Pine, Arizona

Looking down into Pine

Glorious view!

Looking acroos to the canyon rim.

That's quite some flower stalk!

We REALLY enjoyed our time in Pine!  This little piece of heaven, where friends Gretchen, Alan and Caroline Yost live, is nestled in the mountains above Phoenix, on the edge of the Mogollon Plateau.  We drove up to the rim and hiked out to the edge to enjoy the view.  We were able to see all the way down the canyon to Pine!  Explored the local antique shops.  Found some great Christmas goodies to add to my collection!  Larry just sighed and rolled his eyes........

Winslow, Arizona - Route 66!

Well here we are!  Traveling down Route 66, near the town of Winslow, Arizona - - made famous by The Eagles.  Sadly, Larry has not YET caved into my pleas for a photo-op of him standing on a corner, waiting for that girl in the flatbed Ford to come rolling by!  ;-)

Last night we stayed at the Homolovi Ruins State Park.  We had a chance to look around the ruins before the wind kicked up, sending us into the confines of the camper.
It is tragic what has occurred in the recent past to such ruins, at the hands greedy treasure hunters.

Remains of Homolovi Village of Perhaps 2000 people. 

The Trail of Looting and Destruction

Pot Shards

Homolovi Kiva
Square Shape Rather than Round

Clear evidence bears witness to wanton destruction and thievery of historic treasures.  Craters, rubble and pot shards are what is  left in the wake of vandalism and a violation of these remnants of cultures that showed such profound respect for their surroundings.  It certainly has made us pause and reflect......... 

Hubbell Trading Post and Petrified Forest NM

From Monument Valley, we headed into Arizona.  A quick stop at the Hubbell Trading Post was a look into the past!  The items for sale in the gift store were gorgeous, but well beyond our budget!  As we looked longingly at the woven Dineh (Navajo) rugs, we staggered back when we saw the prices!
We took a few hours to drive through the Petrified Forest National Monument.  There were some wonderful petroglyphs along the way, and wood-turned-to-rock all around.  There  was an "other-worldly" feel to the park!
As we crossed the Utah-Arizona border, it felt as if we made the turn toward home. From here in  Holbrook, we plan a night or two out away from services before we point the horse toward the barn in Oregon! 

Hubbell Trading Post Wagon

Another Newspaper Rock!
Better Protected!

Petrified Forest National Monument
One of the Bigger Logs

Weather Coming In!

Natural Arches National Monument

This morning, we headed West from Blanding, on yet another scenic highway, toward Natural Arches National Monument.  Of course, our vehicle stops at ALL points of interest along the way! 
The 9 mile loop through the monument took us about 2 hours, with stops and short hikes to viewpoints of the various arches created by the meandering San Juan River.   Can somebody PLEASE help me come up with some alternatives for "spectacular", "majestic" and "breath taking"?
The trip from the top of the mesa, down a narrow, steep, winding gravel road to the valley floor was QUITE a thrill!  ELEVEN HUNDRED feet down in THREE  miles!  Larry took it nice and slow!
Tonight, we are safe and sound in Monument Valley on nice, flat terrain!
We lucked onto a nice RV park with WiFi, so the blog goes on!
Onward to Canyon de Chelly tomorrow for 2 days of exploring.   This canyon was featured in a recent National Geographic special publication on Southwest destinations.  More to report in a couple of days!

Mule Canyon Pueblo Now

Mule Canyon Pueblo Then

Natural Arches National Monument

The Arches are Created by Water Erosion

The Canyon River Twists and Turns, Cutting into the Cliffs

Another Cliffside Dwelling
Looks More Primitive than Mesa Verde Pueblo Dwellings

Feathered Panhandler

"Got a Little Morsel for a Poor Starving Fella?"

Overlooking Monument Valley 1,100 feet below

Don't Get Too Close to the Edge!

3 Miles of Hair Pin Turns Down Gravel Road.
1,100 Foot White Knuckle Descent!

Mexican Hat Rock

Monument Valley Rock Formation

Hovenweep National Monument

Four Corners!
Standing in Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico!

Hovenweep National Monument Ruins

Differnt structures fro Mesa Verde dwellings!

Different Landscape
Different Architecture

The Castle!

Sleeping Ute Mountain

Yesterday was Hovenweep Day!  More ruins to explore - quite different from the Mesa Verde dwellings carved into the steep cliffs.  In Hovenweep, the canyons are significantly smaller, so the landscape seemed to influence the architecture.  The buildings were just as impressive - more out in the open, with vantage points overlooking the canyons.  We guessed tha, with a bit more space between living groups, cultural styles and living routines werre somewhat different.
We overnighted in Blanding, Utah.  Before settling in for the evening, we visited Edge of Cedars State Park/Museum.  There, we saw a treasure trove of artifacts from the area - pottery, clothing, jewelry (the "beads" were insect legs - actually VERY pretty!), tools - all made of materials readily avaiable to the ancient ancestors.  No Home Depot; no grocery stores; no internet - but they ate well, lived comfortably and communicated easily - with minimal impact on the environment.  They set an inspiring example of advanced spiritual and ecological development.  We were reminded a couple of times that all cultures have common roots - clans, hunter-gatherers, reverence for Mother Earth and Father Sky.
From Blanding, we will travel where internet is unavailable, so it will be a day or two before we post again.  Thanks so much for sharing our adventure!

