The great Horseshoe Bend Canyon!

From Page town, It was only a short 30-minute drive to the Horseshoe Bend canyon, and after our bus stopped, and before I had time to make myself comfortable, it was time to get out again. With the parking stop approximately three hundred meters away from the rim of the Canyon, and the sun being right above us, it was recommended to wear a hat and bring water: nobody wanted to faint and fall over!

I sped uphill to try to avoid the growing crowd disembarking from newly arrived tour buses, and was thankful to be one of the first and simply gasp at the view in front of me. It certainly was something to see it online or in print, but nothing could prepare you for the depth, vastness, and sheer raw beauty of the Horseshoe Bend. 

I walked along the rim, shooting at different angles, getting a few panoramic shots taken as well, some including people in order to give a comparative scale, and then sat on a safe rock outcrop and just let my mind wander, eyes vacating in the distance, and just emptying my brain of any thoughts. I just wanted to be part of this grandiose spectacle as is, with nothing else to distract me. Until a group arrived nearby and the guide started narrating a few geological facts, and then proceeded to warn the guests about not going too close, as not to become yet another death statistic. Good idea, as I watched a few daring young people getting right up to the edge and taunting their friends, girlfriends to come closer with them.

But it wasn't just the grandiose spectacle of the panorama. I looked all the way down into the slow-moving waters circling the bend, and some campers, fishermen, and other visitors also enjoyed the beauty of this place. I wished I knew how to get on a boat trip around this part of the canyon... must be phenomenal!

Time to go back.

It was again a long drive, of four and a half hours to the city, and we stopped before dark at a McDonald's for a quick bite. I was alone at a table, reviewing a few of my shots, when the small lady approached me again, asking for a ‘generous’ tip for the “Poor Chinese Driver,” I quote. I can’t remember for sure, but it was like USD$20 or USD$30, she asked, and I asked her how the amount was calculated and pointed out that, multiplied by the number of guests, this felt more like a salary than a tip! She was harassing, sorry, but there were no other words, and I gave her less, pointing out again that the many instances of her lack of organization and logistics had affected me. She walked away grudgingly, and that was the last time I talked to her.

I was glad to see the city’s vibrant lights after all this travel and drama. But I was very happy to have again witnessed some of the most iconic features of the region, so no regret there.