10/31/2011

October 29. 2011 – Monument Valley

We started our day by watching a BEAUTIFUL sunrise:

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We then headed out to see Goulding's area.   Harry Goulding is most noted for introducing John Ford (director) to the Monument Valley area where many movies have been made.

His area consists of a “mini-town” amongst the rocks – gas stations, groceries, lodge, trading post, campground, museum.  We drove around the area and stopped at the museum.

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The original trading post – now a museum:

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My heroes - Kiss

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Mike’s Potato Cellar – see above:

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Area around Gouldings:

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View from Gouldings:

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We left there and continued on the 17 mile loop in Monument Valley – can I saw AWESOME again!  Enjoy:

OR

https://picasaweb.google.com/gardenhavens/102911MV?authuser=0&feat=directlink

This one is known as the “Totem Pole”.  Clint Eastwood and his film crew were airlifted to the top of this and photographed – can you imagine????

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Can I continue to saw WOW!!!

And the incredible sunset photos:

OR

https://picasaweb.google.com/gardenhavens/102911SunsetSeries?authuser=0&feat=directlink

My FAVORITE photo of the trip:

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And how do our little kitties feel about their surroundings?

Who me??

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Is she talking to us?

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WE WANT SNACKS!

Hope you have a wonderful day cause life is good!

October 28, 2011 Part 2 – Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park

Here we are in the campground at Monument Valley.

The view from my door:

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The campground in the distance:

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We are the motorhome on the left:

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We took a tour of the museum and gift shop.  The museum had quite interesting information on the start of the Tribal Park, Navajo Code Talkers and artist exhibits.  This I found really interesting:

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There is a 17 miles dirt loop road that takes you down to the valley floor.  We only did 4 miles of it today – will do the whole loop tomorrow.    All I can saw is WOW:

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These are called “The Mittens”:

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My most favorite picture of the day:

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Back at the RV, we brought our chairs to the edge of the campground, watched the sunset with all the changing colors – OH MY!

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We are so blessed!

Note: A link to tell you more about the Code Talker Exhibit in Kayenta.

http://www.azcentral.com/travel/features/articles/2008/12/05/20081205codetalk1205.html

October 28, 2011 Part 1 – Travel to Monument Valley

We left our little spot at the Elks, stopped at the Carwash on 20th and Dustin to dump and off went went to the west – :-).

(Note: Picture intensive blog!)

Shiprock seen from the town of Shiprock:

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And the road goes on…  High Desert – Elevation over 4000’:

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Cows/Cattle along the way:

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AWESOME!:

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Red sandy and rocks:

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Into Arizona:

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More cattle and horses – lots of wild horses:

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The road continues on:

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and on, but wait, what is that in the distance:

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Huge rocks just jutting up from the landscape:

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Waves in the rocks:

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Strange swirls in the rocks - (aliens???):

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Everything is so red:

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Homes dotting the landscape:

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A BIG home dotting the landscape:

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More of those strange rocks:

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Wonder what this means:

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And they continue to get more numerous:

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We stopped at the Burger King in Kayenta.   Although I am not a big fan of BK, this one had an exhibit on items from King Mike who was a Navajo Code Talker in World War II – very interesting.

Leaving Kayenta and heading into Monument Valley – more of those HUGE ROCKS:

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And we have arrived!

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(Because this is so picture intensive, I will have a part 2 for the rest of our day.

Miles Traveled: 155 Miles

Routes Traveled:

New Mexico: Airport Road; Municipal Drive, E 20th Street (stop to dump); E. 20th Street; Butler Avenue, US-64

Arizona: US-64; US-160; US-163;

Utah: US-163; Monument Valley Road

Arizona: Monument Valley Road