20th October Monument Valley
Another early start, we set off by coach to Flagstaff
Arizona where we are looking forward to staying 2 nights. These one night stands have been really
tiring! Doug our tour guide had promised
us the best day of the trip and he was not exaggerating. After an hour drive, we entered Navajo land,
a semi-autonomous region spreading over three states, which was given to the
Navajo nation in the 1920s. It is
however mainly worthless dessert but does include Monument valley.
After two hours the landscape starts to become really
dramatic with red stone mesas and buttes. Real cowboy film scenery! The real highlight of the morning however
came with a visit to Gooseneck Canyon.
Our driver, Jeff -white Stetson, leather waistcoat and string tie-
turned our 50 seater coach on a narrow track which had a warning about it being
unsuitable for trucks, RVs and buses, and drove us a couple of miles to an example
of an entrenched river meander, (bet you’re impressed!). What this really means is that it is a river
that over the millennia has cut itself a deep and narrow canyon which loops
around the harder rock in an incredibly dramatic fashion. Totally spectacular!! And close to where
Thelma and Louise were filmed supposedly driving over the edge of the Grand
Canyon!
Then onto monument valley and more photo opportunities than
you can shake a stick at. On the way
passing the site where Forrest Gump stopped running across the USA – wow!
There really is no point in describing Monument valley, it
is one of the most widely photographed places on the planet and has appeared in
scores of western movies. It is however
even more dramatic when seen in real life, it is almost as though you can’t
help but keep taking photos even though you are sure that you have already
caught the shot before. Then another huge
lunch and a visit to the John Wayne museum before heading for the hotel in Flagstaff.
In the evening we met up with our friends Jim and Jenny from
Ohio and spent a very enjoyable evening with them.
Goose Neck Canyon
Monument Valley
Run Forrest run!
Monument Valley
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