Today we visited Monument Valley - meaning valley of the rocks - is characterized by a cluster of vast sandstone buttes, the largest reaching 1,000 ft (300 m) above the valley floor. It is located on the Arizona-Utah state line and is in the Navajo Nation Indian Reservation.
We drove through the valley on a 17-mile (27 km) dirt road that left us and the car covered in fine sand.
We went back to Mexican Hat to have some lunch and then headed to the Natural Bridges National Monument.
There are three natural geologic stone bridges, currently known as Sipapu, Kachina and Owachomo after their original names were changed to reflect the Hopi Indian history of the area. Karel trekked down the side of the cliff to walk underneath Sipapu. I tried but as you all have learned ~ me and open stairs or ladders don't work well together. There was a steep open stairway that led down to the trail to the bridge and I couldn't go down there. Karel encountered a rattle snake on the trail and they both respected each other's space without harm to either one.
We stopped at the overlook for the second bridge and as it was getting late in the day continued on to the last and one of the largest natural bridges. This one had a trail that led directly to the bridge and was easy to get to. It was very beautiful.
We headed back to our hotel in Mexican Hat and now the restaurant was open - the Swingin' Steak Restaurant. The restaurant owner who doubles as the grill-master, swings an iron grate of a cedar wood fire with one hand while he holds a beer or steak fork in the other hand. The menu is about as simple as it gets - steak, burger, beer, served with baked beans, salad and Texas Toast. The choices were simple. Karel tried one of the local Utah brews - Polygamy Porter.
Deb & Karel
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