Day 13 Sunday 31st August (Travels into Monument Valley)

Oh my goodness - it was incredibly hard to select just a few photo’s so .....today has a lot.

We had an early start today when Maritta woke me to see the sunrise from our balcony, spectacular, the light show is incredible....   After sunrise I went back to sleep for a few hours, missing breakfast (not really a hardship for me as most would know).

But first, some sunset photo’s from last night:

Sunset looking West

The colouring in the sky was beautiful.  As they are just coming out of their monsoon season the clouds tend to gather in the evening allowing some really stunning photos.

 Now this morning's sunrise:

 

Sunrise looking east into Monument Valley 1

Sunrise looking east into Monument Valley2

Sunrise looking east into Monument Valley 3

 

 

First light starts to touch the buttes

After Dale finished his "sleep in" we decided to do a trip into the valley which really needed a local guide.  The road are really rough to non existent.  Warren was a treat - a local Navajo Indian who has strong family connection to this area although he was born in Utah.  He reminded me a little of my father with his slightly off the wall humour.  He was quite knowledgeable pointing out the formations, passing on tidbits of information about the Navajo culture which we learnt was a matriarchal system where the family roots are measure from the mothers side of the family.  Setting off - east and west mittens are the first stop.

Panorama of east and west mitten buttes.

Also having a guide also allows you to visit some of the “back country” which you cannot visit otherwise, and some of the local artisans which are some what further out of the way. The tour lasted about 4 hours.  We visited a traditional Hogan where one of the locals demonstrated their rug weaving processes.

Inside the Hogan

 

External view of Hogan - a mud exterior with timber interior

The Sleeping Giant

John Fords lookout - Dale on zoom!

Churchill's Nose

Indian Chief

The Big Hogan - still used for important ceremonies and meetings

 Once again the scope of the erosion that has taken place over millions of years is hard to grasp, first by sea, and then later by rain and wind.  All the formations are naturally occurring.

Anasazi rock carvings.

Totem Pole and Yei Bi Chei

One of few trees existing in this area - Cottonwood

The cube - (and Maritta)

Our hotel - just coming into view....

After 4 hours travel across some seriously bumpy roads - we were both glad to reach the cool interior of the hotel. One has to marvel at the hardiness of the people who live on the valley floor where there is almost no drinkable water, the few natural springs being very mineral in nature and only suitable for livestock. Speaking of livestock, how the sheep survive eating salt bush is beyond us.