No Moment at Monument Valley...

So here I am, scrambling, wadding, and just soaking up the beauty of such a unique place. Just before 3 o'clock yesterday I am walking around in this canyon barefoot, going through almost knee-deep waters and mud, my feet a completely frozen by the time I come out on the other side, but it's all fine, because then the feet are so numb that I can't feel all the rocks I'm standing on, they are not really sharp but still kind of tricky to walk around like that, as soon as my feet got some kind of feeling back the next pond comes up.

Going through murky waters...


At one point of time I step into the unknown again, the water is so murky that you can't see an inch into it, my feet go deeper and deeper, I have to retract and fold my pants even higher up than before, I do find some unstable rock to stand on, then moving the next foot forward to find a hold, after about 10 steps I can't find another foothold without getting my pants wet, my feet and legs by this point are so cold that I decide to abandon this part and turn around, all I need right now is to catch a cold and fun would be over to be on the road for the next week or so.

What a place...


No problem, I got a real good look at this place and on my way back get to put my shoes on again... it took forever until my feet were back to "normal". I went into another canyon by the split and ended up climbing out of the canyon. Feeling the sun was a great thing, looking around and found a lunch-spot. Lets sit down and eat, it's quarter past four... what the hell, way too late to call it lunch!!!

Finally lunch, on top of this canyon-world, with lizards, bugs and other strange formations...


I explore for a bit longer, hike-up deeper into yet another canyon, then head back to the car, the sun by that time is pretty low and the light inside these canyons more intense. I can't take anymore pictures, I think I exceeded the picture per miles, will call it p/m from now on, and I'm not about ready to get a ticket for that, should there be a Ranger at the parking lot checking on the amount of pictures taken in here. But I do run into a couple that is taking pictures what looks the professional way, with tripod, expensive camera and a pack in the front and on the back to carry all the goods around. We greet and chat, it's Patrick and Heather, they are professionals in photography and film.

Me and new friends sharing this adventure...


We walk together for some time, they live in the Canadian Rockies near Calgary, and are on a trip here to get some pictures of the famous place here called "The Wave". Their plan is to get up way early in the morning to go to that place, capture that sunrise light in that red-colored sandstone, like just a few people have seen it before. You apparently need a permit to get there, only 20 people a day, with that you get proper instructions in order to find it and even more important to find your way back.
Back at the parking-lot I have to make a cup of coffee in order to make it through the next phase... My new friends setting-up camp on top of this hill and so I go join them for a while. I reject the offer to have diner with them because I was not hungry yet and also couldn't join them by camping because it is looking like a very cold night is approaching. As soon as the sun went behind the mountains it started to get cold again, and a bit windy too. I decided not to camp out there with them instead I had to move on and get going.

Coffee in the parking-lot, dinner in Page and Honda's competition...


Little bit more than an hours drive and I'm in Page, Arizona, find the Mexican Restaurant Patrick was recommending, Fiesta Mexicana and ordered a Quesadilla con Carne Asada, with that I have una Cervesa Tecate, a fine choice after a day like this. A classic place, it's after nine and the place is still busy, I ask the server if he knows a cheap place to stay tonight, he doesn't really but tells me the place next door is good and cheap. I book a room at the Motel Budget Inn and pay 42.84, not bad, except no wireless in my room and so I had to go there in the middle of the night and stand outside the office to connect, upload stories to this blog and check e-mail.
I sleep sound and probably have wild dreams about narrow canyons filled with naked women... o.k. I made this one up.
More computer work in the morning while drinking my tea, this time I can sit in the lobby while doing my computer stuff. Next on my list is to tour the Glen Dam that is just outside of town.
An amazing place in a different way than the nature around here, I sing-up for the 10:30 tour.
A very interesting place but I don't have the time writing about it now, sorry.

But I do have some pictures to show...

From Part 1: Berkeley, CA to Lafayette, LA

At 12:30 I hit the road again, the trip milage is 1146 and I'm heading into indian land, Navajo and Hopi indians rule here, with unbelievable views of more buttes and mesas. I drive south on 98 to 160, there I turn east, pass the villages Tsegi and then Kayenta. In Kayenta is the junction 163 that goes to Monument Valley, a tempting place to go again, but... I've been there four times now, in all the different seasons and so I decide against it.

More landscapes, or should I call it Good's sculpture garden???



After getting some hot water at the gas-station and sniff the local air I continue on 160, 11 miles later it's 3 o'clock...

Gas and the an apple... Let it be 3...