A nice start to the morning with a short run, heading towards the other end of town on the main street (called Main Street) with Noah by my side on his bike.
Unfortunately, the footpath did not go very far so after doing a couple of laps and both of us a cough, cough, coughing, we crossed the road to McDonald’s and purchased breakfast for us all. At least we did some exercise.
We left Moab driving south on Highway 191. We passed the Hole N” The Rock (a home carved out of a large rock) however, it did not open until 9 am, it was only 8.30. Got the picture of the entrance.
We also passed Wilson Arch, got the picture…
The scenery today was beautiful, amazing and very varied. We passed farms, wind farms, ranches, the Recapture Reservoir, natural bridges, small towns, ruins, steep roads, gorges, mesas, sandstone buttes, rivers…our eyes were darting from side to side.
We saw eagles and both cattle and deer alongside the road. Luckily they remained on the side of the road.
Please excuse again any bug splats on pictures taken from the motorhome, we did manage to clean them off at our fuel stop.
Our first stop was at the small town of Monticello where we filled the tank with gas and popped into the tourist information centre. The lovely lady at the desk gave us lots of places to see along our drive.
Back on the road and passed the town of Blanding, turning onto Highway 95 (Bicentennial Highway) and Scenic Byway, it was stunning.
Next, to the Butler Wash Ruins on the east side of Comb Ridge, these are cliff dwellings that were built and occupied by the Ancestral Puebloans, sometimes known as Anasazi, in about 1200 AD. Parts of the site has been stabilised and reconstructed, but most of it remains as it was found in the 1800’s. There are habitation, storage, and ceremonial structures, including four kivas.
While Noah and I were walking on the trail back to the motorhome we viewed a couple of gentleman in front of us. I don’t know who there were, random or official (they were not in any uniform) but one of them was wearing a piece (pistol) on his hip, accessorising his Harry high pants. I think he thought he was a cowboy. It did not make me feel very comfortable. Pete suggested we could camp there… not likely.
Next onto the Natural Bridges National Park, a U.S. National Monument with three natural bridges named Kachina, Owachomo, and Sipapu. We drove the 12-mile loop and had lunch in the bus at one of the overlooks. The scenery was gorgeous.
And then we turned onto Hwy 261 where the landscape was breathtaking. The route included the Mokee Dugway, a narrow winding road carved into the face of the cliff edge of Cedar Mesa, to the floor near the Valley of the Gods. It was amazing and Pete’s diving was amazing.
We continued on Hwy 261 passed the Mexican Hat and San Juan River until we reached Monument Valley, a red sand desert region on the Utah – Arizona border with towering sandstone buttes of the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park. Again, the scenery was breathtaking. We had lots of photo stops, dodged cars taking the obligatory photo in the centre of the road and looked at traditional jewellery.
There have been many iconic films that have had scenes set amongst these magnificent landscapes, particularly John Wayne Western Films and even Forrest Gump, the part where he runs until he does not run anymore…
Onto our final destination for tonight Monument Valley KOA. We set up camp and then it was time to relax, right in the middle of the Monument Valley.
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