Sunrise at Monument Valley

The Score: Miles=2506.2 PB&J=2  McDonald’s Iced Tea=10

I woke at twilight in order to get setup for the rising sun.  I was astounded by how massive and breathtaking the huge monolithic monuments are.  I shot for nearly an hour close to “The View Hotel” which is located here at the top of a rim and has a view you would not believe.  

I used the rest of the morning to drive the valley floor loop and take pictures.  I have enjoyed it so much I plan to stay for sunset and dusk perhaps even catch a few milky way photos if the weather cooperates.  It has been sunny then sprinkling rain (although it always looks more like a monsoon) all afternoon. The storms blow in quick but are gone again just as fast.  

The plan is after shooting sunset here I will drive up to Moab where I can photograph Canyonlands and Arches tomorrow then make my way towards Aspen.I knew the mail route I had planned through AAA’s Triptik website had me going a little over 6000 miles but I now think I can add a 1000 miles to that thanks to incidental driving in the parks as well our side trip t Grand Junction, CO to see what the check engine light was about.  

I ate at “The View Restaurant” and while the view was nice the food wasn’t great.  I had the “John Ford Grilled Chicken Salad”  Most of the vegetables were old on the salad and one of the tomatoes was way past ripe.  There was nothing spectacular for 9 dollars it was lettuce, cherry tomatoes, two carrot sticks, some mushrooms that were on the edge of getting slimy, radishes, broccoli, cauliflower, and a seared chicken breast and that is it.  No croutons, cheese, or anything to make it special.  Thankfully it came with a spicy sauce (Buffalo Sauce) and some really good ranch so after I picked of the bad looking stuff it tasted alright.  The other food that people had looked really good at least from a distance.  Maybe they don’t get a lot of call for salads.   And by the way service wasn’t great either.  So if your coming here one day get something fatty like frybread and a hamburger and you may have better luck, but regardless of what you do decide plan on spending at least ten dollars even on a grilled cheese with a drink and tip.

Well I think it back down to the valley with me it’s almost 6 here and sunset is at 7:40 and I want to be there early to get set up completely.  Unless you get some kind of special permission from the navajo you are restricted to using the road and designated paths through the park otherwise you are trespassing on private Navajo lands where many indigenous people still live.  I overheard one of the guides with a tour group stating his 89 year old grandmother still lived here “just on the other side of that bluff”.  Oh and before I forget if you ever come here to visit don’t leave without checking out the authentic Navajo hand made pottery.  It’s not cheap but it is very decorative and helps support local artisans.

Self Portrait in Monument Valley