The scenic route to Cortez, Colorado

What a great day! We survived last night without any bug invasions.  We got an early start, and began our journey crossing through the Navajo Indian Reservation.  Melissa wanted to know where all the people were living in TeePees, and I had to tell her they don't do that anymore.  They live in houses.  I think she was disappointed!

Chip, you would be proud of me.  Today was the day I left the comfort zone of my map and itinerary and found interesting detours along the way.  We left Page, Arizona, a place I learned that they filmed parts of "Into the WIld"--which is one of my favorite films as of late, as I kind of identify with the gypsy spirit of Chris McCandliss.  Only he ended up dead.  I have been thinking of him on this trip too, wondering what he must have thought traversing these wild places all by himself, living by his wits and loving the solitude.  I still can't get over the solitude, the expansive landscape that goes on and on and on.  Anyway, along the way we past the Navajo National Monument, so that was my first detour.  It turned out to be a little Visitor Center with a 1 mile round trip hike to an ancient Puebloan cliff dwelling.  We were across the canyon from it, but had an excellent view. It was a very cool place.  They also had dinosoaur footprints on display, and a Navajo Hogan and Sweat House.  The Sweat House is like a sweatlodge--used for the same purpose, but made out of log frame and clay and very much smaller than the ones I have been in back east.  Only one or two people could fit in this thing. Interesting.

Chris McCandliss, Forrest Gump, and John Denver

My second detour was a big one.  We decided to take a long route to Cortez and take in Monument Valley which was breathtaking and I am so glad we did it. Unbelieveable scenery, you knew right away lots of films had been filmed here. Once we got there and checked out the Visitor Center, there was a 17 mile drive on a dirt and gravel road with LOTS of potholes and some steep inclines, which was about a one and a half hour drive around and up close to these monumental rock formations. It was amazing.  Leaving there, we learned a few miles up the road we were traveling was the spot they filmed Tom Hanks running down the road in Forrest Gump--remember when he ran coast to coast??? That scene of him out west??  We got pictures at that same spot-I even got one of me being Forrest Gump and running up the road.  When there weren't any cars in either direction, and there was no wind, it was the quietest moment I think I have ever heard.  No people, birds, wind, nothing.  Wow.

Back on the road, we stopped at Four Corners National Monument-the place where you can put a foot/hand in four states at once-Arizona, Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico.  Not overly exciting, but since it is right off the road we were traveling, it was worth a stop and a picture.  Then it was back to the car in time to put on my John Denver CD as we entered Colorado!!!!  This may sound crazy, but those of you who know me well will understand.  Entering Colorado was rather exciting for me.  It has been a dream since I was a kid, since I fell in love with John Denver, to go to Colorado someday.  Now this was not exactly Denver, and it wasn't the Rocky Mountains, but hey, close enough to make me happy.  I have been reading the book "The Last Lecture' about realizing your childhood dreams, and really living life, and so I thought of this and it brought a smile to my face.  I met John Denver once, and the excitement level was right up there with (and probably exceeded) that of Wayne Brady, if you can imagine.  But he didn't ride me!

So we made it to our campground, and I am so impressed with this KOA.  Really nice.  Best KOA I have ever been to. And so ends another great day.  I am so thankful tonight to be able to have the opportunity to take this trip, to see these things, and to be allowed to take this journey that is my life.  Thanks to all of you for taking it with me!

More tomorrow,

Beth