TRAVELS WITH HIAWATHA

Painted Desert and Petrified Forest

September 26, 2016

We drove the loop of the Painted Desert and the Petrified Forest. It was interesting and a long drive.

Gallup, NM Spetember 24, 2016

At Gallup we went to the Richardson's Trading Post. We had a very informative lecture on Navaho rugs. Several folks on our caravan bought rugs, but it just isn't our style.

Using Gallup as a base, we drove to El Morro National Monument.    It was quite a hike to the top of the monument, but we made it. Traveling in the southwest is not for those with a fear of heights or of falling. Or maybe it could be an area that you overcome such fears, as I did.

           There is our target.  Going to be a nice climb and a "stay away from the edge" sort of area..

Steps already!

We might make it!

A bonus...ruins along the way

We ran into our friends, the Dions, along the way

More steps!

"Stay away from the edge"

I made it!

Choco Canyon Ruins September 21, 2016

The road to get to Choco was very bad and we had to travel 75 miles one way to see the ancient ruins; but it was very impressive and hard to believe that so much of it was still intact from 700 AD In one small area there was a ruin that was 4 stories tall and had over 60 small rooms.

Rafting on the Colorado River - September 19th

I'm To get to the launch area for this ride down the Colorado River, we had to go through a 2 mile tunnel that was an 8% grade..so just getting to the ride was an adventure. Along the way we were able to get out of the raft and walk on a beach and see some petroglyphs.

Antelope Canyon - September 17th

The ride thru the desert was pretty rugged. The sand was flying everywhere, in my hair, mouth, etc. But, we finally arrived at the entrance to the canyon. It just looked like we were walking into a break of a rock; but once inside it was so amazing...one of the highlights of our trip.