A SHOWER OF MUD

Note:  For regular readers, I posted 3 blog entries today.... read on down!

After the Petrified Forest, it was a LONG HAUL to reach Canyon de Chelley.  Fortunately we had our friends Mary Lou and Dick Kuklentz waiting for us on the other end complete with a steak dinner.  Doesn’t get any better than that!!  The terrain began to change to high desert plateaus and  it often looked like we could be on the moon.  During dinner we caught each other up on our travels and Dave and Dick began to plot our excursion the next day. This was our first experience at “dry camping” and the RV performed very well.  I can’t say that with all our batteries and generator, we were really roughing it.

After one of Dave’s great campfire breakfasts, we packed a picnic and set out for Spider Rock.  Remember the commercial several years ago with the Chevy on top of this awesome rock?  I think this was it.  Down in the valley of the canyon, two rocks rise to dizzying heights.  We had fun at the overlooks trying to spy ancient ruins and horses grazing on the canyon floor. 

Spider Rock

Realizing that rain might be coming and that no bathrooms were at any of the viewing areas, we decided to picnic back at the campground and regroup.  As we were driving back, we noticed both dark gray clouds with lightening and brown ones.  Brown?  We suddenly realized that we were about to experience a dust storm combined with a shower.  It literally rained mud!!!  The rain stopped, but the dust continued for several hours.  We holed up in our RV and Mary Lou and Deb got their revenge at bridge.  Except for 2 trips into town for parts for the Kuklentz RV/tow system, we were done for the day and just enjoyed a relaxing afternoon.  On one of the trips into town, Mary Lou and Deb had Dick drop us off at the “Navajo Glass Factory and Gallery”… it was a l-o-n-g 45 minutes or so until Dick picked us back up!  They guy’s glass was mediocre at best, and the other art in the small room did not merit the prices he was commanding.  After he figured out we weren’t buying, he politely locked us out in the dust storm (though we were under a fairly protected porch}.  We were really glad to see Dick and Mary Lou’s now mud colored van.  Dick reported that the visibility in town was less than 50 feet.  Luckily, the wind died down near dusk and Dave was able to grill the brats we had bought for supper.  Dick and Mary Lou then taught us a new card game similar to canasta, but played with 5 decks:  Hand and Foot. 

Before the Dust Storm

Ponies in the Valley de Chelly

Ruins in the Rocks

Driving through the Navajo Nation is awe inspiring.  The desert is sometimes desolate, but the high plateaus, rocks and canyons are majestic.  I am glad the lands are being preserved and protected.  However as a people who revere the land, the Navajo’s do not seem to have any pride in their buildings, homes or other structures.  I know that they do not “own” their property, and I know that poverty plays a big part in it, but the trailers and shanties were so unkempt.  Dave and I have decided to perhaps go on a Navajo guided tour in Gouldings (Monument Valley and Valley of the Gods), or to at least spend more time in the visitor’s centers and museums so that we can understand and appreciate the Navajo culture more.

We are about to pass the 3000 mile mark and we only need 3 more license plates  to have seen all 50 states.  Anyone want o take bets on what our last one will be?  (Hint:  we’ve already seen 3 or more Alaskas and Hawaiis)