SEPTEMBER 24 - 25 - Travel to Jacob Lake, AZ; GRAND CANYON - NORTH RIM

MONDAY

SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

 

The total travel distance today was only 110 miles.

We went from Wahweap Campground in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area,

onto US Hwy 89 North, and crossed into UTAH,

 during the first twenty minutes of our journey.

Then, in sixty-seven miles, we were back in ARIZONA.

We settled into Kaibab Village RV Park,

at JACOB LAKE, ARIZONA, at 1:41 PM.

We were at 7,000 ft. elevation.

We took the rest of the day to catch up on our Blog

entries, and to relax.

 

 

TUESDAY

SEPTEMBER 25, 2012

 

Today was ride-share day,

so we traveled with Kay and Jim Copeland

in their vehicle.

 

 

 

 

Kay and Jim Copeland

 

 

Fantasy RV Tours arranged for us to have lunch
in the North Rim Lodge at 11:30 AM. 
This wall carpet was one of the
many decorating the room.

After lunch we walked to Bright Angel Point,

and then visited the North Rim Visitor's Center

 for the documentary, and a stop in the Gift Shop.

 

 

NAVAJO WALL RUG

in

North Rim Lodge

 

 

Gift Shop display

 

 

We took time to drive out to Point Imperial and Cape Royal.

The sun began to set while we were at Cape Royal,

and caste a glow on some areas of rock.

 

 

 SIGNS OF FALL

 

 

 

Quaking Aspens

 

Scrub Oak leaves

beginning to turn.

 

 

Open Pinyon Pine cones that look like flowers to me.

Note a few with brown seeds still intact.

We saw many Navajo people,

collecting the pine nuts from the ground,

around our camp ground.  The nuts

are high in fat content, and are an important

part of their nutrition.

 

As we began our drive back to camp,

in the twilight, the meadows were

alive with herds of Mule Deer.

We covered 131 miles in our loop today.

Thank you Jim and Kay for your

generous offer for us to ride with you.

 

 

SEPTEMBER 23 - GLEN CANYON DAM at Lake Powell, AZ

SUNDAY

SEPTEMBER 23, 2012

 

The early bird gets rewarded with a Gourmet

Breakfast at Lake Powell Resort at 8:15 AM,

followed by a bus ride to the GLEN CANYON DAM

for a guided tour 10:15 to Noon.

 

The first thing I spotted as I walked into the dining room

at the Lake Powell Resort was an Omelet Station.

The Navajo native who prepared our

omelets was an expert

in cooking to order.

 

We had our choice of at least ten ingredients,

and she daftly created four omelets at the same

time, with a smile.  I wish I had taken

a picture of her and the beautiful omelets

she slid onto our plates.

 

There was also a breakfast buffet for those

in more of a hurry which included

sweet treats, fresh fruits,

pancakes, sausage, bacon, scrambled eggs,

and a large kettle of oatmeal.

 

At the DAM

we had two tour guides walk us across the top of the DAM,

and then take us 53 stories below,

into the Center of the DAM.

We came out at a bridge that was just above

the water line.

 

 

 

Our Navajo guide, Nikki, was a walking encyclopedia

of statistics

 about the power of Glen Canyon Dam.

She is in her tenth year as a guide,

 and very happy to tell

you how Page was founded in 1957 to

take care of the construction workers

who came to this area to build the Dam.

The DAM was dedicated in 1966.

It took 17 years for the reservoir to fill,

with Spring run off from the Mountains.

So years when the snowfall is below normal,

the Dam will not have as high a water line.

The DAM supplied water to 8 States and

Mexico under a special Treaty.

 

 

We went down 53 floors inside this structure.

 

 

We were allowed to see these

Eight Water Turbines  

(a high tech water wheel),

before returning to the surface.

 

 

This is the bridge we crossed on our

way into Wahweap Campground.

It spans the Colorado River

and the area by the Dam.

 

In the evening, we all gathered

for a Picnic Supper and

Briefing in preparation for travel

tomorrow to Jacob Lake, Arizona.

 

Russ Goebert, accompanied

by Kay and Jim Copeland

led us in a series of Gospel Songs

and Country favorites.

