America is one huge place. I thought I knew this already, but seriously, you don't really KNOW it until you try to travel around and find it takes hours and hours to go only a few hundred miles. Take today for example. We woke up early (again) because of the sun streaming in our tent in Page, Arizona.
According to the map, Monument Valley, our next major destination, is only some 120 miles from Page - so that should be just under 2 hours at 65 miles an hour (the actual speed limit). But the problem is, there's so much to photograph and see on the way, that you just can't do it in two hours. So although we left around 9.30 (after a stop in Walmart so we could buy some provisions), by the time we filled up with petrol enroute, checked out cute little Navajo craft stalls by the side of the road, and took copious pictures and videos on the approach roads to Monument Valley - it was gone 1.30 by the time we actually got there!
But it was well and truly worth it. Monument Valley is the place where all the old wild Westerns were shot. You look up at the mountains and you can't help but hear the theme tune to the Magnificent Seven (I think that's the one) or something running through your head, or expect to see John Wayne ride up on his horse and say "Howdy", or something like this. Maybe the old Marlboro man?
The scenery here is just spectacular. Red dust, Navajo Indians (but not in traditional dress, unfortunately - now that would just cap it all off), horses (and riders too, of course) and the most glorious, tall, rugged cliffs. Just here randomly - literally standing out like monuments to a byegone time. Evoking feelings of wide prairies, wild coyotes and fiercesome battels between cowboys and injuns...
After our visit here, we headed straight back the way we came, until Kayenta, where we took the 160 and then the 59 down to a town called Many Farms, where we picked up the 191 to Chinle. The scenery along this route was quite pretty, rugged hilltops and lots and lots of farms. Cows and horses, mostly. Couldn't actually see any real crops growing, the lands is too dry I guess - so probably its just livestock out here. Or maybe the crops are further inland, away from the road and closer to the homesteads, I don't know.
We made Chinle by nightfall (just), where we received a nice surprise. The campground was completely free (of charge!) The only downer was there are no showers, but a quick 'tp' wash would have to suffice for tonight. Oh and there were heaps of mozzies, so it was off to the shop for some 'Off!' - the US version of 'Rid'. We stopped off at the local Best Western for free internet, a quick recharge of the 'equipment', dinner and so on.
When we got back to the campground, this being Navajo country, no alcohol is allowed - but clearly the Polish in a neighbouring RV hadn't understood that, and held a full on party - including singing... if you could call it that. So, we had the Polish version of 'Frere Jacques' (in parts, too, I might add - but badly), some other Polish drinking songs and then a most entertaining, full throated rendition of 'Don't Worry, Be Happy'. At this time of night, should've been "Don't Worry, If You Don't Shut Up I'm Going To Come Over There And Smack Your Head In..."
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