When we reach the small Indian community of Bitter Springs, we keep left and take the alternate US 89 ("The Road Less Traveled") and enter my favorite part of our journey, the Colorado River basin of northern Arizona. Here we cross the newly constructed bridge that spans the deep gorge through which the Colorado River passes, 500 ft. below. Next to the new bridge is the original Navaho Bridge, now open to the public for foot travel and picture taking. It is an awsome sight (not pictured).

What is pictured is this great open valley, called Marble Canyon, seen here after traversing the canyon floor and beginning the winding road up on to the Kiabab mountain range that borders this canyon on the west. This view is from an overlook on Alternate 89, looking back to the east across this endlessly pleasing sight of the Vermilion Cliffs in the far, far distance. This area is just beyond the extreme east beginning of the Grand Canyon National Park.

Situated a short distance east of Navaho Bridge is the historic Lee's Ferry area (not pictured), the site of an early pioneer river crossing where a ferry was maintained to assist the wagon trains of pioneers from Utah, sent by Brigham Young to colonize locations in central and eastern Arizona and northern Mexico. The crossing is named for John D. Lee, a prominent figure in Mormon pioneer history. Lee was called by Brigham Young to take his family from their holdings in southern Utahwho and establish and operate this ferry, which he did maintain for a number of years. Hundreds of pioneers made this crossing in the late 1800's, including some of our own ancesters.

Our own great, great grandfather, Jacob Hamblin, was believed to be the first white man to make a successful crossing of the Colorado River near this location, since the "Crossing of the Father's" (The Spanish explorers). His solitary travels by horseback across this vast and lonely land make it all the more meaningful to me.