I'm back in the saddle as it is transition day from Kanab to Moab where home base is for the next week. Susan and I took 2 side trips on the way via the southern route but the others took a northern route in order to visit Capitol Reef National Park.
Our first stop was at Horseshoe Bend in Page, AZ, about a 90 minute drive from Kanab. Horseshoe Bend is an overlook of a 180 degree turn in the Colorado River. It requires a half-mile hike through sand to reach the viewing area. Much of the view was blocked by the ledge in front of the fenced area. But the fenced area only protects about 5% of the available vantage points. In the unfenced area, it was a matter of how close to the edge one wanted to get ... or was allowed to get by their spouse. The following photo was the best I could get based on my allowed distance from the edge.
Then we were off to Monument Valley which is located along the Utah/Arizona border near the Four Corners. It was about a 2 hour drive from Page. We had been to Monument Valley in the past - about 25 years ago on a drive from Santa Fe to the Grand Canyon. On that trip, we drove by the area but didn't enter because the winds were so fierce that it was a solid wall of dust and sand.
Before entering Monument Valley itself, we went into the Navajo visitor center where we had lunch. We debated whether to make the scenic drive as my research indicated it could take 2-4 hours. It was 17 miles of rough and dusty road. We did it in about an hour.
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| Merrick Butte |
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| East Mitten |
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| West Mitten |
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| Sentinel Mesa |
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| Totem Pole |
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| Three Sisters |
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| Camel |
After the scenic drive, we left the valley with yet another layer of dust on the car. I'll need to find a carwash.
The rest of the drive to Moab was filled with more emptiness with a few interruptions by small towns with Native American or unusual names. One town was named Mexican Hat and we wondered about its origins. Then we learned the source of the name on the other side of town.
That is clearly a sombrero, despite the insistence by others (Susan) that it looks like a toadstool.
We arrived at our place at about 6 PM. It is an almost-new condo but has some issues. It doesn't measure up to the place in Kanab. The others showed up shortly after we did and we met for dinner at the Blue Pig BBQ.
Susan’s quote of the day: “Who would want to live here?". The desolation of the high desert causes reactions like this. Despite no signs of any life - except for the ubiquitous crow which is the true national bird - we saw signs for school bus stops ahead. Never saw more than an occasional hut for housing except for areas near wee towns on the reservations.
The highlights - Monument Valley.
The regrets - None.
Today's total miles - 374
Today's miles from start to destination - 0
Today's miles on side trips - 374
Today's miles driven by Paul - 374
Today's miles driven by Susan - 0
Today's hours in car - 7
Total Miles Hiked - 1.0
Cumulative total miles - 6,457
Cumulative miles from start to destination - 3,668
Cumulative miles on side trips - 2,789
Cumulative miles driven by Paul - 5,101
Cumulative miles driven by Susan - 587
Cumulative hours in car - 131
Cumulative Miles Hiked - 37.2
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