Scott and Deb's EXcellent Weekend Excursion

[339A]

Given that the wife and I have been going stir crazy at home due to a lack of traveling in the RV, and the last two trips we had planned for this year have fallen through, we felt that a weekend excursion was in order. We were looking for a getaway that was within RV range and wouldn’t break the bank. Adding some “landed there” pins to the northwestern section of our Airport Landings map is among our goals for 2009, so we began laying the groundwork for a trip to Montana. When the weather began “heading south,” so did we—to Page, Arizona to visit Glen Canyon and Lake Powell.

Booking a room in a popular tourist destination like Page was a bit difficult on short notice, but I finally managed to find one that could be had with hotel reward points at the Courtyard Marriott. One of the perks of traveling so often for work is that I earn loads of reward points toward free rooms.

We were wheels up out of Front Range at 8:27 a.m. on Friday, June 12th en route to Pueblo for a quick spot of breakfast at the Spitfire Grill and to top off the tanks before heading southwest over La Veta pass. Winds out of the west lengthened our trip duration a bit, but the majority of the flight was smooth. We managed to maintain about 150 kts ground speed most of the way. Total time in the air was 3.5 hours.

Return flight we were wheels up at 7:15 a.m. on Sunday the 14th with 2.6 hours of non-stop flight time. As is typical going over the rock pile, the ride got a bit bumpy.

So what’s a trip like this cost? I’m glad you asked. The cost breakdown was as follows:

Fuel $177
Meals $172
Admissions $79
Rental Car/Gas $121
Total $549

Hotel $300 (no cost to us)


While it’s easy enough to calculate the dollar value of a trip like this, the fun factor is beyond measure! It makes the four years it took build 339A well worth it.

The pictures follow our trip in chronological order.



Departing from Front Range, Pikes Peak in the background



On the ground at Pueblo



Over La Veta Pass headed into the Alamosa Valley



Nice view of the Rio Grande and some circular crops



Flying over Wolf Creek Pass in Colorado



Can you spot the waterfalls among the rocks?



Vallecito Reservoir in Bayfield, CO



Coming in to Lake Powell



Pilot view of Powell



City of Page



More to follow...

[339A]

Base to final at Page Municipal Airport



Lunch at the Dam Bar & Grille



Frontal view of Courtyard Marriott



Looking up Glen Canyon at the Dam



Sunset over Glen Canyon



Looking back out the Antelope Valley Slot Canyon entrance



This picture has been inverted to create the illusion of sunset over a butte



"Like sands through the hour glass, so are the days of our lives ..."



Well known canyon rock formation named the eagle--can you see it?



Sand thrown into the sunlight by our guide appears to create an apparition (either that or Captain Kirk is beaming down)



More to follow...

[339A]

Shot of the dam looking north



Sunset as seen from a scenic overlook



Taxiing to runway 33 with the Navajo Generating Station in the background



Departing runway 33 at PGA



Various shots of Lake Powell













More to follow...

[scard]

Wow Scott, thanks for sharing. Maybe we're right behind you. Where did you get those pictures of CO. That isn't what it looked like just a few weeks ago when we were there .

[339A]

Heading up the Gunnison River Valley toward Marshall Pass





Going through Marshall Pass



Left base runway 26 at Front Range



Doin' the airplane shuffle at the hangar



Scotty's Spotty of the trip




The End.

[339A]

Originally Posted by scard

Wow Scott, thanks for sharing. Maybe we're right behind you. Where did you get those pictures of CO. That isn't what it looked like just a few weeks ago when we were there .

This is what the beautiful state of Colorado looks like when it's NOT raining and overcast! Sorry you didn't get to see it. This trip was a great time. Hope you and Tanya get to make it.

[Bob Brown]

Beautiful shots Scott!

I used to routinely fly all around Lake Powell/Monument Valley and on to Farmington, NM on business trips...sure brings back some great memories, like the night I landed at Page about 2300hrs and had just stepped out of my plane when somebody dead sticked an airplane onto the runway...I went over to see if he was OK and he got out...pretty relieved to have lived through it...and he couldn't believe the luck that after he lost his electrical system, then had an engine out...and then someone turned on the runway lights for him at just the critical time!

Is there still a VFR flyway over the Grand Canyon out of Page? I did that one morning and it was one of the high points of my flying years...

Plan to fly out to Homecoming in August Scott, we'd love to have ya! Free housing and lots of friends!

[Ron Lee]

Bob, there are three or so flight path corridors over the Grand Canyon. Get the Grand Canyon chart for details. I have done two of them.

[flybill7]

Thanks for the great trip report. Sure is beautiful country. Definately on my list of places to go!

[Vlad]

Wow. Very nice. The moving sand pictures are impressive. Thank you Scott.

Originally Posted by 339A

"Like sands through the hour glass, so are the days of our lives ..."




Sand thrown into the sunlight by our guide, appears to create an apparition (either that or Captain Kirk is beaming down)


.