Proof of Life: A Horse With No Name

For those that don't know, I actually got to sing this song onstage with these guys many years ago...they looked a little different than in this video, though.

10/5/15

Went back to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon to check out more of the sights that we didn't have time to visit the other day. It was pretty foggy at the beginning. As I went east the fog dissipated. It rained a little, too. Passed through the Navajo Reservation on the way to UT.

Grandview is supposedly behind this fog...

Oh, is that the Grand Canyon peeking out from behind the fog at Moran Point?

A little more of the view from Moran Point peeking from behind the fog?

view from Moran Point behind the fog

Large kiva (ceremonial room) at the Tusayan ruins

view from Lipan Point

view from Lipan Point - still a little fog

view from Lipan Point

view from Navajo Point

the Desert View Watchtower in the distance from Navajo Point

view from Navajo Point

Desert View Watchtower

Can you see the rainbow?

Little Colorado River Gorge on the Navajo land

Colorado River at Marble Canyon

the bridge over the Colorado River at Marble Canyon

Starting Point: Williams, AZ --> Grand Canyon NP
Ending Point: Hurricane, UT
Miles Traveled: 318.9

10/6/15

Drove through Zion National Park. I was going to do some hiking, but my knee is still bothering me, it was rainy (lame excuse, I know), and it was really crowded for a weekday in October. You're not really allowed to drive through much of the park. The "scenic drive" doesn't actually allow cars on it (except during the winter); only their shuttle buses are allowed on the scenic drive. I have mixed feelings about this. The conservationist in me likes it because it limits traffic/pollution. The independent wannabe photographer in me doesn't like it because it restricts my ability to go where I want to take pictures. Continued on to Bryce Canyon National Park and passed through the Red Canyon of the Dixie National Forest along the way. Bryce Canyon was foggy in some places, so I didn't get to see some of it. Continued on to Moab for some glamping at Moab Under Canvas; they accidentally checked someone in to the tipi I was supposed to be in for the night, so they gave me a free upgrade to one of their safari tents.

Just some deer hanging out by the Visitors Center...the one by the rock even let a woman pet it

Zion National Park

Checkerboard Mesa in Zion National Park

Hoodoos in Red Canyon (Dixie National Forest)

Arch/tunnel in Red Canyon (Dixie National Forest)

Natural Bridge in Bryce Canyon

Bryce Point at Bryce Canyon

Inspiration Point at Bryce Canyon

Sunset Point at Bryce Canyon

Sunset Point at Bryce Canyon)

Starting Point: Hurricane, UT --> Zion NP --> Dixie NF --> Bryce Canyon NP
Ending Point: Moab, UT
Miles Traveled: 430.1

10/7/15

Went to Arches National Park. When I first drove by it on the way to get breakfast, there was a long line of cars (think 1/4 - 1/2 mile long) to get in. I almost opted to go to another park first/instead. After breakfast, though, the line wasn't crazy long, so I went in. Did some of the shorter hikes since my knee's still iffy. Stopped by Moab Brewery before leaving town. When I got to Cortez, went to Main Street Brewery before turning in for the night - they have a delicious honey raspberry wheat.

the safari tent I stayed in

inside the safari tent

Courthouse Towers

Balanced Rock

Turret Arch

Delicate Arch

Skyline Arch

the path to Sand Dune Arch

Sand Dune Arch

this is why we can't have nice things
the sign says "Due to ongoing vandalism the area beyond this sign is closed"

Broken Arch

Starting Point: Moab, UT --> Arches NP
Ending Point: Cortez, CO
Miles Traveled: 182.1

10/8/15

Went to Mesa Verde National Park. They have a few of the Pueblo cliff dwellings that they give ranger-led tours of, but only one wasn't closed for the season. There's also one that you can do a self-guided tour, but it's mostly walking outside of it other than climbing down in to a kiva (ceremonial room). You can still drive around and look at the ones visible from the road/overlooks. I didn't give myself enough time there, but still saw some. I did the tour of Balcony House that involves climbing two taller ladders (& a short one inside), crawling through a tunnel/narrow passageways, and climbing steps cut in to the rock. This tour also lets you actually walk through the dwelling which the other tours apparently don't. I'm amazed they got those things built like that and that they're still there.

statue by the Visitors Center depicting the Pueblos climbing to their cliff dwellings

Cliff Palace

Hemenway House

the ladder you climb to get to Balcony House

inside Balcony House

the kiva (ceremonial room) inside Balcony House

inside Balcony House

the hand/foot holds that the Pueblos used to get in & out of Balcony House (w/o the chain handrails of course)
these are also the steps you go up to get out of Balcony House

Square Tower House

Cliff Palace from Sun Temple

Starting Point: Cortez, CO --> Mesa Verde NP
Ending Point: Crestone, CO
Miles Traveled: 299

10/9/15

Went to Great Sand Dunes National Park. There were people sandboarding and sandsledding. Some of the sand dunes are ~750' tall.

sandboarding

Starting Point: Crestone, CO --> Great Sand Dunes NP
Ending Point: Monument, CO
Miles Traveled: 292.5

Total Miles Traveled Thus Far: 14,710 via car, ~ 822.5 via another vehicle, ~143.5 via boat, 17.8 via cog (train), 5.34 via aerial tram

~Elizabeth/Lizzi/ET/Country

**I've been using Airbnb some during this trip to find places to stay along the way. If you haven't tried it, check it out for your next trip (even internationally). Usually cheaper than a hotel...and if you have some extra space, rent it out and make some money! (https://www.airbnb.com/)**

all photos Copyright 2015 Elizabeth M. Turner

Proof of Life

Saturday, October 10, 2015

A Horse With No Name

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