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Monument Valley is
one of my favourite places in the American South West. It is
relatively unspoiled and evokes the spirit of America. It
encapsulates my chidhood visions of the USA shown to me by film and
the tall butes show a rugged and barren country inhabited by Indians
that the early settlers crossed to reach California. We arrived
mid afternoon and booked in to Gouldings Lodge Hotel before exploring
the valley. We had stayed here on a previous visit and knew the hotel
to be comfortable and with a view from our room that left us
breathless. This was our third visit to Monument Valley and
previously we had both driven ourselves around the 17 mile circular
dirt road that encompases the valley and taken a guided tour with
transport from Gouldings Lodge. Because we arrived late in the
day, we drove again in our own car around the dirt road We
noticed the new View Hotel being built within the Park and hope that
this will not spoil the peace and tranquility of the area. |
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The accomodation
at Gouldings was all we had hoped for. We were allocated a two
bedroom bungalow outside of the hotel complex, which can be seen just
to the top right of the hotel buidings in the picture above. We
had a small area of land in the front and the view from our picture
windows in the lounge was unbeatable. |
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As you enter the
Park and stop at the Visitor Center, you look across to the Left and
Right Mittens, named obviously from their hand shapes. This is
probably the picture of Monument Valley that most who visit
remember. The dirt track winds through and from the size of the
cars one can see how massive the butes are. |
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Many films have
been shot at Monument Valley, starring John Wayne and directed by
John Ford. This is John Ford Point, supposeidly his
favourite view. The memorial with flags were new this visit and
commemorated the death of a local Indian in the Iraq War. |
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The opening
sequence of the Eiger Sanction features Clint Eastwood at the top of
the Totem Poke in Monument Valley. |
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Due to the
lateness of the start of our visit, the sun was setting as we left
the Valley and we had to find an alternative exit, as the Park had closed. |
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Next morning we
witnessed a glorious sunrise, before moving on from Gouldings and
Monument Valley. |
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The road out of
Monument Valley is one of the iconic images of America. We
stopped to take photographs and Suzi decided a low angle was the
picture she wanted. On our last trip the road had just been
newly tarmaced and I think the photo
I took then was one of the best dramatic shots I have taken. |
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We now headed
North East towards our next destination of Moab. We passed the
unusual rock formation of Mexican Hat, before taking a slight detour
to view Goosenecks State Park, where the San Juan River has carved
deep and winding canyons into the land. |
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Half way between
Monument Valley and Moab is Wilson Arch. |
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