Overseas Adventure: California Roadtrip - Colorado, Four Corners & The Grand Canyon

Friday, 15 July 2011

We did manage to get away by 6.15am! We first drove down I-85 through Colorado Springs, and continued on, passing towns and scenic farming country following the line of the Rockies. When we reached this tiny town called Walsenburg, we turned west onto the I-160. The country is very flat and dry, the houses looking very isolated with no fences or gardens. It made me wonder about the people who lived out here. We passed the turn off to the Great Sand Dunes National Park, which was recommended for us to see, but time didn't permit. The scenery gradually changed from flat, dry, grassy terrain to winding, hillsides and then we were in the pine covered mountain area of the Rio Grande National Park. We had travelled about 41/2 hours at this point before stopping for a break and breakfast since up to this time, the occupants of the back seat had remained completely comotosed!! We actually woke them up when we reached a small town in called South Fork. There was a local fair happening, and across the road from the information site, was a white water rafting company. We were near the head of the great Rio Grande River!

Breakfast under a gazebo at the information centre

It was a great drive for the next couple of hours as we enjoyed the wonderful mountain, pine country of South Colorado. It was completely different from the dry, almost desert countryside I imagined! The road flattened out as we came to Durango, and passed the turn off to Mesa Verde National Park. I was greatly interested not to miss this sign, as this was one of the places I would have loved to have visited, but was outvoted due to a very crammed itinery. Mesa Verde is a vast area of indian dwellings ...... This has been a fair drive to get to this location, so I don't think time will permit us to return to see it. unfortunately.

Back to sleep!

We came to the small town of Cortez and knew then our destination goal of the Four Corners was not much further! Four Corners is a point of geographical interest where the four states of Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico meet. This site is also in the middle of Navajo country. It's hot and dry and very much the desert, with magnificent buttes and mesas spanning the vast horizons. We arrived well and truly ready for a stretch!
The Four Corners surprisingly was very busy and full of visitors. It cost a small fee to enter and the site is surrounded, box-like with stalls from the Navajo Indians selling crafts, paintings, pottery and jewellery, each from the different states. We had fun picking up a few souvenirs and enjoying standing in four places at one time!! The ground however, was very hot when we tried to spread ourselves over it!!

The Four Corners Square, each stall is in a different state.

The handmade jewellery is really beautiful.

In four different states.

A quick pic! The ground is VERY HOT!

From here, our final stopping point for the day was Tuba City, which is about an hour and half, from the Grand Canyon and two and half hours from the Four Corners. We had travelled in a full car of five adult sized people and luggage for about 11 hours. The country remained completely desert, dry and hot with a few rolling hills and scrublands with the amazing buttes and mesas. The rock formations and outcrops are beautiful.

Sarah happy to be in New Mexico! (If we can't actually go to Mexico)

Arriving at the Moenkopi Motel, Tuba City.
Sarah having a big stretch in the heat.

Once arrived, the swimming pool at the Toenpoki Motel was very very welcome! The motel itself, was really lovely and a welcome resting place in seemingly the middle of nowhere! Interestingly enough, there was a different time zone from one side of the main road to the other as they belonged to different Indian Tribes! We also noticed the staff at the restaurants, and motel we patronised were staffed by many of the locals, being Indian natives.

Saturday, 16 July 2011:

The next morning, we left a little later than planned, travelling is tiring, but after breakfast at the neighbouring 'Denny's' we were on our way to The Grand Canyon. This desert area is Navajo and Mokopi country with humble, scattered housing nestled amongst the buttes and mesas.

Once again the scenery gradually gave way to hills and pine country as we came closer to the Grand Canyon. We actually took a wrong turn, and got to see more of it than intended, but were pretty excited to enter the Grand Canyon National Park!

We were able to spend a half a day following a map directing us to vantage points of this great wonder of the world. Words cannot fully do justice to the grandeur and majesty of the canyon.

We only saw a glimpse of it really from the south rim, and there was a lot of people as the day wore on, but we did get to hike a trail for about a mile down into the canyon, and this really gives you a feel of the greatness of it!

The Bennallack's at this amazing place!

It's a mile down to the valley floor & the river.

This photo is so accurate. Looking at this view, it really did look like a poster.
The cloud shadow, looks like Sarah's shadow. But this was no pic, we were actually there!

The hiking trail we followed for about a mile before turning back..

Rick & Tom setting the pace!

While I'm absorbing every bit..

It's just magnificent to get down into a part of the canyon.

We were entertained by some squirrels that were really tame. They are obviously used to lots of people! However, the heat and the high altitude made our mile enough of an effort, with a slow trek back to the top. It's wonderful how very warm water tastes, when you are really hot and thirsty! It would have been nice to have made it down to the Indian Villiage but we would have needed to have started earlier. Another time!

The squirrels in our yard scamper away quickly, but not these guys!

The squirrel posing for Sarah!

Chani's resting spot..

Go Sarah! You wouldn't think it was hot at all!

I would love to come back and spend a week, and trek from the south rim to the north, camping overnight. I would also love to see the waterfalls and perhaps take a mule tour. However, I am so glad to have had this opportunity to see just a small part of this incredible place. Words cannot describe how beautiful and grand it really is. Even photos don't do it full justice - just amazing!!