window into the past.
In one window and out the other.
The Ogre, inside the old cabin.
Another ferocious dragon.
"Dracarys!"
View from the front of the cabin.
View from the back of the cabin.
Back down by the sparkling Colorado River.
A helpful visitor from the UK offered to take a photo of Old Grumble-Face and the Ogre at the river. Good job.
The Ogre cools its tires in the quiet river.
It looks quiet right now, but there's a lot of activity going on nearby.
We'll see some action on the Colorado River next.
Comments? Questions? Suggestions? I'd like to hear from you.
~ 122 ~
| bstone@sonic.net | ::: Bill Books ::: Bill Bikes ::: Bill Games ::: | Copyright © 1983-2021 Bill Stone |