17th November 2016. Visit to Canyon Lake and cruise on Dotty Paddle Steamer.

Our mornings came about quickly after last nights excellent dinner and Peter and Ken then walked another 4km around the other side of their gated community, before returning for breakfast of cereal and toast. 

We then sit around, continuing our discussions as to Sydney and Melbourne daytime excursions and activities, before departing to meet other friends Doug and Pam, who are Canadian and spend 6 months inb Scottsdake and the other six in their home in Toronto Canada. They have travelled together on several cruises and also hike together on regular walks. 

We are then driven about 70 miles to Canyon lake through some very rugged and inhospitable desert country before coming across the area where the Snake River has been dammed to create four large lakes of which Canyon Lake is the largest and closest to Phoenix and is the scene of much water sports activity, many camping grounds and several tourist type restaurants.

We then go to the Marina where we exchange vouchers to sail on the Dolly Paddlesteamer and undertake a scenic cruise from 11.30am through until about 1.15pm.  We have a terrific guided lake cruise, take in stunning cliffs and scenery, see Bald Eagles, Mountain Sheep and also a variety of vegetation and Cactus and thousand of the Sonoran Saguaro.   

The captain and crew give an enjoyable commentary, we see some amazing scenes, take many photos and enjoy ourselves. 

We then travel through Tonto National Park and come to a small township where we enjoy lunch in a Western Style hotel with all the gear from the Wild, Wild West.  You do realise how hard it was for the cowboys.