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.