After breakfast we headed straight to the True Value hardware store to fix the bike rack. After several hours of messing around in the parking lot, our solution was implemented and we were ready to move on. Our jury rig was very sturdy, but it meant that undoing the bikes was now a two person job. Opening the rear storage box required undoing a strap and loosening the bikes…annoying. But at least we didn’t have to worry about the bikes falling off.
We were now in Arizona, at least for a short time until we headed north again. Jason and I wanted to see the famous Antelope Canyon. These are the beautiful canyons that under certain light make for beautiful photographs. They have been photographed extensively, losing some of their charm in my opinion. Unfortunately the several tour options around town seemed very touristy and crowded. The Navajo control access to these beautiful sandstone canyons, and tours are expensive and booked well in advance. We read that you had to stand in line to take the shots, and you were limited in how long you were allowed to compose your photograph. We rapidly lost interest. Instead we decided to head to our next destination, Monument Valley.
On the way we stopped in one tribal town (probably Kaibito?) where we swam in a river. It was fun to bounce down with the current and then walk back up along the shore. The steep red cliffs framed the side of the river. The boys used sticks and boards to devise different ways of arresting their motion against the current.
Later we stopped at the Shonto Indian trading post. It was a rustic old building that shared space with the post office. I bought a pair of silver/turquoise earrings. Other items for sale included blankets, pottery, and weavings.
Eventually we made it to Monument Valley.
There were a number of fun things that you could do in Monument Valley with a little advanced planning… such as horseback riding, or camping inside the park on private tribal land. Monument Valley is not a National Park. It is a Navajo Tribal Park, and is run by the Navajo. We didn’t plan anything, so instead we opted to drive the scenic drive.
This 17 mile drive through the park at sunset was gorgeous! Big red cliffs rose incongruously from the floor of the valley.
These red sandstone cliffs were carved by erosion into mesas (table formations), buttes (round end-table like formations), and spires (narrow and free standing formations).
The sky at twilight was spectacular.
There was a brand new campground opposite the visitor’s center. It was strangely deserted. I supposed this was because it was so new.
We were one of two parties that were there. We saw lots of lightning that night across the valley, and enjoyed how it briefly lit up the mesas in unique ways.
