Day 27
Chinle, Arizona to Gallup, New Mexico
It was a rough night for the archeologist. Her "ghost bead" necklace seemed to have actived nightmares instead of warding them off. Also, her ribs were hurting (possible due to a little over-zealous hiking in the Canyon the evening before).
Once everyone got settled, we took off for the south rim again to see the overlooks we didn't get to last night. We drove straight out to Spider Rock overlook (the most famous one and the most distant one). Something amazing happened there.
It rained.
This was the first time it had rained on us during our entire time in the Southwest.
And it happened like this: We were at Spider Rock overlook at the same time that a group of Native American school children were there. They arrived just as we did on two yellow school buses. After they made the hike to Spider Rock lookout and back, one of their teachers asked them to do a rain dance so that he wouldn't have to water his corn that evening. Several of the kids did a dance (they looked like they ranged in age from 3rd grade to 5th grade) and a few minutes later it started to rain. The teacher smiled and they all got on the bus.
We all just kind of looked at each other, impressed and surprised, and then we went on to Face Rock overlook and Sliding House overlook.
As the little human remarked, "Every place you turn your head, it's like you're looking at another postcard."
And it's true. Every view out the window, every national and state park, every mile down the highway and byway -- each tableau is a picture-perfect postcard with land, sky, sun, and clouds all complementing each other and framing each other beautifully.
When I graduate from RSC, I am totally going to move here. Even though brown bears aren't native to the southwest, I'll find some way to fit in.
After our second tour of the south rim, we decided to save the north rim for our next trip out here and head on as we slowly make our way back home.
We took 191 South to 264 East to Window Rock, and then we took 491 to Gallup, where we hunkered down for the night (and did laundry!).
Showing posts with label Canyon de Chelly. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Canyon de Chelly. Show all posts
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Day 26 - Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Day 26
Holbrock, Arizona to Chinle, Arizona
We couldn't leave Holbrock without one more stop at Joe and Aggie's Cafe on Route 66. The little human is especially enamoured with the $1.00 gift bags there (full of those plastic cups from vending & gumball machines).
We took I-40 East to 191 North through the Navajo Nation to Ganado and the Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site. We watched a video about the history of the trading post and also the Canyon de Chelly. We had planned to go to the Canyon, but because we were trying to head back home, we had decided we didn't have time and were only going to stop at the Hubbell Trading Post. But after seeing the video of the Canyon, we all agreed that we had to go see it and so we continued north on 191 to Chinle.
In Chinle, we stayed at the historic Thunderlodge Motel and ate at the (also historic) cafeteria there for dinner and then took a sunset drive along the south rim.
We stopped at the following overlooks: Tunnei, Tseyi, Junction, and White House. We stayed a White House overlook for a stunning sunset on the canyon.
We all agreed that in many ways the Canyon de Chelly is even MORE spectacular than the Grand Canyon. I'm sure you're wondering -- how can that be? Here's my meager bear way of trying to explain it: the Grand Canyon is so big, so darn grand, that it's almost impossible to comprehend the immensity of it. It's so wide, you can't really see across it; and it's so deep, you can't really see to the bottom. It's like trying to take in the concept of infinity. It's so grand, you almost can't wrap your mind around it. However, the Canyon de Chelly is every bit as majestic and stunning in its features and geology, except it's on a much smaller scale....but a scale that you can take in and comprend. And that somehow makes it even more impressive/stunning/amazing than the Grand Canyon.
Also, the Canyon de Chelly has several Peubloan ruins that you can see with your naked eye -- and this adds to the intensity. Moreover, there is agriculture still being conducted on the canyon floor that you can also see with your naked eyes.
It's quite a place. It should go on all of your "bucket" lists.
Holbrock, Arizona to Chinle, Arizona
We couldn't leave Holbrock without one more stop at Joe and Aggie's Cafe on Route 66. The little human is especially enamoured with the $1.00 gift bags there (full of those plastic cups from vending & gumball machines).
We took I-40 East to 191 North through the Navajo Nation to Ganado and the Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site. We watched a video about the history of the trading post and also the Canyon de Chelly. We had planned to go to the Canyon, but because we were trying to head back home, we had decided we didn't have time and were only going to stop at the Hubbell Trading Post. But after seeing the video of the Canyon, we all agreed that we had to go see it and so we continued north on 191 to Chinle.
In Chinle, we stayed at the historic Thunderlodge Motel and ate at the (also historic) cafeteria there for dinner and then took a sunset drive along the south rim.
We stopped at the following overlooks: Tunnei, Tseyi, Junction, and White House. We stayed a White House overlook for a stunning sunset on the canyon.
We all agreed that in many ways the Canyon de Chelly is even MORE spectacular than the Grand Canyon. I'm sure you're wondering -- how can that be? Here's my meager bear way of trying to explain it: the Grand Canyon is so big, so darn grand, that it's almost impossible to comprehend the immensity of it. It's so wide, you can't really see across it; and it's so deep, you can't really see to the bottom. It's like trying to take in the concept of infinity. It's so grand, you almost can't wrap your mind around it. However, the Canyon de Chelly is every bit as majestic and stunning in its features and geology, except it's on a much smaller scale....but a scale that you can take in and comprend. And that somehow makes it even more impressive/stunning/amazing than the Grand Canyon.
Also, the Canyon de Chelly has several Peubloan ruins that you can see with your naked eye -- and this adds to the intensity. Moreover, there is agriculture still being conducted on the canyon floor that you can also see with your naked eyes.
It's quite a place. It should go on all of your "bucket" lists.
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