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| Sunrise over part of Monument Valley.......7am alarm call for our 8 hour guided tour today... |
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| Sunrise reflecting off the rocks surrounding our campsite at Monument Valley..... |
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| One of the majestic rock formations very near to our campsite.... |
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| Our morning tour is into Mystery Valley in the backcountry which is part of The Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park and only accessible with a Navajo Guide..... |
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| Mystery Valley has many Anasazi ruins and rock art and fascinating scenery.....thousands of ancient pueblo sites dot the southwestern U.S.......this pueblo would have housed one family... |
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| Only 6 of us on this tour....... |
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| This is good road, we had a serious 4 x 4 off road adventure...... |
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| Yorkieman at one of the many natural bridges/arches..... |
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| The canyon where we will stop for lunch....... |
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| Our guide "David" now head cook......the burgers were actually delicious as was the campfire coffee....the dunny was not the best we have ever experienced but we are in the backcountry....oh to be a boy... No it wasn't dark just deep shadow and I had the camera setting incorrect... |
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| Lunch spot....... |
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| Free roaming horses of the Navajo herds......they also keep herds of sheep, the first we have seen on our travels but lamb/mutton no cheaper than in England !!! |
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| The second half of the day is the 17 mile loop road past the famous monuments and some more restricted backcountry....... |
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| Visitors can drive the 17 mile loop road themselves but it is a very uneven rocky road, I have to say most of the cars were rentals ! Plus we had like this morning an interesting commentary from our guide.... |
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| Hey Alan S...is it Big John ??? This one taken from a scenic viewpoint....they have several guys/horses who sit there for the tourists !! This is very much John Wayne country (sorry folks but he is my least favourite actor one step behind Sylvester Stallone !!) At our campsite they have a small cinema with free viewings every night of a John Wayne film as well as the hut were he stayed when here filming ! |
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| Another fascinating natural arch/bridge.....and what a perfect blue sky day.... |
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| The Totem Pole far left.....used in The Eiger Sanction staring Clint Eastwood now you're talking great actors.... |
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| Sand dunes in the backcountry......they shift and change during the rainy season... We've had a fabulous day...we have learnt so much about the history and culture of this region and the Navajo Tribe, we've seen natural arches, petroglyphs, pictographs, Anasazi Ruins as well as the famous movie set monuments.... We are very tried and very very dusty......all clothes in the washing machine when we get home...thank goodness we had one installed on board :) |
Hi Michael & Sue.
ReplyDeleteLooks like thirsty work hope there were a few beers to cope. Glad the burgers were good looked like the barbeque was a little out of control. Once again you are widening my knowledge just googled Anasazi,
Hope all the ironing is done after your day out.
Cheers,
Ann & Dave
It was definitely thirsty....he had to have water and coffee and wait until we got back home to "slack" his thirst on beer, well he had to have some reward for doing the ironing !! Well, I do like to educate !! M says he just wants to confuse Jim !
DeleteM & S