LIVING KAREN'S DREAM: 09/01/2010

Goosenecks State Reserve, Monument Valley, Utah

I would love to have seen the Goosenecks from the air. It was spectacular even from the very edge as I got the pictures. This little video shows how the river cuts a huge double S and thus is called "Goosenecks".

I hiked down a little way via this cut, to a flat area but still could not get the full curve into my camera. Oh well, it is still beautiful.
This is from the top looking across the chasm.

Monument Valley, Utah

This is Dan's RV heading into Monument Valley

Since this is Indian land a fee is charged to drive this road to look at the area up close. I chose to take pictures from afar for a better view of the beauty of these natural structures.

Moki Dugway, Utah

This was an awesome drive leaving Natural Bridges National Monument, down a switch back mountain on gravel with a 10% downgrade the whole way. We were in my Dodge Dakota and it did very well. What a view and what a drive!

This is looking DOWN!

How about these for hair pin turns?

We are still looking down but are getting closer to the bottom.

Can you imagine making this turn in a Semi truck? Well it happens, one passed us and we had to squeeze over like a sardine.

Anasazi Cliff Ruins and the National Bridges National Monument, Utah

The first photos are of Butler Wash Ruins. Double click each of these photos to get a better view. Check out the video also.

These are foot holds chipped from the cliff so the Indians could be more sure footed.

The next ruins are called MULE CANYON RUINS.

This ruin is called HORSECOLLAR RUINS.

We also saw the Natural Bridges from afar. It was a very lengthy hike to get to the base of them which we did not choose to take. I got pictures from above.

This photo of a photo gives the height and width of the bridge.

This one below is a photo of a photo that gives a clearer view.

I took these because they are such an unusual formation of sandstone.

Bluff Utah, Hovenweep National Monument

These are the ruins of the Paiute and Ute Indians. These buildings were built on the bluffs, not into the cliffs as the Navajo did. We hiked the full circle around the gulch and saw the structures along both sides. The stones were shaped square and tightly fitted together. Very good craftsmen did beautiful work many hundreds of years ago and they still stand.

We had an observer as we drove toward our goal.

This was quite a lengthy hike, and it was a hot day!

Round Tower

Twin Towers

Square Tower

Stronghold House

Round Tower again

Boulder House

Stronghold House, different angle.

Four Corners: Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah

Ever stand in four states at one one time, well I almost could but I only have two legs. I guess I could have bent over and but my hands in the other two states, eh?
Each state has a very nice brass disc with its state name on it.