Monument Valley Part Four (Actually Mystery Valley)

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Another morning shot,
the clouds seem to hang around
till they sun burns them off.


I know I've posted a lot of photos
of our parking space
but every time I look at one
I'm reminded
of what a great place this was.

The next photos were taken
on our extended tour.
They call this area Mystery Valley.
First stop, this overlook.
It's called the Owl.


It was way back in a canyon.
lots of photo opportunities


It had rained that morning
and the sandy soil
compacted itself against the rock.
As the sun dried it out,
it chipped away
making beautiful natural patterns.


We had the opportunity to climb
up this very steep rock slope.
Terry and Brian (our guide)
scampered right up.
I stayed below to take pictures
(wimp that I am).


More desert greenery


While Terry and Brian
were up on the Owl,
I took a milder route
off to the side.
That allowed me to get this shot.

This was taken off to the side
of the Owl.
The holes in the rocks
are caused by the wind.


They are quite symmetrical.


Next stop,
some cliff ruins


This shot shows their location.
Many dwellings were created
at the backs of canyons,
high up on cliffs.
All the better from a defensive standpoint

Another piece of desert greenery.
Click to enlarge
and you'll notice a small bulb
on the bottom.
I assume it helps to hold moisture.


My favorite picture of Terry.
He looks so noble!


Patterns in the rocks.


Another cliff dwelling.
I have to say, this was quite a tour.


The canyons we visited were pretty amazing.
We'd travel in dry, open land,
the go back in these canyons
(where the water collected)
and see huge trees and bushes,


There was evidence of water
everywhere we went.
It paints the entire area.


Then filters down to
water the plants.


Then there's these trees.
I believe they're junipers.
We had them at Ghost Ranch.

Many of them
are over one hundred years old,
but if people leave them alone
they continue to stand guard.


We noticed that almost all the flowers
were either lavender
or yellow.

I like the yellow ones the best.


Only two more entries
on Monument Valley.

Tomorrow,
holes and petroglyphs!

(Just so you know, we're now in Capitol Reef!)

Monument Valley Part Three, or the Horse and the Thumb

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Here we are again...

Please feel free to
click on any of these,
they look much better
at a larger size.

This was taken
on our day trip
through the valley floor.

The sky was dark one minute
then the sun
would burst through.

It was gorgeous.

The sparse sprinkles
made the dirt
very red
and the plants
very clean and green.

I just wish
I could explain
how the desert smells
after a slight rain.

Now begins the saga of the Horse.

This spot is known
as John Ford's Point.

Every time we've visited,
there is always a man on a horse.
For $5.00, you can take his picture
(the price may have gone up,
we didn’t check).

I was more interested
in watching the pair
in silhouette.

Then, as if on cue,
the horse reared up,
just like
Toronado.

And it didn't cost me a thing.

At John Ford's Point
you can also rent horses
for a ride in the Valley.

We didn't ride,
but I took this picture.

Shortly after that,
we saw another rainbow.

Then the clouds
started hovering
over the peaks.

Once again,
look at this green.

Who says the desert
is dry and barren?

I love these trees,
they remind me of Halloween.

This formation was
way down in a valley.
I wish we could have gotten closer,
but there was no access.

Once again,
the clouds come in.

Then they go away.

We took a short hike
back to the North Window.

When we arrived,
this guide was beating his drum
and singing a Native song.

It echoed beautifully
over the canyon.

If you look closely,
you'll see how high up he is.

And how very round that rock is.

Brave fellow.

This was his view.

Once again
the desert foliage.

This formation is called
the Thumb.
I thought it looked
like one of the Moai
from Easter Island.

When we got closer,
it really resembled a Moai,
face and all.

Or maybe Thumbelina.

Shortly after,
we saw this wall.
The beauty of these
rocks and formations
really transcends photography.

But I had to try.

Gosh
only three more sets of photos
from Monument valley.

the Sun Marker

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Well geez, we are just doing too many fun things, I can hardly keep up!

Today we took a day trip to Blanding, Utah, a mere hop skip and a jump down the road from our campsite.

We visited the Edge of the Cedars State Park Museum as well as the Dinosaur Museum. Both were quite wonderful, but for this entry, I'm going to focus on an exhibit at the Edge of the Cedars.

We had already visited the Museum
(hopefully pictures to follow)
and went outside to visit the ruins,
when we spotted this,
off in the distance.

There was a trail down to the structure.
On the way down,
I saw these.
I had almost forgotten dandelions.
I do believe these are the first ones
I've seen here in the southwest

When we got to the structure,
we found this.

I had read about archeoastronomy
in relation to Chaco Canyon,
but this was the first structure I've seen.

I was fascinated.

Upon closer inspection,
there are various forms
(most in the shape
of ancient petroglyphs)
sculpted into the structure.

They were all over the structure,
in seemingly random order,
but it's all very carefully planned.

When you stood inside,
you could see how,
at different times of the day,
or different seasons of the year,
The shadows would cast
at a different location.

It was really a beautiful thing.

Then,
all of a sudden,
the sun moved,
and I got this shot . . .
and goosebumps.

By taking one tiny step
it changed to this
(and I'm sure my lens could
have been cleaner . . .
but I love the effect).

I just had to share,
because truthfully,
this was one of the
most beautiful,
magical things
I've ever seen.
I can't explain it any better than that.

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There will be four more posts
of Monument Valley pictures
(which you may feel free to skip,
I'm really saving these for me).
That said, I want to try to keep up
with our daily doins,
so for a while
there may be two posts a day.