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Roadtrip - Day 16: Canyon de Chelly



We arrive again at night, but this time we knew there was a campground in the canyon ( Spider Rock campground )! What we had not seen that he was nearing the end of the South Rim ("bank" south) Canyon de Chelly and it's not the kind of road where we made the 120 km / h ! In short, we finally arrived, and we were greeted by a Navajo Indian (Canyon is a national park but it is on an Indian reservation) very nice. He explained that the reserve, there is a time difference with the rest of the state, because the Indians observe Daylight Saving Time (DST) while the non arizona. Basically in those corners where you never know what time it is because the time zones between normal and states that meet or not DST is super convenient! For example, when crossing the border New Mexico / Arizona time you change even if it's the same time zone as Arizona does not follow no DST. By cons, returning to a reserve (even in Arizona) we spare them because after the DST. The best is when we find ourselves at the border of Arizona (no DST) and Utah (DST) in the Monument Valley, which is an Indian reserve (CSD). In short, when you're on vacation is not very serious, it's just a little inconsistent ;-)

We therefore installed in the campground, which is quite "wild" compared to others we have done (there are 2 showers that do not work yet, the toilet "mobile" like at construction sites), but that's what is nice in the morning we woke to the sound of Indian music (it was good just a tape but it was nice anyway), and the Navajo who holds the campsite (Howard) is really very nice.

Like most parks, visit the "classic" is an electronic circuit in a car with several points of view (Overlooks), and sometimes one or more paths (trails) to walk. Here, as there is in Navajo territory, there is only one path you can take to get to the bottom of the canyon without a guide. The Canyon de Chelly is actually composed of several canyons that join:


We start by going to the vantage point to the end of the South Rim, which is seen very near the campground. This is the famous view of Spider Rock:

unlike those of yesterday, I'm not super happy with my pictures of the canyon, too much light makes it not hit the true colors in truth it redder (I'd have to put the photo editor I know one day I just downloaded GIMP I'll try, for now it's crude output device!). Another view:

is green at the bottom, there's even cows (yes, look property right in the palm trees):

Next Viewpoint, watch your step (210 meters) ;-)

more one goes towards west, the canyon is less profound:

is lowered to the bottom of the canyon by the White House Trail:

At the bottom there is an Indian village, one sees here a hogan, a traditional house of Navajo (actually after the "tunnel" there was a sign saying that photographs are forbidden, oops ... I knew we had no right to take the Indian a picture but I did not think it extended to their village as ... short you will not see pictures of Indians then):

For walkers will brave the depths of the canyon (they are not very numerous, but there were not many people even at points view in fact), the Navajos sell their handicraft production (jewelry, Dreamcatchers ...). And a little later the ruins of an ancient Indian village, the White House ruins:

After the picnic, one hand on the North Rim. Again it is surprisingly green background, is cultivated, there are even some vehicles ...

The last 2 points of view have charming names: Mummy Cave and Massacre Cave Overlook Overlook ...

Marcel did not feel dizzy ;-)

We saw in the guide that the sunset on Spider Rock is memorable, so we redid the road in the other direction to go that! Well actually it was a little disappointed, it is pretty clear, but not "amazing" either ...

In addition there is still plenty of road ahead, we want to go to Monument Valley ...

Phew, we're not lying ;-)

But the sun yes!

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Roadtrip - Day 15: Painted Desert & Petrified Forest

Colours the world ...



As usual, it's dark and we still do not know where we go to sleep, but the goal is to stop not too far from our next step, the Petrified Forest. One falls first on a very ugly RV park, rather a wasteland with caravans posed above, which indicates that there is a place where you can pitch a tent, but indoor ("Indoor campground" or something like that) ... It has not even tried to go and ask if Y'avait places, it was really too depressing! Fortunately, the god of sleep camping again upon us and through a billboard puts us on the right path to a KOA . It does not have the charm of State Parks campsites, but there's a laundry room, luxury!

Large lizards are still there, but by day they are a little less scary ...

