On the Road Again!

On the Road to Tuba City, originally uploaded by ivoryblushroses.

The weather has been beautiful, perfect for a road trip north through the Navaho Reservation and up to Moab before turning east to head over the mountains to Colorado. North of Flagstaff, just after the road turns toward Tuba City, it passes these layered hills. Like a many flavored layer cake!


North of Kayenta, the road passes through Monument Valley, which straddles the Arizona/Utah state line. It's magnificent from every direction but this view from the north looking south is my favorite.


As the road nears the town of Mexican Hat, Utah, there are warning signs for miles about an upcoming sharp right turn.


Oh, and there is a steep hill right before the turn too!


See? If you don't make the turn, there will be trouble! A river on one side and a solid rock wall on the other!


This is the bridge over the San Juan River.


The mountains on the east side of Mexican Hat are quite interesting geologically. To me it looks like the "bottom fell out" at the end of the ridges. You can see how they just slump off suddenly.


Rather than trying to make the entire drive to Colorado in one day, I decided to break it up a bit this trip and that gave me time to take a side trip to Arches National Park. My first stop was to see Delicate Arch, the arch depicted on Utah license plates. It looks small in this picture (because I'm a mile away from it!) but is really about 45 feet across the base of the opening.


Next I stopped to take a short walk to Sand Dune Arch. To reach this spot, you walk in deep fine sand between the tall narrow fins of rock.


It's a secret arch, hidden within the rock fins!


Nearby is Broken Arch. The colors of the landscape here are gorgeous.


Down the road a bit is Skyline Arch. Lots of old twisted junipers here that I loved.


The landscape in Arches glows in the setting sun. The snow capped peaks in the distance are the La Sal Mountains. A perfect view to end a lovely day!