Day 12 - To Kayenta, Arizona

After an overnight at the Red Cliffs Lodge, we begin our day’s driving to Mesa Verde by following Rte 191 south then connecting on Rte 491 south until we get to Cortez, AZ.  In Cortez, we follow Rte 160 east to Mesa Verde.  Leaving Mesa Verde, we are back on Rte 160 heading west this time and continue to Kayenta.  Our room had a patio and at 6:30 AM, this was the view before we left.

Red Cliffs Lodge is a fairly new place on the Colorado River used by Trafalgar.  This was our view from our breakfast table the morning we left.

After leaving Moab and a number of miles down the road, we came upon Wilson Arch.  It sits right next to the roadway and it was not necessary to hike to see the arch.  We spent several minutes looking and taking pictures of the arch and then were again on our way.  We say goodbye to the Moab area and Arches National Park.

We travel along Rte 191 and have some nice views of the countryside. 

Yet the landscape and scenery does not match the dramatic views we have come to enjoy.

Just before Cortez, there was a large field with many old vehicles in it.  I only got a quick picture and only captured a couple of the cars instead of the section that had many cars.  A few miles later, we arrived in Cortez and after a short break turn onto Rte 160 east and head to Mesa Verde.

Entering Mesa Verde, we traveled up the mesa rising over 1,000 feet in a very short amount of time and distance.  The road switches back and forth up the side of the mesa and you can see for miles.

We arrive at Cliff Palace. 

Now we did not go down to the Cliff Palace this time, but we did walk around the parking area and trail seeing the valley head away from us.  Imagine this as your front yard! 

Next, we headed to Spruce Tree House.  We first had lunch before visiting the ruins.  And guess what?  On the way to the Spruce Tree House overlook, I see another lizard, this one with stripes.

We get to the Spruce Tree House overlook, trail head, and before we head down, took a wide angle view of the structure. 

You cannot go into the buildings because they have them roped off, but you can get fairly close to them.

There is one Kiva (reconstructed, I think) that they allow you to go down into and see the inside.  The entrance is very narrow and you have to stay close to the ladder as you climb down.  The sun was almost directly overhead when I went inside and there was a shaft of sun coming down the entrance hole, very cool.  The picture is almost as nice as being there.

As we were finishing our hike back up the trail from Spruce Tree House, Carmen posed at the overlook.  Gorgeous!  Yea, the ruins also.

Continuing to Kayenta, we pass a couple of wayward lovers on opposite sides of the fence, but that wasn’t going to stop them!

We drove by the four corners area.  This is where Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah meet and form a quadripoint.  It is the only place in the U.S. where four states meet.  We did not stop, but I do have a picture (not mine).

In the distance we can see Ship Rock, a point used for both the Native Americans and the Anglo Americans moving west in wagon trains.

Driving along we pass butte formations suggesting the visions we will have when we get to Monument Valley.

As we get close to Kayenta our day’s ride nears its end.  We drive into Arizona with a sign reading Ya’ at eeh Dine Bik’ evah (or “welcome to the Navajo Nation”) and of course more desert and high mesas.

Tomorrow, we go to Monument Valley and end the day at the Grand Canyon.  Later, Bob and Carmen.