Valley of the Gods, UT

Just when we think we've seen the best canyon views - we travel another byway and find more incredible and awe-inspiring landscapes.  And today was no exception.  We started our day with the decision not to pay the Navajo nation $20 just to gain access to their visitor center where we'd be encouraged to buy lunch and wares.  Then a guided tour of the reservation and "their" monuments would be another $50 or so per person.  Instead, we headed out on our own, in the truck, and got directions to the Valley of the Gods.  We drove about 30 miles on paved roads and then headed into dirt road territory.  I confess that the further along we went, the more times I found myself holding my breath and holding the steering wheel for all I was worth.  The most challenging was a hairpin turn with no wiggle room and a 4 wheeler coming in the other direction!  Still not sure how I did it. I'm posting a few extra photos as this day merits it:

P

"Painted Mountains"

Mexican Hat

Collecting More Sand

Is there anything on the other side?????

Delicate Balance

Massive Wall of Rock - 20 stories?

The we got to the hairpin.... this photo doesn't begin to share the 'fear factor'.

Hairpin turn...almost quit, but AAA out here? Then the other car came 'round the corner!

By this time the adrenalin was working and there was no stopping us...

Smooching Rocks?

Organ Grinder Monkey on Left

Frog Rocks - note smile & eye

San Juan River Bridge on the way "home".

I'm so glad we did the trip "our way".  It was a 17 mile drive that felt like 40, but it sure was fun!

Monument Valley Utah

We're back in Utah... at Gouldings Monument Valley Campground.  We're smack dab in the middle of Navajo country and got here early enough to do a little shopping.  But first things first... the roads between Mesa Verde, CO and here are atrocious!  Worst stretch of road since we left Florida.  But we got here safely albeit with a bad case of leg cramps.  And when we opened the rig - most of the stuff in the fridge was dislodged and scattered and in the dish cabinet three mugs were broken.  Guess the rockin' and rollin' was just a bit too much.  Ah well, a good excuse to buy some new souvenier mugs! 

Here's a photo of "the sleeping Ute" mountain on our way out of Mesa Verde.  Can you see him?  Head to the right, arms folded over chest....

O.K. maybe I've been out here in the desert too long... you've gotta have imagination.

On arrival we had a quick lunch, then headed for the local Indian Gift shops.  Got my eye on a couple of pieces, but want to be sure before buying.  I did, however, happen upon a very pretty hair barrette and it seems the sales clerk apparently didn't have pricing advice from her boss.... it's beaded on white leather and she sold it to me for $15!!!!  I do love a bargain...

I have now driven through canyons, looked down into canyons and climbed out of canyons - tonight we are camping in a canyon...

Campground Entrance

Campsite

We will tour the Valley tomorrow - either on our own or on a Goulding's Tour - I've been warned that the roads on the reservation lands are pretty ragged and that I don't want to take my truck out there.  Probably should heed the warnings.

So for now, just a couple of shots and we'll close....

Pam's House Salad - Yum!

A very tired Mr. Hobbs cooling off the hot parts.

Halfway...

Doesn't seem possible... our trip is half over.    Well, let me reconsider that.... when I look at the odometer.... when I look at all the photos.... when I re-read the blog... when I look at the itinerary book... then it does seem possible.  We have so many memories already.  And the Grand Canyon is still to come!

Today we enjoyed a more relaxed pace starting at a local gem/rock shop.  We each sorted through many boxes and display cases of rocks, slabs, crystals etc. getting lost in the possibilities of jewelry to be made.  Fun!  Then it was on to the Anansazi Cultural Heritage Center in Dolores, CO.  They are under the auspices of the Bureau of Land Management and are responsible for a great deal of archeological research and preservation activity.  Their collections are pretty amazing... here's a sample:

Beautiful Entrance

Zuni Decorated Cat

Zuni Artifacts

Zuni & Navajo Artifacts

It was a beautiful day so we enjoyed a picnic lunch  admiring the scenery;

June daisies the day before my anniversary!

I love these pinecone clusters...

Such a beautiful view...

The clouds were amazing...

After lunch we visited a shop specializing in Native American made jewelry and pottery.  So very tempting!  Case after case of tourquoise and silver jewelry.  Pam bought a gorgeous earring and bracelet set... I drooled.... I'm waiting to find the perfect piece somewhere down the road; I'll know it when I see it.    We headed back to the campsite and enjoyed a perfectly barbecued steak and veggies.  Fitting end to a great day! 

Almost out of superlatives!

Posting on Thursday.... here's what we did yesterday....  It was only a two hour drive from Moab to Mesa Verde but it took us to yet another state!  We're in Colorado and have two and one half days to "do" three activities.  After settling Mr. Hobbs in his air conditioned home away from home, we headed back to Cortez (10 miles back) as we had read about their Native American Cultural Centre and wanted to see Native Americans dancing and also hear Sam Sandoval speak.  Believe it or not, Sam is one of the remaining 13 WWII Navajo Code Talkers.  Quite frail and a little difficult to understand, Sam took us on a journey through his upbringing in a Hogan on the plains through his initiation to the "non-reservation" work life in Las Vegas (when it was a hick town) then on to his military career.  Initially, he registered for the draft and when he showed up at his local selection board was refused "because I was a full-blooded Indian".  Undeterred, he met up with some Marines, was impressed by their lifestyle and attitude and was one of 600+ Navajo boys recruited to attend the Code Talker training program in California.  He told us that it was actually a white man who had been exposed to the Navajo language in a mission school who suggested to the US Government that the Navajo were perfect to create an unbreakable code and help the war effort.  It was an incredible experience hearing his tale and I gotta tell you, you could hear a pin drop during the whole hour.  He was captivating...

