Tuesday 3 August 2010

Utah

We left Cortez in Colorado in pouring rain on Monday morning.  We called first of all at Four Corners, the only place in the USA where four states come together (Arizona, Colorado, Utah and New Mexico).  However, it was raining and the monument was closed ("due to construction") so we just stepped around the blue cross marked on the road and went on our way.

We were heading for Monument Valley and were concerned that it would continue to rain but as we approached it the rain petered out.  Monument Valley is a Navajo Tribal Park and its landscape has featured in numerous westerns (and the Marlboro cigarette adverts).  It is possible to drive around the park but the road is unpaved and after the rain you really needed a 4 wheel drive, so we took a few photos of the famous buttes and headed for Mexican Hat and the Hat Rock Inn.

Today we went to Canyonlands National Park.  This is a thin strip of land (the Island in the Sky) between two canyons, one has the Green River running through it, the other houses the Colorado River.  All along the road there are "overlooks" with views of the landscape and its spectacular shapes and colours.

The landscape of Utah is awe-inspiring.  Everywhere you look there are huge sandstone cliffs, immense canyons, monolithic buttes and mesas.  Nothing seems quite real.

We're staying for two nights in Moab and tomorrow we're visiting The Arches National Park for more amazing sights. 

1 comment:

Chris Hunter said...

Finally looked at the blog. Looks like you're having a lovely time. Great pictures - would love to see Monument Valley. Maybe we will venture outside of Yorkshire for our holiday next year! Love Chris, Carol, Thomas & Annabel