 

 

 

 

 

SEPTEMBER 22 - BOAT RIDE on LAKE POWELL - RAINBOW BRIDGE

SATURDAY

SEPTEMBER 22, 2012

 

We began our day at 6:45 AM when we boarded the bus for

the trip to the Lake Powell Resort and Marina

where we boarded their two tiered tour boat,

for a 4.5 hour boat tour of the Lake Powell Reservoir,

and a 1.25 mile hike to the Rainbow Bridge.

 

 

 

 

We boarded the Desert Shadow

at 8:30 AM.

 

 

By 9:15 AM,

this mystical

triangle of jet trails

settled over some of

the rock formations.

 

As I walked to the rear deck

for some lemonade,

I found another photo op,

in the wake .

 

 

 

We were all given headsets

when we boarded the Desert Shadow,

so we could listen to the frequent

commentary in our own language.

They had provisions for five

languages.

The explanation for this rock variation,

was that the lighter color rocks near the

water line were caused by the low water mark,

which this year is 77 feet below the normal.

It is often referred to as the "bath tub ring".

 

 

The 1.25 mile walk was enjoyable

since the temperatures were in

the mid 70's on this sunny day.

 

 

 

 

Rita and Russ Goebert

just a short walk from

the Rainbow Bridge which

was established as a

National Monument in 1910.

 

 

 

 

 

This clear view was taken

from the position of the

above sign, looking through the arch of the bridge.

 

 

 

SEPTEMBER 21 - Traveling to PAGE, ARIZONA

FRIDAY

SEPTEMBER 21, 2012

 

We traveled 135 miles today,

to get to WAHWEAP CAMPGROUND
in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area of Lake Powell.

Once we had settled in,

we drove into Page, Arizona,

to attend Mass at

Immaculate Heart of Mary parish.
 

Another couple from our group was

also there, so we all went to dinner

together at Glen Canyon Steakhouse

where a Prime Rib dinner and

salad bar only cost $18.95.

I had at least a 6 oz. portion of prime rib,

to bring home and use on salads the next day.

 

 

Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha

Flower of the Algonquins,

Lily of the Mohawks.

 

Interesting that this Statue

should be so far West,

when we have a Shrine

dedicated to her in Auriesville, NY.

 

 

Dedication plaque.

 

Grande finale to today

was right outside of Church.

I took this picture from the

parking lot, after taking

the picture of the above Statue.

 

 

 

 

SEPTEMBER 20 - KAYENTA, AZ

THURSDAY

SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

 

Thursday was open on our schedule so we could

play catch up, or tour the area as we desired.

Russ and I took a 20 mile drive into Kayenta, AZ

for lunch at Burger King where they also

offered a display of NAVAJO CODE TALKER

Memorabilia in the dining area.

Outside, Burger King had an interesting Museum

with three Hogans.  At first I thought,

Male with the point, Female rounded dome,

and Child in a smaller version of the rounded dome.

Well, I was surprised when I looked inside the smallest Hogan.

Look who was there to greet me.

 

 

This little dog was the inhabitant.

We headed back to Goulding's RV Park,
and stopped at their Museum on top of the hill.
The view was gorgeous, and the items in the
Museum very interesting.

The Gouldings were responsible for having
interested John Ford in using the Monument Valley
Tribal Park areas as backgrounds for several movies
in the 1940's and 1950's.  John Wayne was one
of the actors, as was Shirley Temple.

While we were in the Museum they were
showing one of the movies, and
I was able to catch this image.

The upstairs of the Museum as the
actual home of Mr. and Mrs. Goulding,
and it was still furnished as it had
been when they lived there.
Since I am a quilter, I especially
enjoyed seeing this handmade
Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt,
and the sewing machine in their bedroom.

 

This is the view from the Goulding's veranda.

 

Some of the beautiful Navajo

jewelry in their Gift Shop.

 

When we returned to Camp,

we had the pleasure of

another round of

HOBO STEW

and ice cream,

before the Briefing

in preparation for our traveling to

Page, Arizona tomorrow.

 

 

 

 

SEPTEMBER 19 - MONUMENT VALLEY SAFARI

WEDNESDAY

SEPTEMBER 19, 2012

 

This morning at 8:30 AM,  we were fortunate to board

vehicle number one with David as our Driver/Guide

to see MONUMENT VALLEY  which is a Navajo Tribal Park,

"a 30,000 acre preserve established in 1958,

 and located on the border of Arizona and Utah,

 within the 16 million acre Navajo Reservation. "

Per the brochure we were given.

