Flagstaff 2011
October 30 - 31 Nov 1

30th October 2010, Flagstaff, Arizona

Another beautiful day!

We left Durango and headed for the Navajo and Hopi lands. The trip was a long tiring one, but well worthwhile.

First we went to Four Corners, named because four states meet at one point. The states of Colorado, Arizona, Utah and New Mexico all have a common border at this point.

You can also buy some genuine Navajo jewellery and sand paintings from the Native American artists. Some superb turquoise at very reasonable prices.

We took lunch in Gouldings trading post and then spent some time in Monument Valley. What an awe inspiring place it is!

The Buttes are fantastic and it’s only when you see them up close you realise their importance. I’ve seen them in lots of films and John Ford spent a huge amount of time in the area, filming the John Wayne movies, Red River, The Searchers etc, but being here and seeing them close up is something else.

A long day, about 10 hours on the coach but well worth it! We’re off to see the Grand Canyon tomorrow and I hope to be able to do a little hiking there. Report to come!

Jerry (posted 6am, Oct 31 English time)

31st October 2010, The Grand Canyon & Flagstaff, Arizona

Another early start to get to the Grand Canyon which is about an hour and a half from Flagstaff.

And the early start was well worth while. The only word I can use to describe it is astounding!

Like everyone else I’d seen the Grand Canyon on TV, in films and in photographs, but, nothing prepares you for the jaw dropping spectacle that confronts you.

It’s 274 miles long and about 10 miles wide. At some points it’s 5000 feet deep and it’s taken about 2 billion years to make it to what it is today.

A beautiful sunny day with temperatures around 21 degrees Celsius made it a perfect day for viewing.

We walked the southern rim for about 3 miles and took lots of pics.

We’re staying in Flagstaff again tonight and then off tomorrow for an overnight train journey to Los Angeles about which I’ll report in my next blog.

Jerry

1st November 2010, Sedona, Arizona

Well, we had a leisurely start this morning and left the hotel at 10.00am. It was nice to have a little ‘lie in’ for a change.

Cave dwellings

We headed out to Walnut Canyon to see some cave dwellings that date from 1150. Quite late by cave dwellers standards, when you think of the caves in Lascaux in the south west of France, but, very impressive nevertheless.

The Sinagua were a tribe of Native Americans who occupied these caves for about 500 hundred years until the white men came. The descent to the canyon floor was easy but that can’t be said about the climb back up.

My quadriceps were letting me know how steep it was by the time I got back to the canyon rim.

Wild West Town

Then we arrived into the wild west town of Sedona. You may not know the name, but, when I say that The Magnificent Seven and other western movies were made here you’ll know what I’m saying.

Stopped briefly at a viewpoint called Oak Creek which was pretty impressive. One the young lads on the trip says he’s ‘cannoned out’ , if he sees another hole in the ground he’ll jump into it.

I’m sure he won’t, but I can see where he’s coming from. We’re back to Flagstaff in the afternoon to pick up the overnight train to Los Angeles which will mark another phase of the trip in California.

More to come tomorrow from there!

Jerry

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