Wednesday, Oct 19 - to Chinle

 

 

Hilary and Bob heated up fresh cinnamon buns that we found were available at the small grocery store next door to our lodge last night, while I made oatmeal from a package in the lobby.  Our friend Teri, whom Bob and I know from UCSB in the 80s, and now lives in Green Valley, AZ, a couple of miles from Hilary,  arrived at 9 from her travels in Colorado and Utah.   We all walked down to the San Juan River, birding and exploring, and then packed up and checked out of the Recapture Lodge.  

 

I drove with Teri, following Bob and Hilary who drove back past the Valley of the Gods, turning off on Beehive 316 to Goosenecks State Park.  The San Juan River winds back and forth, forming two goosenecks that we could see from 1000’ up on a partially unfenced overlook; outstanding and a little scary!

Goosenecks

 

On the way back to Bluff we turned off a short way to drive by the Mexican Hat Rock which truly resembles its namesake!

Mexican Hat

 

Just short of Bluff, we turned south on US 191 and drove 28 miles, crossing into Arizona.  For 54 miles more, we continued  past Navajo villages, and along the base of a beautifully striped cliff at the foot of the Chuska Mountains.

 

At Tsaile we reached the NE edge of Canyon de Chelly National Monument and followed Indian Route 64 along the north edge of the park.  All we could see was a rolling mesa top of piñon/juniper but when we stopped at several overlooks, we found ourselves peering down into a deep, narrow valley with small farms on the green bottom and small ruins half way up the steep red cliffs.

 

At Chinle we checked into the Thunderbird Lodge, a very nice motel run by the Navajo tribe. 
It was getting late and we were tired but decided to dash down the south side of the park to see Spider Rock, an 800’ sandstone spire that rises out of the floor of the canyon.   It was half in shade and difficult to photograph, but Hilary with her amazing iPhone did pretty well.

 

There are ruins in the fold of this rock face!

Near Spider Rock

 

Scarlet Gilia

Spider Rock

As we are in the Navajo Nation one more night, no alcohol can be purchased,  so we had our last motel cocktail party with rum and cokes, G' n'Ts and finished up some of the snacks Hil brought along. 

 

At the motel cafeteria we got Navajo fry bread covered with beans, steak, lettuce and tomatoes, and then retired.  Tomorrow at nine we are going on a 4-hour tour of the valley floor which can only be accessed by a Navajo guide.