I don't think it can get better than this

October 6, 2008: Monday

Well.

I don't think it can get better than this. Really. Words *totally* fail to describe the experience of Monument Valley and Grand Canyon - and photos really only serve to remind us of how incredible the *real* things were: photos can't really show you. You just have to go experience these for yourself.

But we'll try to give you an idea.

Monday morning. Got up to a bright, 50-ish-degree day, loaded up "Monroe" and headed out of Cortez, CO. We checked with "Leila" - and she said that it would only cost us about 15 miles and 20 minutes extra - to go be stupid and see "Four Corners" - the spot where 4 US States meet: Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico. It's a totally-artificial tourist trap, but it seemed unmiss-able for that little of a "cost". It also showed up the vagaries of timezones in this area: We switched timezones 2 or 3 times today - between Mountain/Pacific - AND add that Arizona is in Mountain Time - but NEVER goes on Daylight Savings time - so, this time of year, is on *Pacific* time - we had to keep checking our cellphones to find out what hour it was (they set themselves automatically from the phone signal they get) as we travelled freely between the 4 states.

We continued the "Honeymoon" "book on CD" we'd been listening to - to help pass the miles, and headed out thru the clear mountain morning. And we silently altered our trip plan to add "Four Corners" after "Mesa Verde" - thereby setting the stage to truly BE flexible on our trip - rather than just *saying* that we were going to be.

"Four Corners" was, indeed, quite accessible and we paid the $3/person fee to the Navajo Nation to get in, stood on "the spot" and got a couple of pictures of me being stupid: One toe in 4 states at once:

But it was fun and Kathy got a couple of photos of pretty flowers while we were at it, so if you're in the area, I *do* recommend it.

Back into Monroe to head for Monument Valley and watch the amazing Colorado/Utah landscape slide by - right into "Mexican Hat" Utah - which is the last gas before Monument Valley - and they knew it. With gas going for $3.20/gallon anywhere else, they were charging $4.11/gallon, so get your "last gas" *before* you get to Mexican Hat. I *did* fill up, because I was worried about availability, but it turns out that it isn't *that* far to "next gas" after Monument Valley, so don't fall for it yourself.

Then we rounded a curve - and there it was all stretched out in front of us: Monument Valley.

It was cool to see where so many movies have been filmed - and the "road to nowhere" going in, but it didn't really "grab" us per se. We took a bunch of photos with various lenses, then drove in, marvelling at the formations as we got closer. We got to the middle of the entrance, turned left to the Visitor Center ($10 to get in, and it is NOT a National Park since it is owned by the Navajo's), parked, and went to talk to the Navajo guide station. Ouch! We could drive the 17 miles of the valley ourselves - for free - or we could pay $65 apiece (!) to get a guided tour - including about 10 more miles that the public wasn't allowed to see alone. Well. $130 is a lot, but we decided to spring for it - and loaded up for a prompt 12 Noon departure - in a truck that had a special open-air "tourist carrier" welded into the bed - so that our group was a family of 5, a single guy, Kathy and me, and a couple on their honeymoon. A small group.

As soon as we got started, we were glad we hadn't subjected "Monroe" to this "road". Rutted, rough, bouncy: NOT something for your standard mini-van. Our guide ("Roy", I think) drove us slowly, stopping often to point out formations and tell the backgrounds. Very laid-back and un-pushy. The stereotypical Navajo.

And the magic began to happen. And I really can't explain it. The scenery was stunning, but there was something more. I began to feel a spiritual connection to the area - even though it seemed "commercialized" because of all of the glimpses which I'd seen in movies - from John Wayne movies - to even "Back to the Future 3". In spite of that, there was something very special. This may be my favorite photo of my whole life Did you even see that I'm in it? We began speaking in hushed tones and wandering away from the group to just "be with" the formations. It all really came together when we got to a tall formation with a hole in the top - that felt rather like a cathedral. I was already feeling powerfully thoughtful - beginning to cry - and feeling odd for doing so. And then our guide gently asked the group: "Have you ever heard Indian singing in person?" "Would you like to hear some?"

And then he collected himself, gently stood on one of the rocks, and began to sing - his voice echoing the familiar "Indian singing" - and filling the rocks. I just sat with my eyes closed and felt it surround me. Kathy sitting beside me.

There's no other way to describe it than "spiritual". Powerfully surrounding me and perhaps giving me some small taste of why the Navajo consider the entire Monument Valley to be Sacred ground. Just... beyond words.

We thanked our guide and made our way back to the truck - and completed our tour of the Valley - 2 and a half hours in all. I will create a separate photo album which gives a bit more of a taste of the views, but doesn't do it justice.

I felt embarassed about being so emotional, since I hadn't seen anyone else react that way, but then Kathy and I talked and she told me that she, too, had been inexplicably crying from time to time - marvelling at the beauty of the Valley.

Words - and photos - just can't describe it.

The *experience* was just beautiful and amazing and moving.

And the day was only half over.