Lost Soles & Jail Birds

May 29-30, 2017
Coral Sands RV Park
Bluff, Utah

Yesterday we left Page, AZ and drove through Monument Valley to Bluff, Utah. 

We were lucky to have a clear, cool day.  I kept expecting John Wayne to come riding across the valley on his faithful steed.








Bluff is a very small town that was settled in 1880 by Mormon settlers.  It's hard to imagine traveling in wagons across this canyon landscape  with no roads or GPS. 

The museum in town was not very large, but it was very well done.  These horses and the cow were for children to practice their riding and roping skills.










The town is not very large because it is sandwiched between the river bed and the canyon walls.

Twin Rocks

















Instead of a wooden Indian, this business had a carved wooden prisoner.  No doubt this is a reminder of the many Mormons imprisoned for polygamy.












Today we wanted to explore Natural Bridges Natural Monument but there wasn't a direct route from Bluff.  We decided to take the short cut and drive up Moki Dugway.  A dugway is a trail carved into the canyon wall to provide a path for wagons.  The up-hill wheels traveled in deep ruts that had been carved in the stone to prevent the wagons from sliding down the slope.  Fortunately the trail had been improved in recent years.

At Natural Bridges we were hiking towards one the the stone formations when the sole and heel came off one my shoes.  I'm normally not the most coordinated person, but climbing over the rocks with only one complete shoe was rather difficult.  At least I had an excuse for not going on that 20 mile hike.

We're On The Road Again!

May 23, 2017
J & H RV Park
Flagstaff, Arizona


We were in danger of broiling in the heat before we got everything wrapped up so that we could leave for the summer.  It was 106 the day we left Casa Grande.

We headed north to higher elevations and were greeted by pleasant 70 degree temperatures in Flagstaff and snow still on San Francisco Peak.  We enjoyed the afternoon visiting the Walnut Canyon, Wupatki and Sunset Crater Volcano National Monuments.

While we were hiking one of the trails at Walnut Canyon we met a man wearing an unusual T-shirt.  It sort of looked like a rock band tour shirt.  On the back was a list of dates throughout the summer and places corresponding with each date.  On the front it said "Johnson Summer Tour" and had a photo of his fifth wheel RV.  If you plan ahead for you summer travels it's much easier to be cool.


Sunset Crater Volcano was more of a challenge because I forgot to change shoes before we left the RV and I had to walk through lava fields in flip flops.  I blamed my lack of coordination on my shoes.

Even though I was footwear disadvantaged, I challenged Dave to a race to the top of the volcano cone.  It was a good thing I saw the "Trailed Closed" sign before I issued the challenge or I might have been in trouble.







May 23 & 24, 2017
Jacob Lake Campground
Jacob Lake, Arizona

 On our way from Flagstaff to the north side of the Grand Canyon we drove by the Vermillion Cliffs.

After we settled the RV in the campground, we drove over to Pipe Spring National Monument so Dave could get another stamp in his National Park Passbook.  It ended up being so interesting that we stayed for the entire afternoon.
 
The next day we drove down to the North Rim.  We have lived in Arizona for several years and visited the Grand Canyon several times over the years, but we have never visited the North Rim.  With 90% of all visitors going to the South Rim it is a welcome change from all the congestion on the south side.  Naturally, the best views weren't from the road, so instead of the 45 minute scenic drive we ended up spending the entire day there.

Everytime Dave found a wide spot in the trail, he stopped for a quick drink and an extra breath.















Meanwhile, I was on my way to the top.

Here's Dave sitting down again.













May 26-28, 2017
Elks Lodge #2498
Page, Arizona

We decided to stay at Page over the Memorial Day weekend to avoid some of the crowds.  It wasn't a very wise move since everyone seemed to be spending the holiday at Lake Powell.  It was very difficult to navigate Walmart with all those extra shoppers.

While we were here we toured the Glen Canyon Dam.

 Tomorrow we are heading towards Colorado.