Mesa Verde National Park

Today, we got a close up look at two Ancient Pueblo cliff dwellings in Mesa Verde National Park, just East of Cortez, Colorado.  We were escorted by park rangers who established rules that were stricter than junior high school, the way it USED to be!  NO food, NO drinks except clear water, NO gum, NO sitting on, NO leaning on, NO touching of rocks in the dwellings.
Descent and ascent from the mesa to the dwellings and back was a bit daunting for most of us "boomers" - a 32 foot ladder; steps carved out of the side of the cliff.....definitely got the old hearts pumping!
This matrilineal culture farmed the mesa above and eventually built living spaces in the crevasses in the cliffs below the mesa, formed from water from seepage springs, where sandstone met shale.  These caves provided a steady water supply, and space for food storage, as well as protection from weather extremes and potential invaders from other clans and tribes.  Occupation of these dwellings abruptly ended in 1280 AD, for reasons that are not completely clear.

A Cliffside Neighborhood

Two, Sometimes Three Stories High

Shale was Held Together by Mud

The Kiva - a Place to Gather
A Place of Warmth and Security
The Spiritual Center of the Clan

High Rise Condos???

Nice Architecture!

Used to Grind Corn into Meal

A Small Dwelling Tucked Away

A View of the Valley Below

Morning Splendor

Dawn Approaches!

Here Comes the Sun!
Peeking over the Cliffs!

Shadow Play

Well Camouflaged Bunny eating Breakfast

Lizard enjoying the Sun!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       We were up this morning, before the sun broke over the surrounding cliffs.  The silence of the dawn on the canyon floor was complete.  Slowly, a few bird calls were heard.  Coffee in hand, we took a walk, in search of the source of the water that was responsible for the the shrubs and trees that magically popped up amidst the miles of sage.  Larry stopped short on the trail and pointed to a rabbit feeding on some tasty young shoots.  "WHAT rabbit?"  It took me a while to finally see the well-camouflaged little bunny!  This is lizard country, too!  We encountered the feisty little reptile above, brazenly skittering among the rocks at the Needles Overlook.                                  

Canyonlands Wilderness Campsite

Canyonlands National Park - Needles Overlook

Larry at Needles Overlook - Canyonlands National Park

GLAD there's a fence!

"Five Shooter" and "Six Shooter" on canyon floor
From Needles Overlook

Newspaper Rock Petroglyphs - on road to Squaw Flats

Petroglyph Close-Up - Horse and Hunter



Wooden Shoe Arch - near Squaw Flats State Park Campground

Sunset at Canyonlands BLM Campground

"Six Shooter" from the canyon floor

Our "To-Do" list yesterday included a drive to the Needles Overlook into the "Islands in the Sky" district of Canyonlands National Park; then on to see Newspaper Rock - a petroglyph which served as a sort of communication board among the residents of the area,  and finally, to Squaw Flat State Park for a few days of camping without connections to the outer world.          On our way South from Moab, we briefly discussed whether or not it would be worth the effort of a 45 mile round trip to the Needles Overlook.  Dead Horse Point yesterday had been breath-taking!  Could Needles Overlook be any better?  Besides, we HAVE been to The Grand Canyon!  ........I have to say, we were NOT disappointed!     Spectacular!                   Back to the main highway and a bit farther South, we turned off  the beaten path once again, for a look at Newspaper Rock.  It WAS a wall of stories - documentation of the lives of the clans in the area.  They CERTAINLY were BUSY people!            From there, we continued.....in pursuit of a coveted primitive camp sight at Squaw Flat State Park - a first-come, first served situation.  Our "kampsight karma" was absent - - the campground was FULL!      We did NOT relish the idea of 50 miles back to Montecello at a time when all we could think of was a frosty, cold beverage at a shaded camp sight.....    What to do?  What to do?  The ranger at the Information Center directed us to a nearby BLM campground about 5 miles away.  We were skeptical, but willing to check out the campground that boasted fire circles, picnic tables, primitive potties and nothing more - - PERIOD!      We were MIGHTY thirsty!        Plan B turned out to be a VERY nice alternative!  A few other hearty souls also opted for peace and quiet, an amazing sunset that turned the cliffs fiery red.....followed by a black velvet sky filled with a curtain of diamond-bright stars and a rare, clear view of the Milky Way.......    We slept well.......