 

They rode in trucks with Open sides and bench seats like

kids would have in a school bus.

The temperature this morning was

already up to 75 degrees, but those

of us who had brought jackets with hoods

were quick to use the hoods as we got in motion

on US Hwy 163 South to the private Navajo Tribal Park.

We soon understood the need for this

vehicle type of "all terrain" truck,

 in that we were traveling on sand, rock slabs,

and time worn paths,

that we would not think of as roads at all.

 

This is one of the three matching vehicles we rode in.

 

 

Our first stop was to experience

a HOGAN, which was constructed of

juniper and cedar logs, in a hexagon shape.

The exterior has a dome shape, and

is considered female.

They are held together

without the use of nails or studs.

The pointed Hogans are male.

Bark removed from the logs,

is later used as filler between the logs,

 and then mud is mounded on top to finish

the rounded dome.

The home we were in was approximately 25 years old.

It is held together by gravity and the weight

of the logs and the sand-mud.

 

 

 

 

While our Driver/Guide David

told us about the Hogan structure,

Lucy demonstrated the carding of wool,

and hand twisting to remove lumps

and seeds to create a strand of yarn.

 

 

 

Notice the beautiful silver and turquoise jewelry

she is wearing.

 

These are some of Lucy's creations.

The dyes for the wool are from

native plants.  Thus the colors

of brown, grey, black and white.

Looking to the ceiling

 helps you to see the Hexagon shape.

 

As our morning progressed,

David as the leader of our Safari,

stopped for several photo ops.

 

 

Honeymoon Arch was

a challenge for some

of our party.  You can see

at least six on the top of the Arch,

and many made it to the area

under the arch.  I stayed

below and got this photo,

and felt much safer.

 

This formation was called

Skull Arch

 

Pictograph

 

 

 

 

 

Pictograph

 

Mike, one of our Drivers,

Drummed and Sang,

and then led us in several

dances accompanied by

his Drumming and Chanting,

before our lunch.

 

Our day concluded as we

drove out of the Monument Valley

Navajo Tribal Park,

with the surprise sighting of wild horses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SEPTEMBER 17 - 18 CORTEZ, CO to FOUR CORNERS, and MONUMENT VALLEY, UTAH

MONDAY

SEPTEMBER 17, 2012

 

The most memorable part of Monday was the Sunrise.

I was up in time to catch the awesome

sight of the morning light

silhouetting the mountains

looking toward Mesa Verde.

 

Sun rising in Cortez, Colorado

 

I caught the flames from our

Banana Split - Briefing Bonfire

at the end of our day.

Interesting that I would have

the colors of flames

as bookends to this day.

 

 

 

TUESDAY

SEPTEMBER 18, 2012

 

Today was a travel day which for us

began at 9:25AM in Cortez, CO,

and concluded at GOULDINGS RV PARK

in Monument Valley, UTAH at 1:43 PM MT.

 

By 10:18 AM, we were at The Four Corners Navajo Monument,

where they charged the small fee of $3 per person,

to see where the States of

UTAH, COLORADO,

ARIZONA, NEW MEXICO

intersect.

 

The flags of each state and the American flag

greeted us.

 

 

 

Many people where eager to

be photographed with

some part of their body touching

each of the four States.

I was so thankful I had the agility

to be able to strike this pose.

 

 

Navajo Arrow making artist

Robert Charley with some of his

creations.  He had one of the

booths that surrounded the

Four Corners Monument.

The stone he prefers to make

his Arrows with was a black

Asserite from California.

 

 

 

A Navajo Potter, named Paul Lansing

is responsible for these beautiful Vases

with free hand Hummingbird etchings.

 

 

 

 

Russ purchased one of these Guitar picks

with a musical note inlaid,

made by Orlando Chatteiz, 

just for the novelty of it.

Now that he has tried it,

it will become a nice piece of jewelry,

since the lady selling it gave his a chain for it.

 

 

As we entered back into UTAH,

this is some of the scenery along

US Hwy 163 South.

 

 

 

UTAH is a "free range" State

for livestock.  This lone horse

was along Monument Valley Road, as

we approached Gouldings RV Park.

I think I will name this photo

BLACK BEAUTY.