Monument Valley

The locals were delighted with today's weather forecast and only one word was on their lips .... Rain! In fact, a train of fast moving storms were expected to move northward across the region throughout the day. Nevertheless, we were in Page to re-visit Monument Valley and that's what we set off to do. The drive takes about two hours, along Highways 89, 160, and 163 and the roads are pretty straight and flat affording views of massive skies and towering mesas. Most of the land is Navajo territory and there is little sign of any commercial activity, other than small market stalls along the highway. Just before the turn-off for Highway 63, we spotted a mall and pulled-in. Calling-in the local supermarket we noted the absence of a sit-down coffee shop (more 1st world problems!) so we left. Once outside we asked a local guy if he knew the whereabouts of a coffee shop. His answer ..... "There ain't a whole lot of anything round here"! (I was kinda glad we'd brought our own sandwich!) We drove on through intermittent rain and eventually reached the magnificent Monument Valley.

Unfortunately (for me) it isn't administered by the National Parks, but by the Navajo Foundation.(I think the Parks Authority would make a better job and I could use my annual pass!) So we visited the Welcome Centre and then drove a little further to take in the sights. (Some classic scenes from films such as Forest Gump, How the West was Won etc. were shot there)

We decided not to pay the $20 admission charge to the Navajo-run Loop Drive,as rain threatened and it would have taken around two hours to complete, over dirt road. So we visited Goulding's Inn (just inside Utah) instead, which brought back memories of a previous overnight stay there, years ago. The place is also a shrine to John Wayne who made many films in the area.

At this point, my photographer confessed to having 'done something to the camera', such that it wouldn't auto-focus when using zoom. Could it be that the auto-focus function had been switched off? Yes!!

Curiosity satisfied, we set off back for Page and hit the mother of all storms ...... akin to driving through a car wash! After an hour or so, the sky cleared and we were back in Page, having made the most of the day. Listening to XM today we heard 'White Rabbit' by Jefferson Airplane ....... I know I've used it before, but we like it and perhaps its surreal overtones reflect what we saw today, including a torrential downpour in Arizona!