Tubing

It's summer, and it's hot. Very hot. In Louisiana, summer temperatures fluctuate between  90 and 95 degres and do not go below 70 at night. On top of it humidity levels are between 70 and 90 (= 90% moisture in the air), which means felt temperatures are easily 5 degrees over the real temperature. So actually we spend summer avoiding the sun and live with the AC. 

There's something I learnt since I've moved here, it's that when humidity climbs above 40 percent, the damp air makes any temperature over 80 degrees Fahrenheit feel hotter than what the thermometer actually reads. Sorry, I'm showing off my knowledge here, after all we never ask ourselves questions about heat effects in Paris... 

So in Louisiana, additionally, we have neither pretty beaches, nor mountain lakes and rivers, nor other normal places to spend summer vacations. However, we have a lot of brownish rivers that don't flow very fast. Among others, Amite river and Bogue Chitto. So what do we do to cool down?! We float down the rivers ass inside a rubber ring. Here they call that Tubing!

A tubing day: 

Upon arrival, everybody pay for its tube and, if needed (but very much recommended), for an additional tube to put the ice chest on. (Do not forget to bring your own ice chest). We leave all our stuff in the car: towels, clothes, which we won't need until we come back. Then we jump into a shuttle, often an old beat up yellow school bus, to reach to launching spot located upstream. We choose our tubes, and before to get in the water, we tie them one to another with a long rope. We are not towed by a boat, it is not a thrill ride... The goal is only to let yourselves go with the flow during approximately 4 hours, hat on the head and beer in hands. Pretty much a floating pic nic... (Attention, glass bottles are forbidden). And we stop once in a while on the sand beaches along the river. We can swim, play freezbee, ball, or whatever. 

Of course, at all times the risk is to come accross some creatures like snakes, alligators, giant spiders and other lovely Louisiana residents. So the advice is, if possible, to avoid floating under tree branches that are in the way on the river banks. Sometimes you don't really have a choice (or we were just not good at it), but you'll certainly collect unwanted stuff on your way. In reality it is very not likely to come accross an alligator. They rather live in swamp's stagnant water. I've never seen snakes either, either in Amite or in Bogue Chitto.

  

Aside from these little hazards, that were more fun than anything in the end, it is a very pleasant experience. Especially when the place is not packed with drunk, loud, obnoxious people. We sometimes meet some annoying individuals, but also nice local folks. 

With this, it's a little late, but happy summer anyway! But most importantly, bring on the fall! 

 

Road Trip in the American Southwest // #5: Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend

If there is a place to not miss if you drive by Page, it's Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend. Both splendid! And to make things even better, they are both very close to each other, making both visits doable one after another in one morning or one afternoon easily. 

There are two "Antelope Canyons", the Lower and the Upper. The canyons are both located close to one another and are on Navajo land. I have read that they are quite different from one another, but I don't know if it is worth visiting both. Fees are pretty pricy! Almost $30 per person if I remember well, for a tour that last approximately 30 minutes. Add to that the $6 fee for a standard permit required to enter Navajo territory. There is no reservation required, you show up, write your name down on the list and a Navajo guide takes groups one at a time. 

We visited Lower Antelope Canyon, which is narrower to climb into than the Upper. From pictures I have seen, the Upper Canyon is at ground level, seems to be flat and the canyon walls are wider. The hike is much easier. In the Lower canyon, you will have to climb steep metal stairways up and down to make your way through it.

 

For optimum lighting conditions, it is better to visit the canyons on a bright cloudless day between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. when the sun is overhead. We were lucky to be there in April, which also seems to be one of the best time of the year for good lighting and weather conditions. The canyon can be flooded after it rained... It has been closed for weeks at a time in the past. And it is particularly prone to flash floods. Even when rain falls miles upstream from the Antelope Canyon slots, water can funnel into them with little prior notice. In 1997 a terrible flash flood killed 11 tourists including 7 from France. The group went into the canyon despite the fact they were warned not to go because there was a storm about 20 miles away. The rain from that storm traveled the distance and flood the canyon.

  

All along the canyon the colors and the flowing shapes in the rocks are absolutely amazing. Our guide pointed out a few interesting shapes carved in the rock. Some were more obvious than others, like the two faces in the pictures below. The only downfall is that you are not alone in there... As such it can be tricky to take pictures without people ruining your shots... Photographers have the option to pay more money to stay longer in the canyon. I assume that way they get a chance to not have anybody around in between two groups coming down with a guide.

 

Just a few miles away, right outside of Page, is Horseshoe Bend, a beautiful meander of the Colorado River. You will have a quick 10 minutes hike in the sand before to reach the cliff. It is short but can be pretty hard, in the sun and heat, to go back up to the parking lot. Though the view is totally worth it!

I remember spotting the tent of a lucky guy camping by the river. Personally I don't know any information about navigating down the river but it must be a blast. One more thing, I tried to take photos of this meander by every angle to get a full view of it, but you'll figure it out yourself, it is quite tricky to get it all from left to right as well as from top to bottom!