The day will be spent visiting the Petrified Forest. This is one of the pleasant surprises of the trip. We had prepared the main points of the journey: the places we wanted to see absolutely road and commuting (who quite often changed once there!) but we did not want too see pictures to keep the surprise hit of the places were really a discovery at all, and that's fine because the places which have expected is almost disappointing sometimes. The Petrified Forest I saw more things like trees dead but still standing, and not at all (you'll see below), but mostly we did not know that there was also the Painted Desert just off, and c ' is that it finally has the most blown away. The favorites are also often related to parameters such as weather for example, and the light that day was particularly beautiful, with blue sky and a few clouds, in short all that to say it was really ma-gni-tific and I have a little bit abused in the photos (well as usual but even worse) :-)

Visiting the Petrified Forest National Park is a circuit drive of 28 miles, with lots of views and multiple loops on foot (no more than one or 2 km each time, not exaggerate anyway ;-)).

Just after the park entrance (if it comes from the north), it first passes through the Painted Desert , which is aptly named. We see in fact a small part as it extends hundreds of kilometers. I do not a description of the geological phenomena because it is not my specialty, I'll let you watch (and I know they say this everywhere, but the pictures it makes no real color or space or full of Other things that make it necessary that you go there yourself to really see ;-))

So we did virtually all loops on foot and was struck by the dryness of the air. The heat is bearable, but it seems we thirsty all the time, was on the lips and skin all dry, it's pretty weird feeling. Here are the balls of dry plant often seen in westerns (I have no better name, if anyone knows ...), y 'when they ride the wind on the road is enough funny:


I can not choose the best pictures, so here's some more ;-)

What is surprising is that while we are not on the verge we can not guess the presence of this magnificent landscape. Just before it like this:

It pulls with difficulty in contemplation of the desert, but there's still plenty to see ... It recrosses the Old Route 66:

The blow of failure in this unforgiving desert ;-)

is still flat ...

is when is faced with such beauty that one can not help but thank the lord for having created all these wonderful things for humanity Americans ...

A little further you can see prehistoric ruins, which date from 1300 after Jesus Christ (This is where we realize we have not the same definition of prehistoric!).

There are also petroglyphs :

And trains, but they are not prehistoric ;-)

It then arrives in a surreal landscape (again), Blue Mesa, and Teepees (you can guess why!).

A little farther is the flat infinite

It is the path down the middle of these stone giants:

Again once I let you watch the pictures I think it speaks for itself ...

Marcel says he likes to walk, too bad because we made it all the trails! But once we're in the car he's happy ...

Even if he wants to leave the car for a quick photo without the windshield ;-)

Today I have a passion for the clouds, they are too cool: - )

And while I do the paparazzi (fortunately the stones and clouds can not sue me for invasion of privacy!), Marcel (the little rascal) tries to enter the girls' bathroom, I think not!

Marcel After reminding his catechism lessons on morals and stuff, so we arrive in the Petrified Forest itself. They are therefore not at all dead trees that are still standing, but scattered logs:

In summary (in detail there is ): volcanic ash were deposited in rivers, mixing with sediment. Some logs were buried by sediment before they have decayed and the water dissolved the silica and volcanic ash was transported in the timber. Quartz crystals were formed and filled the hollow areas of wood and even inside cells, forming a "fossil" stone of the log.

It looks like wood:

But it's hard and cold as stone:

My obsession for me again the clouds ...

say we never find wood for the barbecue! (Well that there would not be much use either ...)

Even the lizards are colored!

In the visitor center you can see a log that was cut and polished:

And here's largest petrified tree in the park:

Once finished the road, we come back the other way because we will continue the journey north so it's faster. I can not help but make still pictures even though I know I'm probably the same way (I treat myself I can assure you)!

It always crosses some bikers ...

A point of view we had missed the first leg, the Newspaper Rock covered with petroglyphs, we do not see very well because it is below, there are binoculars to see them better.

But the day comes to a close, and they must travel to Canyon de Chelly, fortunately not too far.

As often is entitled to a beautiful sunset (well, hence it is not the sun but it was super colors):

In passing we note that the windshield is starting to be a little dirty!

But the service stations they are not smart they are as water to wash the windshield is not super effective ... Fortunately I am very muscular, should rub!

Photo moron of the day (yes I'm talking about the next one and not the back ...):

And finally an eventful day, the cakes are no exception. ..

And tonight we will sleep in Indian

:-) PS: Well this post is super long so I have not the courage to read, I know there must be full and fôtes all bin too bad!