Sunday, June 17, 2012

Monumental changes in Monument Valley:

Kickstand up early this morning to beat the heat.  Temperatures in the area are running around 100 degrees.  Too hot to be on the road in the late afternoon.  Everyone is telling me along the way...strange weather.  Left Marble Canyon around 6 A.M.  Out of the canyon, around the mesas, into Page.
Highway 89 passes directly by the Navajo Generating Station at Page.  The coal comes by rail from Black Mesa.  Morning air was thick with the brown yellow haze. Back to reality.

It has been several years since I have been in Monument Valley.  I was in for a bit of a surprise.
New hotel, new visitors center, new gift shop, new place to eat, new views... poured a lot of concrete.
The gift shop appeared to be doing a brisk Sunday morning business.  Special of the day...Monument Valley travel mugs buy one...get one free.
The road into the valley is still unpaved.  Wonder if that may change?  There was quite a bit of haze in the air.  I was told it is coming from the Four Corners power plants.
The rock which is almost an icon in many photographs of Monument Valley (including one Ansel made) has been left in place for people to gather around.

With Monument Valley in my rear view mirror I rode on to Bluff.
In the morning I will close the circle with a stop to stand in all four states of the Four Corners.  Leaving early to beat the heat.  The circle has been a Ride in Beauty.

be strong, be safe, Carlan




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