Day 15 - Bluff, Utah

We started our day with sunshine and 2 degrees above. We were watching these poor Germans from our neighbouring tour bus walking around with their breakfast, trying to warm up.

After doing a little extra food shopping, we were on the road. We could see mountains on the horizon, a couple of monoliths. These turn out to be inner cores of ancient volcanoes, amazing...The land is very dry and beige coloured.

We crossed the Four Corners where Colorado, Arizona, Utah and New Mexico touch. From Tecc Nos Pos we head toward Monument Valley. The terrain is getting redder and less beige. Light blue skies and red hills pockmarked all over with small brush bushes. Now a red mesa (plateau) to our left and more ahead.

We drove thru Kayenta, pop. 5000, elev. 5641' to pick up gas and have a muffin break. Then I was reading from a book our friend Josiane lent us describing the drive from Kayenta to Monument Valley Tribal Park.

After arriving at Monument Valley, we opted to take a Navajo guide-driven tour of a rough 17-mile dirt track and for an extra $10 each we were treated to an extensive tour of a series of stone arches located on tribal land not accessible in private vehicules. It was quite a ride. The truck was a real dune-buggy. It felt like we were on a safari but instead of live animals, we were witness to nature's erosion in its finest. Our guide even treated us to a drum and song solo under an inverted bowl-type rock formation which produced a spectacular echo.

Monument Valley has been the scene of many movies featuring actors like Clint Eastwood, Tom Cruise, John Wayne, Nicholas Cage and many other.

As we drove away, we couldn't help looking up into the rearview mirror as Monument Valley disappeared behind us. It had been another memorable afternoon.

Now we are settled for the night and will dream of dust devils and cowboys.