The Grand Canyon

Of the millions of people that visit the Grand Canyon each year, it is said that the average stay is only 4 hours. We stayed two days, but barely left the rim. Small kids and all.... I am destined to return and hike rim to rim. (Mule-less). There is a lot to see on the south rim. This was our second visit and we still haven't taken it all in.

Make no mistake about it, the weather is brutal in the summer. Bring lots of water.

We stayed on the rim in the Kachina lodge as the El Tovar was full. Make your reservations early to avoid this. Hey, we had rim facing rooms so I really have no complaints. I went to bed late and rose early to see the sun rise over the canyon - doesn't get any better than that.

Some of the little critters are a bit too friendly in the lunch area behind the lodges. This is because some AH's don't know how to read - "Don't Feed the Animals".

DESERT VIEW WATCHTOWER - GRAND CANYON

THE GRAND CANYON

On the way from the Four Corners region, we passed countless rickety stands along the side of the road where the native americans pedaled their trinkets. One sign even said "we're the friendly indians". Unbelieveable. That was, however, a bit of a problem in some areas where we felt a bit of animosity in the air - probably deservedly so. I would feel that way if forced to live in that inhospitable area.

We arrived at the Grand Canyon late afternoon to be greeted by a hail storm even though 30 mins earlier was over 90 degrees. We continued on to the eastern edge of the park and the Desert View Watchtower. When we got there, the heavens opened up and a torrential shower soaked everyone outside - we thought we were going to be washed into the canyon with the runoff.

MOVIN' ON....Monument Valley

As we made our way toward Monument Valley, we passed some "overachievers" trying to ride their bikes through the desert (heat). I gave them a toot from my air conditioned ride as we went by. Hope they got where they were going - No camelback would hold enough water for me to do that ride.

Monument Valley is home to many a movie set. It is a pretty awesome setting, but get out your billfold. This is stop #2 on Indian Reservation land and Thou Shalt Not Pass without paying homage to the landowners. I don't remember the cost.

We started to self-drive the dirt road that you are allowed on without the paid tour guide and turned around. The paid tour is probably worth it to hear the stories and history of the land, the monuments, the beliefs, etc. Otherwise, it is just some cool rocks. So, we did a 180 and headed for the Grand Canyon.

GOOSENECKS OF THE SAN JUAN STATE PARK

The following morning, en route to Monument Valley (an area actually on Navajo Indian reservation), we stopped the Goosenecks of the San Juan State Park. This largely an overlook of the San Juan River as it meanders toward the Colorado, but the river flows about 5 miles while only traveling one mile as the crow flies.

Between the Four Corners and the Goosenecks state park is a short drive through the Valley of the Gods (http://www.americansouthwest.net/utah/mexican_hat/valley_of_the_gods.html) which is said to be worth the side trip, but one htat we missed due to time limitations.

Visible from the road is the "mexican hat" an oddly shaped natural phenomenon of wind and water erosion. (see photo). I also included a photo of a small lizard friend I found at the Goosenecks state park. He was a bit of a chameleon as he could change colors to match the surronding rock.

BLUFF, UT & the FOUR CORNERS AREA

The Four Corners area is home to the heinous 1998 murder of an area Sheriff and shooting up of the area by several convicts. The story is retold in a National Geographic Adventure magazine here http://adventure.nationalgeographic.com/2008/10/fugitives/david-roberts-text/1

During the manhunt, several law enforcement men and women stayed at the Recapture Lodge where we would stay on our trip. (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&view=text&gl=us&q=lodging+near+four+corners,+twin+rocks,+utah&ie=UTF8&hl=en&sll=39.115180,-111.468730&sspn=5.058257,5.101895&latlng=664533844984828391&ei=F-NtSrzHIIi69QSBys3cBw&cd=3&usq=lodging+near+four+corners,+twin+rocks). This is a great place virtually right on the Colorado River that runs fast with a thick muddy look back behind the lodge. The rooms are nothing to get excited about, but the location is and there is not a lot around besides this lodge. We had dinner at the nearby Twin Rocks Cafe (http://www.twinrockscafe.com/) which offered decent food, but the service was lacking (bigtime). Again, though, the view was awesome.

FOUR CORNERS BOUND

This odd geograpic space seems incredibly arbitrary. Do NOT try to explain this trip to friends. It can only be answered with "Because". The four corners is the single spot in the United States where four states touch. It is in the middle of NOWHERE. That is why the government must have given it to the indians. Consequently, it will cost you a few bucks to get into the area for your photo, but if you came this far, you have to go in....

There are a handful of vendors in the area selling the indian wares, trinkets, etc. Hit it and go....