Stumbling Along from Utah to Arizona

June 12, 2014 - Gallup to the Goosenecks

Sorry I have not posted in a few days but we have been pretty remote and very busy.  Gallup was a good catch up place at USARVcampground.  I have stayed there many times.  My trip to the bead wholesalers was first on my agenda.  The choices are many and I only wish I had learned more of the craft than stringing a bead and choosing other embellishments.  I will leave that to the Native people who do it well.  Glad most of my jewelry was made before plastic turquoise beads became easy and cheap.  It does keep me from purchasing new jewelry.  With my short hair, which is not conducive to camping and hiking, I purchased a cap and added my own embellishments (real turquoise.)

We left Gallup and headed northwest toward Utah.  Gooseneck State Park was the new destination.  It is very remote and quite lovely.  There were 100’s of 5 min. visitors.  Amazing that someone would travel that far out into the desert and hardly leave their car before dashing back down the road.  The goosenecks are really the gorges that the San Juan River has cut through the desert.  They are amazing and fun to watch those folks in rafts floating ~ they look like specks from top of the canyon.  Previously, friends had camped here and Jerry had taken outstanding sunset photos with clouds.  Not so for us.  The clouds blew away and sunset was a little dull but our God blessed us with the rise of a spectacular full moon.  We moved to different edges of the canyon to see what it would look like from every vantage point.  The wind had been high but as night fell it slowed to a sleepy pace.  No utilities and no need for AC.  Sleeping was good.  There were only two other campers. We quietly visited for a short time and off to bed.

Sunrise came early and we were out to meet the day.  Cereal and fruit, hiking shoes on and we left the Baby G parked while we made our way toward Natural Bridges National Monument.  Yes, we took a very winding and steep road through Valley of the Gods, 4 miles of gravel switch back roads, and on our way.  Stopped at a BLM Ranger station and next stop was Bridges.

Filled water bottles, put big brim hat on my head, picked up my walking sticks and camera – off to the first bridge in the rocks. The order of hiking was the Sipapu Bridge, Kachina Bridge, Horse Collar Ruin and the Owachomo Bridge.  The Sipapu was the most difficult for this old girl. It had two staircases and one trip down a wooden pole ladder.  The same that the Natives use to come from the sipapu during ceremonies.  The last run made me decide which quadriceps was strong enough to get me up.

 Sipapu Bridge









Paulette coming down the trail which is solid rock at this part.

Kachina Bridge
















Owachomo Bridge

 Pictographs at Sand Island Park, Utah

Back at Gooseneck State Park we fiddled around, I took a long walk down the upper ridge, and wandered back.  No one came to stay. Thinking to be safer and also wanting to see sunset at Monument Valley, I suggested that we try for a spot at the famous Gouldings of John Wayne history.  They now have a pricey  RV campground.  We hitched up and unhitched just in time to watch the sun go down and moon come up and my beloved Monument Valley.  It is never old ~ much like Chaco Canyon.

 This morning I was at it again.  Trying to get the good shot of the monilifts I love most - Right and Left Mitten or now call East and West Mittens.    Midday today.

Early this morning.  I am glad that I turned down the offer of a tour today at sunrise.  Yes, it would be expert help for $90 each.  Not sure the folks were experts but I try to do it myself.  Duh!  And yes, I probably have 100 more of this view from different times of the day or from different years for over 30 years.  I even did this in needlepoint once.