FOUR CORNERS, HOVENWEEP NM & MESA VERDE NP

FOUR CORNERS, HOVENWEEP NM & MESA VERDE NP

4-6 Apr

We are camping at Ancient Cedars Mesa Verde RV Resort in Mancos, CO across the highway from Mesa Verde NP. There is a great view of the Mesa to the South  and off to the East is snow cover mountain tops. The view alone is worth stopping here for the night. While here we will be making trips that included Four Corners, Mesa Verde NP and an unexpected stop a Hovenweep NM. Anytime when we can add another National Park to our trip it just icing on the cake.

4 Apr

Buckled up and strapped in for what I thought was going to be  a 4 ½ hour drive, but really almost 7 hours. My navigator and Google map was off by 2 ½ hours. We took 98 to 160 and after 3 hours of driving and no sign of a rest stop we pulled over on a pullout to take a break to eat lunch. Mountains surrounded us on both sides, we had a prefect view to eat lunch (sorry no pics… what wrong with me!).

The downside to planning a trip with paying in advance for reservation is if you find something you did not expect to find there is no time to stop, we had to pass on stopping at Monument Valley. However, we did see some of it from the road. These are the times I want to kick myself in the a$$.

Finally, we got to our first stop of the day at Four Corners Monument. This is the only place in the US where four states meet at one point. Located on Navajo land and a fee is $5.00 a person to enter.

 ½ hour out from our RV Park, I saw a sign boards for $.99 strawberry shortcake at Ute Mountain Casino and just had to stop. Strawberries were sweet and my taste buds were thanking me. I only had a few bits so I could save the rest after we ate dinner. Hiromi thought I stopped for her… let's keep that our little secret.

We arrived at Ancient Cedars Mesa Verde RV Resort just across the highway to the entrance of Mesa Verde NP. The RV park just changed owners and a new name (A & A Mesa Verde was the old name). Weather is in the mid 60’s during the day and low 30’s at night. Worst part is our electric space heater died so we are using our central heater.  

Having some fun playing with Mesa Verde

5 Apr

Easter Sunday and no sign of the Easter Bunny…. Where are my black jelly beans? As we were driving in yesterday, we drove pass the sign board to Hovenweep NM. It is within our 2 hour drive requirement for a day trip, so we made the 1 ½ hour drive on back country roads. Like any back country roads you see thing that you will never see on the main highways. 

We had to stop for cow crossing.

A group of Elk was staring at us 

Hovenweep translated as deserted valley. There is no fee to enter this National Monument. We ate our packed lunch before hiking the 2 mile trail that had 11 ruins covered throughout the mountain rim. All the ruins were blocked off, but we could still get close to them. We were so busy looking around at the view while walking; we almost walked in front of a Midget Faded Rattlesnake. If not for it giving us its warning rattle, who knows what would have happened to us.   

Midget Faded Rattlesnake

The snake was longer than this, but I had to edit 2 pics to make this.

On our way back to the RV Park we stopped at Wal Mart to picked up a new space heater that was on sale for $16.  The one we had was a cheap flea mark find and lasted 3 years and did it's job. The new heater is smaller and puts out just as much heat. I think Hiromi will want to keep the old heater as she used its flat top for the rice cooker and toaster oven.

6 Apr

Our Last day here, we only had to drive across the street to arrive at Mesa Verde NP. I believe this will be the shortest drive we ever take to get somewhere. There is a  $10 fee, but our national Park Pass cover the fee. We had to drive 20 miles into the park before arriving at the museum located just above Spruce Tree House. Like always, we ate our packed lunch before heading out on the trail.

 We were now ready for the ½ mile hike to Spruce Tree House. All the other site of cliff dwellers were closed for the season and open in May. Spruce Tree House is the most preserved cliff dwellers with most of its structure still standing. There was even a Kiva open that we could climb down into. Of all the cliff dwellers we have visited, this is hands down the best.

 Open Kiva off limits

 Inside the covered Kiva

Ancient Cedars has a pizza cooker in their community room which is a log cabin. We picked up a pizza yesterday and tonight was pizza night.

What next?
Albuquerque, NM

PAGE, AZ: ANTELOPE CANYON, HORSESHOE BIND, GLEN CANYON DAM & RAINBOW BRIDGE NM

PAGE, AZ: ANTELOPE CANYON, HORSESHOE BIND, GLEN CANYON DAM & RAINBOW BRIDGE NM 

1 Apr

Arrived to our new home for the next 3 days at Page Lake Powell Campground in Page, AZ. Located on the edge of town, but close to shops for restocking food and ect. Weather is in the mid 60's, a 30 degree drop from Buckeye. Big surprise for us was the indoor pool and hot tub.  

2 Apr
First on our list was Antelope (lower) Canyon, Navajo owned and operated by Carolene Ekis. All tours are guided required at $28 a person (3% surcharge if using credit or debit). The tour is about 1 hour 45 minutes long. As we enter the canyon there is a descend of 100 feet to the canyon floor by staircase. With the GoPro in my hand and the camera in Hiromi's hand we set off below to the unknown and excited of what laid ahead. The trail is narrow with some low hanging cliffs, man-made stairs cases with a few large open areas for nice photo opportunities. All the surfaces of the canyon is smooth to the touch as flash floods carved out the path we walked. When walking I wanted to look up the whole time as I was just amazed of the view that kept changing around every turn. The only downside was the 22 mile winds on the surface above the canyon that kept dropping the sand above on top of us.  However, the view of the sand falling with the sunlight beaming thought the canyon cracks was remarkable.

 100 feet descend and the start of the Canyon

 One of the many narrow paths

Sand fall from the surf above

 At the end of the tour my shoe full of sand

Second on the list was a 5 mile drive out of town to Horseshoe Bind. Located just off the main road and about 1/2 mile hike from the parking lot. I have seen the view from pictures on other blogs, but you have see it yourself to feel the adrenaline first hand. When I stood near the edge my body was get beaten up by the blowing sands. The bind is 270 degrees with the water flowing right to left from the picture below.

Final sightseeing spot for the day was Glen Canyon Dam. Started construction in 1956 and completed 10 years later in 1966. The dam provides hydroelectric and serves water to Arizona, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, California, Nevada and Mexico.

We were close to Glen Canyon Recreation Area and decided to get a head start for our tour the next day. We were going to rent a jet ski, but the water temperate is only 52 degrees, so we got tickets for the boat tour to Rainbow Bridge NM. Good thing we stopped, because the only tour was for 7:30am tour that is 6~7 hours long. Tomorrow will be a long day.

3 Apr
Arrived at Glen Canyon Recreation Area 6:50am for our 7:00am boarding of our tour boat to Rainbow Bridge NM. 2 Hours 15 minutes each way with 1 hour 30 minutes at the NM. After 20 years in the Navy I felt right at home on the boat ride.  The water levels have drop dramatically over the years so the boat dock has been moved farther down and the hike to Rainbow Bridge is about a mile long. The hike is worth it. As we turned one corner the left half of the Bridge reviles itself making us want to walk faster to see the whole view. As we turned the final corner the view is just draw dropping. Most arches are formed from wind, however this one was carved out by water. Rainbow Bridge NM is one of the most expensive National Parks we have visited at $125.00 per person, but well worth the once in a life time view.

 $20 million boat

UP NEXT
Off to Mesa Verde, Colorado.