Needles Overlook & La Sal Mountain Scenic Drive.....11th Oct

Yorkieman enjoying the amazing view from Needles Overlook giving us a  glimpse of Canyonlands  National Park......

The National Parks are still closed, very sad for all concerned but we are making the most of being flexible and  in this area every corner turned reveals another panorama and canyon country scenery.....

The beginning of the La Sal Mountain 65 mile scenic drive......

Ummm there was just enough space for me to drive around mum and baby as they were not going to move !!!
This was just the first of several head of cattle on this road, including the bull !

The heavy rain we had yesterday in Moab  fell as snow here in the mountains ......we are now at 7000ft...

We had forgotten until coming into an area where there are deciduous trees that it's autumn....

We think it's time Camp Harris moves south.....

The La Sal Mountain loop road ends in Castle Valley, more amazing structures and canyons and some very mice houses.....
We've had a good day made better by the news that the Utah governor has negotiated with the government to re-open the Utah National Parks tomorrow with State funding.........

To Moab, Utah...Negro Bill Canyon....8th & 9th Oct

Yorkieman did a great job of negotiating the steep hills down through Mexican Hat  ( I never doubted him !!) and many other steep hills on the 191N !!!

This was fascinating, as you can see in the photo above it is  a very large piece of rock in the middle of "nowhere" which is one of the fascinating things about this area, total flat plains, albeit 4 or 5000 ft above sea level and then a "monument"  This one reminds us of the Baptistries in Florence and Pisa, Italy.....it even had a "cave' which looked like a door....

Lunch time spot at a very convenient scenic viewpoint Wilson's Arch...

Wilson's Arch lunch spot.....

Next day, we had planned a day "at home" but weather forecast is for heavy rain on Thursday which  proved correct. so we take our selves off for a hike through Negro Bill Canyon to Morning Glory Arch....

A good hike, 5 mile round trip....some level sand sections, some rock climbing, many times back and forth across the stream via stepping stones and not all above water but very enjoyable and worth it...

Part of the trail....

Trail to the right....

The trail.....

End of the trail/canyon, Morning Glory Arch is now in view.....

The arch is so huge this close that I could only photograph it is sections... ....

The other half !......back down the trail and home for a cuppa or was it a beer !!

Mexican Hat, Goosenecks State Park and 3 miles of Gravel Switchback/Hairpins !!....7th Oct

A great drive out today from  Monument Valley, first stop Mexican Hat, I think it speaks for itself.....
we walked closer to it and it is amazing how that top bit stays put !
This is the route we will take tomorrow when we move up to Moab and I am now rather twitchy as several steep downhill section 8-10% !!!!! One coming down into Mexican Hat Town that has a sharp right hand bend at the bottom...ummm...

On from here to Goosenecks State Park (open as State not National Park).....
this was very difficult to photograph to get an overall view of the many bends where the San Juan River meanders through the canyons......

It is one of  the biggest meanders in the world....

Yorkieman enjoying the view from the canyon at Gooosenecks.....

Some of the colourful mountains in this area......
So far on this trip we have travelled through the most amazing scenery and almost every corner (when there are any !!) produces another fantastic view of colourful mountains, mesas, rock formations ....... 

An original wagon at Historic Bluff Fort (population380) a lovely little visitors centre
We watched a very interesting re-enactment video about the 250 young pioneers who settled this area, a story of courage and fortitude on a six month journey across some of the most inhospitable and rugged terrain......

One of the original cabins of the first settlers.....

Yorkieman on the trail at Butler Wash...a nice half mile walk to the canyon and cliff dwellings.

One of the cliff dwellings.....we realised also today after seeing deciduous trees for the first time on this trip that it is autumn !

Well what can I say, we swapped drivers, me for him, I know I'm a wimp, as we descend the 3 mile gravel switchback/hairpin road down into the Valley of The Gods.....speed limit 5MPH..

Part of the Valley of The Gods from on high.....

Yorkieman is more than capable as is our truck,  4 x 4 manual gears and he didn't even need to touch the brakes....

Fantastic view of the valley from here....

It reminds us very much of some roads in Greece in Zagoria National Park and parts of Italy too although they were tarmac roads and this is gravel....
Another great day out and yes we will go to Moab via the steep hills through Mexican Hat  at least it won't be via the gravel switchback !!

Majestic Monument Valley and The Back Country....6th Oct 2013

Sunrise over part of Monument Valley.......7am alarm call for our 8 hour  guided tour today...

Sunrise reflecting off the rocks surrounding our campsite at Monument Valley.....

One of the majestic rock formations very near to our campsite....

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.....

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...

Only 6 of us on this tour.......

This is good road, we had a serious 4 x 4 off road adventure......

Yorkieman at one of the many natural bridges/arches.....

The canyon where we will stop for lunch.......

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...

Lunch spot.......

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 !!!

The second half of the day is the 17 mile loop road past the famous monuments and some more restricted  backcountry....... 

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....

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 ! 

Another fascinating natural arch/bridge.....and what a perfect blue sky day....

The Totem Pole far left.....used in The Eiger Sanction staring Clint Eastwood now you're talking great actors.... 

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 :)