4/18/18 Lake Powell - Our first full day in this area and Wendy had arranged a boat trip to Rainbow Arch roughly a 50 mile 7.5 hour trip. We certainly felt like tourists, but the trip through the winding canyons was pretty cool. The morning started at 7:00 am which for retired people was the crack of dawn and a bit chilly; 40's.

                                  A little cold but we stuck it out on the windy and cold top deck.

Sights along the way to the Arch

 Note the lower white ring referred to as the "Bath Tub ring represents the high water mark for the lake; it took 17 years to fill.

 National Park Service was barging fuel to a marina about 40 miles into the canyon. The only way to get to the marina is by boat. At 186 miles long the lake is too big to motor the entire way and return for most boats.

The captain backed the boat into the above cave.

A bit windy but beautifully clear day

 The next set of pictures don't quite capture how narrow the canyon passage is to navigate.  Just looking at it you would think the boat was way too wide. She just fit.

                                                                           Made it!

The longest pier I have ever seen. About a 1/4 mile long.

Trail to the arch

                       Barrel cactus in bloom along the trail. Not many of this variety in the area.

Rainbow Arch

                     According to what we were told the Statue of Liberty would fit under the arch.

Heading back home.

Next up for the day was a short 1.5 mile hike to one of the most unusual places we have been so far Toadstools National Monument. Just weird formations caused by petrified sandstone weathered by the wind. The rock on top is a harder surface so it hasn't weather as quickly. The area looks like you landed on the moon or Mars.

                                Finally back at the campsite for only the second campfire of the trip.

                                                          Great dark sky stars out here.