Day 7 - Monument Valley

Captains log Day Seven

Monument Valley

And so it begins ……….

Today we decided to take a detour from the Mother Road and visit Monument Valley.  From Gallop to Monument Valley was a 175 mile detour North from our intended route but worth every mile.  We even came across what could be the only 2 roundabouts in Arizona.  

Along the route we stopped at The Hubbell Trading Post, where in 1878, Mr Hubbell and his family established fair trade for the Apache Indians.  He had learnt the Navajo language as a small lad, from the native Indians who worked on his father’s ranch and grew to appreciate and admire their view of life.  In return the Indians learnt to respect and trust him and he became pivotal in working as a mediator between the tribes and the US Government.  He established trading posts throughout Apache lands to enable them to trade their beautiful woven goods and cultural crafts.  

Peter had last visited Monument Valley some 40 years ago and was surprised to see that it now had a large, well organised visitors centre.  After paying our entrance fee we drove down into the valley on the designated dirt track route which takes 2 hours to circumnavigate the rocks.  This track was definitely built for wacking great 4x4 vehicles but our little hire car and of course, Peter performed admirably.  We even did a slight handbrake turn on one bend ughhhhhhh.

The place is absolutely breathtaking, so enjoy the photos.  There is even one of Peter portraying a famous advert  - see if you can remember it and the actor who made it famous.

Back to our overnight accommodation at Wetherill Inn in Kayenta for a shower to get rid of the red dust which seems to seep into everywhere.  Then on recommendation of the locals, it was ribs for supper and oh once again, not disappointed.  There were even enough to get a doggy bag so Angie could feed the stray dogs around the hotel.  They thought Christmas had come early bless them.