Waiting their turn

Lovely Dancer

We also stopped at the Mesa Verde National Park and got our tickets for our Ranger tour...

T'was a long and winding road to the top of Mesa Verde... but the sights were worth the climb...

Canyons View

Mesa Verde

We had read the literature yesterday and talked with the Ranger about our "abilities" or lack thereof and he recommended Cliff Palace as the best choice for us.  So here's the view from the top of the canyon looking down at the Palace...

Cliff Palace from Above

And this is just a bit of the downward trip...

I confess that I really did think about the fact that I would have to climb back up as we descended.  But the chance to see the palace up close and personal was too good to be true!  So I kept stepping down, down, down.

This is what we found!  3,000 to 5,000 year old Pueblo complete with apartments, kivas (like a living room or community room), storage areas, pottery shops.  Wow!  The masonry was so gorgeous...and so old...and so perfect...and don't they look like models?  Trust me - they're huge!

Turrets

Palace rooms

Hi-Rises!

And, inevitably, there was the exit sign.... an arrow pointing up, up, up.  Fortunately, it was a curved path and I couldn't see what was coming up...we had been warned about the 8' ladders...two of them... but are you kidding me ? # !!

Looking up

Looking back at narrow passageway I just climbed through!

Am I having fun yet????

Yep, that's me with the ultra tan face (and a little reddened from exhaustion).  Glad to say I made it and glad to say I did it!  The Ranger was right - it's definitely, indescribably fascinating and beautiful. Bye for now.... another adventure tomorrow!

Arches...

Today we visited Arches National Park and enjoyed a very leisurely drive.  Once again, the landscape was very different.  Here we found giant monoliths, slabs of rock called "fins" by some and beautiful vistas from high point byways.  Take a look:

Slickrock Slabs

Park named Three Gossips

La Salle Mountain Vista

Miles of "fins"

 By the way, you can click on photos and enlarge them, if interested.

I also enjoyed the namesake formations:

Large and Small Window, together

Double Arch

Arch, Window & Doorway

As I look at all these natural wonders and am awestruck, the part of the experience I have difficulty wrapping my head around is time.  Guides and guidebooks talk about time casually... thousands of years, millions of years.  When I see a balancing rock like the one shown below, and they say that it probably won't be here for too much longer.... my mind goes to "I wonder if my kids or grandkids will get here in time to see it".  The guides are thinking 14 or 20 or 100 generations!  Also, sizes are difficult to compute.  From the tiny grains of dune sand to the giant monoliths and massive walls of compressed sandstone and slickrock slabs, it boggles the mind how it all formed into this phenomenal landscape.  Ah well, mine is not to question "why" or "how", but just to enjoy, photograph, ponder and share. 

Balancing Rock

And finally, a bit of color and something that will not last, but it's showy splendor deserves a place in the blog of the day:

Double Whammy Day!

You may have noticed that I posted yesterday's blog this evening.... upload/publish wouldn't work last night....  Today was our full-day tour and, really, the first time we have spent money on our entertainment.  Pam and I both have passes for the National Parks, but we decided that today we'd leave the driving to someone else.  Also, the tours took us to places that we couldn't have access to on our own so it was a win/win.  The day began at 6AM as we had to be at the tour center by 7.  Our 4 x 4 tour was in a Ford SUV with air conditioning... but that was the only comfortable part of the trip!  Talk about bouncey!  Weston was our guide, a young, 6-year tour guide veteran who really knows his geology, history and folklore.  We learned a lot from him and he was very patient with two ladies who needed the occasional assist on steep climbs (out of the vehicle) and a Japanese family whose 1st language is Japanese.  Here's some of it....

Gemini Twin Bridges

Amazing lighning struck tree in Canyon

Beautiful pine...

Horseshoe Bend from Above

View Under Natural Stone Bridge

After a yummy lunch of fruit, sandwiches and chips we got on an old school bus and travelled to the boat launch across town.  Unfortunately the mosquitos were out in full force and by the time we all got on the boat I was frantic!!!  The captain got us out into the main part of the river and zoomed off incredibly fast - leaving the mosquitos well behind us.  We travelled 18 miles downriver, stopping occasionally to appreciate the incredible views and to listen to the silence broken only by songbirds and the gentle lapping of the water against the boat.  There was a nice cloud cover and strong breezes making it a great day for a cruise.  Here's what we saw.....

View of "pyramid"

Loving the Clouds

Many Beautiful Shades of Grey

 We learned about special concerts they hold on the Colorado River... instruments (including a piano) are brought by boat to a natural amphitheatre along the banks.  Tickets are anywhere from $30 to $300 per concert and attract some top of the line talent.  Monies raised go to support music education in the Moab and surrounding schools.  Here's the amphitheatre....

Concert's Natural Amphitheatre

Gentle Breezes, Georgeous Views:  Ahhhhh....

On the bus ride back to the tour offices we stopped at yet another wall of petroglyphs and pictoglyphs.  These were the most detailed and complex we've seen on the trip:

Our guides tell us the glyphs we have seen probably range in age from 3,000 to 5,000 years old.  Amazing to stand and photograph them.