Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park
Friday - 1 April 2005 - On the Navajo Nation, Arizona:
We didn't do much yesterday - it was freezing. And by freezing, I mean below
zero and super windy. Because of the terrible wind and bitter cold, we all
decided to leave a day early. My brother and his family headed east to Fruita.
We followed Mom and Dad to Monument Valley.
The drive south to the Arizona border is simply magnificent! Huge red cliffs,
arches, caves, vast mesas, wild horses, elk, cattle, wild flowers - everything
and nothingness, all with cloudless skies. The temperature actually read 66
degrees at one point today, and we never were below 4,500 feet.
Coming into
Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park is absolutely awe-inspiring. Huge red
rock monoliths jut out of the desert floor! (Yes, yes, I was expecting a Chevy
Suburban to be parked on top of each one - just like the TV ads.) Today, while
driving on the beautiful, though dangerous, Utah 191, we were passed on a blind
curve THREE times! No matter that DT has a 400hp diesel engine and that he
drives a very reasonable speed. There is just something about being behind a RV
that people can't tolerate! Why would you pass a 40-foot bus with a tow-car -
totaling around 60 feet long - on a blind curve? People are insane. Twice, there
were near head-on collisions.
We have been on The Nation before. Such incredible beauty - and the largest
amount of beer bottles along the side of the road ever to be seen. Anywhere.
Never a can. Only bottles.
Mexican Hat
Mom and Dad waiting for us at the Mexican Hat
rock formation vista point. DT snapped this photo of Mexican Hat. We
continued the last twenty miles into Monument Valley together and checked into a
great campground,
Gouldings Lodge, completely surrounded by a huge rock canyon. (Thus, no
satellite service for a few days, Dear Reader.) We set up camp, pulled-out our
lawn chairs and enjoyed the warm sun! Oh, it was a wonderful feeling... until
about one hour later when the sun began to set and we were again freezing - we
are camped at about 5,500 feet.
Tomorrow we will explore the park.
RV Park:
Gouldings Lodge Campground
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