On a beautiful warm August afternoon we had been admiring the southern part of the Vermilion Cliffs National Monument at the northern edge of Central Arizona. Such a beautiful display of colors. It was a feast for the eyes and the imagination. Luckily the road was open, as the rains from the previous days that had closed the road with automobile sized boulders being washed into the highway. The ability of water to move huge rocks is beyond amazing. The forces of mother nature are incredible. We were on the north side of the Grand Canyon and the crossings of the great canyon and the mighty Colorado river are few. Marble Canyon is one such crossing. There is a modern bridge for automotive traffic that keeps people whizzing past this fun little stop. Just to the north of the newer arch bridge is Navajo Bridge. Built in 1927-29 it spans over 800 feet and at over 460 feet about the Colorado. An impressive feat of engineering at the time to be sure. Wide enough for a single car or wagon, it is now only user for foot traffic. The Navajo bridge was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.

Later in 1998 the Navajo Bridge was recognized by the American Society of Civil Engineers as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.  The location was indeed remote in 1927 and to consider the feat of getting all the parts to this location, then to get the required parts and equipment to the other side and then to coordinate and get them all assembled, well, it can boggle the mind. The view from the bridge gives vistas both up and down the canyon. The river rafters glide slowly down the river tracing parts of Powell’s historic journey. I walked halfway across the bridge took lots of pictures and started back towards the car and the visitor center.

I then received a call from my wife,. ‘Come over the bridge there are condors.’ she said. Well I turned around and went to the far side and there were three curious condors observing the tourists, observing them. Some might not know that the Condor is a very curious bird that wants to know about you as much as you want to know about him. The ranger stated that attempts to get the curious condors to move on have been unsuccessful, so to our benefit we were able to indulge in a close encounter of the 3 birds.  The birds were marked and had radio tracking transmitters. As the condor neared extinction in the not too distant past. Special programs were created that have saved the species, at least for now. It is a jaw dropping event to get so close to the largest bird in North America and just be amazed.

Our trip to the Vermilion Cliffs, Navajo Bridge, and Marble Canyon was wonderful. Our day of the three condors is a to this day a very memorable experience. Now it is off to Flagstaff as the adventures continue.