DAY 09_Part Two - "Dilophosaurus."

Lower Antelope Canyon is the most photographed canyon in the world.

Sounded cool.  Sounded crowded.  Sounded worth checking out.

Our plan was completely weather dependent because, as is common knowledge, slot canyons are deadly when it rains…and thus, in the event of a storm, they are closed.  As luck would have it, weather came through last week, leaving the area crisp and clean just for us.

After grabbing lunch in Page and checking out the Glen Canyon Dam, we backtracked a couple miles to Dixie’s Lower Antelope Canyon Tours.

You cannot access the canyons unless you book a guide with one of tour operations in the area and so, after experiencing Monument Valley in the morning, we had a late afternoon reservation with Dixie.

Arriving a bit early, we were able to slide into four open spaces on Sean’s tour.  Apparently, the best time to be in the canyon, when the sun is at peak performance level, was the exact time of day Sean rewarded our punctuality.

With a few minutes to spare, Steven and I were checking out at the gift shop, having procured more stickers for our respective books, and, for reasons unknown, the gal at the register kept referring to us as “ladies.” 

“Thank you for your purchase, ladies.”

“Enjoy the canyon tour, ladies.”

No less than five times did she do this.  LOL.  I’m so used to being called “sir” at checkout, this was refreshing.  I don’t understand how she could make this mistake, but I was choking down snort-giggles.

Not that anyone would mention it…

Before we knew it, we were following Sean, marching the short distance from the shop, across deep red sands, to the entrance of Lower Antelope Canyon.  There were 12 people in our group, including us.

We didn’t really know what to expect; didn’t know exactly what we were getting ourselves into.  Roughly 3,000 people visit this place a day and the best information we gleaned from the website was, “No high heels.” 

Okay, yes, good.  Check.

After pointing out where he had seen five UFO’s just the day before, Sean led us to a series of metal stairs and ladders embedded into the rock, dropping 75-feet to the sandy floor of the canyon.

From the surface, you’d never know there was anything extraordinary underground.

We ascended as we descended, if you will…into a hidden, mystical land of twisting sandstone passageways and shapes beyond the logical bounds of possibility.

This place was supernatural and yes, the light was splendid.

For a few moments, we 12 strangers stood there in reticent, almost uneasy awe…as if no human should be able to experience something so exquisite.

Sean led the way, showing us the best places to take photos in between Yeti stories and conspiracy theories.

He was really quite amusing and passionate, but I was never sure when he was telling the truth, even when it came to information about the canyon itself.

I do know the lower canyon is 407 meters long and it took us about 1 hour and 15 minutes to traverse it.  Sean said when it floods, the water rises between five and 15-feet, but he also said most helicopters and airplanes are UFOs in disguise so…I don’t know.

It didn’t matter because the canyon was just breathtaking. 

We took so many pictures in the beginning it almost became exhausting and after a while, the cameras went away and we just enjoyed the canyon without a lens…as one should.

Eventually, emerging from a narrow, unassuming crevasse in the earth, we reluctantly climbed back to reality.

Truly a thrill.  Highly recommend. 

We found ourselves at the Glen Canyon Brewing Company for the remainder of the evening, watching the Notre Dame game and exchanging tales with other travelers.

And it must be mentioned, with gusto, that this trip’s very first curb check came in the parking lot of the brewery, before any hops had passed our lips!

Lady Steven rammed right into the rail tie of a curb while parking the trusty Volvo. 

Totally unexpected and absolutely stunning.  I was ecstatic, he was in denial, but it did happen; there were even witnesses that gave me a high-five when I jumped out of the car cheering.

Such a great day!

DAY 10