Rocking on....

So many amazing rocks - The Canyonlands, Monument Valley and the Grand Canyon!  Not many words this time but I hope the pictures tell the story....

This one literally.  The petroglyphs are roughly 2000 years old, of Navajo origin and called 'The rock that tells a story' and now popularly known as 'Newspaper Rock' 

Green River Canyon has been carved by millions of years of erosion and the unusual pale rim is a layer of hard sandstone formed from ancient coastal dunes.

Canyonlands of Utah

Shy but perky.

This colourful floral display was unique along the road and lifted our spirits no end!

One of the impressive natural arches near Moab.

Another one!

The twins.

Monument Valley was magnificent.  It was unfortunate that we fell into a horrible tourist trap where a firm called 'Gouldings' have sewn up every aspect of the visitor 'experience' in the most exploitative way.  Although a rest day we had to camp in a hot and desolate sand pit at the top of a steep climb; the only place to eat was expensive, the food unpalatable and the final straw, it was dry!  Biking in a hot place requires at least the occasional cold beer, especially on a rest day!

Yep, that's John Wayne...

So many layers, so many colours...

We took an early tour to catch the morning light on the extraordinary sculptural forms; this is 'The Thumb'

Mexican Hat

Elephant Feet 

I've tried to resist 'awesome' but 'The Grand Canyon' truly is!  We rode all round the southern trail, stopping at the major viewpoints and each revealed new topographic wonders under the huge skies; groups of raptors displayed serenely, drifting in the thermals; pairs of Ravens tumbled and gossiped.  

Happy day!

I've struggled a bit to comment positively on American culture but the National Parks are brilliant.  Staff are friendly, enthusiastic, seem genuinely pleased to share information and facilities are scrupulously maintained including immaculate compost toilets.  Best of all, signs are discreet, their tone expecting compliance, not loud and authoritarian assuming misbehaviour.  With few exceptions people are respectful.

I had a reverie as I rode yesterday about why I find this often arduous trip so rewarding.  It is a mirror of the school holidays of my fifties childhood.  So long as I stay out to play on my bike all day with friends, appear on time with clean hands at stated mealtimes, look after my own stuff and behave respectfully, it's pretty straightforward!  There's even the occasional tricky adult to negotiate like the camp ground marshal that made us move our tents from the shade at the edge on to a small scorched patch of earth in the middle of a deserted four acre campground 'in case we put other people off'....

Time to stop.  So long until the Arizona Desert!

Love

Viv