The lake isn't very big and there wasn't too much to explore, which was nice in comparison to other, more crowded lakes nearby. It was pleasant how quiet it was and we were able to relax and take in the surrounding mountains. Each of us enjoyed taking a moment to cool off in the water. This was one of the most memorable parts of the trip for me. Just taking it in and enjoying time with Ben.
We packed the SUV with the usual road trip necessities. This time, it included Lysol, masks, and lots of hand sanitizer. Leaving home around 1PM, we made our way toward Arizona in the middle of August during a heat wave...the ideal travel time to go to the desert ;)
My goal was to capture the sunrise at the beach, maybe I should have left a little sooner to get my camera set up. But I was still made it for the experience I was hoping for. This beach was perfect. I drove part of Big Sur in the dark to get there but it is easily accessible from a road off of Highway 1. The short walk to the beach only built up the anticipation of what the beach and sunrise would look like.
Monterey has a unique rocky shore line creating large crashing waves allowing for amazing photos. The downtown area is also fun with plenty of shops, great restaurants and beautiful parks near the bay where all the boats are docked.
Our next destination was the “Mystery Spot,” and we didn’t really know what to expect. This illusion-based tourist attraction is in the middle of the woods, down a windy one lane road. When you get there you find a really unique tourist attraction, including a souvenir shop, food and plenty of photo opportunities. The tours are $8 a person, plus $5 per vehicle for parking, cash or check only and tours last about 45 minutes.
Shortly after we turned onto Highway 89A, before Marble Canyon, there is the Navajo Bridge. I recommend you pull over. This bridge, completed in 1928, sits atop the Colorado River. At the time it was the highest steel arch bridge in the world, providing the much needed access between Arizona and Utah.
Heading north on the 89, we came across an abandoned and vandalized gas station and a motel. The gas station had vibrant murals that caught my eye from the side of the road. Ben and I decided to pull over and jumped out to take some photos. The color of the buildings, art, and desert background provided great material for my photos. The Native American imagery was beautiful and told a story.
Having already completed our almost 4.5 mile hike that morning in Sedona, we were looking forward to viewing the the Grand Canyon and walking along the Rim with Miss Reagan. Upon arrival, the visitors center was closed. They had signs throughout that area giving suggestions on what to visit and how much time it would take to visit the various destinations within the Grand Canyon. Only a 5 minute walk from the visitors center is Mather Point, one of the most popular spots in the Grand Canyon. There were a number of tourists at the Grand Canyon. That being said, I imagine there would have been many more if not going through a pandemic.
We ended up at the trailhead before sunrise, right around 5:45AM. When we parked, there was plenty of parking. The pastel colors in the sky were glowing, highlighting a hot air balloon in the distance. A deer nearby silently strolled the fence line. All positive signs for the beginning of our hike and for our trip.
