2004-04-01
The Road Home
And off we go � chasing the sun west through a dust storm, in Red Mesa, Arizona. It was really interesting to see the tumbleweeds flying and then suddenly see not much of anything except the red dust.We reached Kayenta, where we stayed at an old motel run by the Navajo. Nice place, and beautiful scenery. We met a black and white floofy-type dog there who was pretty shy, until Partner coaxed it in for a good scratching and petting. But it was definitely a dog that had been kicked, based on its behavior. However, once Partner made friends, she (the dog) followed him around. Especially when we came back out with fresh fry bread. Nose to the sky, she followed us back to our room and waited politely outside. I fed her the squishy deli sandwich we had dropped into the cooler (wet bread � ugh!) and she ate all of it, including lettuce, pickles and onions. She was very delicate and gentle about it. None of the snarling grabbing starving mutt behavior at all. I gave her some water and then she got bold. While we were packing to go she went IN to the room and sat there looking hopeful! LOL Ah well. She�ll survive.
Monument Valley was, well, monumental. John Ford shot a lot of movies there and of course that was a tourist draw. But it�s still beautiful, and the park is run by the Navajo Nation. So at least the tourist�s money goes to the Rez. We bought a few things along the way from the Navajo who set up shop at various spots along the road. It�s interesting to hear them speak Dine� like you weren�t there. We watched a weaving demonstration in a Hogan but it felt too much like we were intruding so we left. All in all, it was beautiful there.
In the Goulding museum we watched a documentary about Kit Carson and Hoskaneeni (not sure I spelled that correctly) and a lost silver mine. It was illuminating, and quite disturbing. Sometimes I feel all the guilt of generations, and just want to sob. And of course, since the winners write the history, we�ve all grown up to learn about Kit Carson and the other Old West �American� guys as heroes. They don�t teach you what really happened in the textbooks. You have to do your own research to find out �the rest of the story�, as Paul Harvey puts it.
Anyway, on into Utah and more bizarre rock formations. These were less red and more pale, and smoother than the rugged ones in Arizona. We saw one of the famous arches and Partner went up to take pictures. It was about a foot wide ledge under the arch, way up high, and wind was whistling through the arch. Needless to say, he snapped a quick picture and climbed back down. Partner doesn�t care for heights much hehe.
Not much else to Utah really. Chintzy hotel with barely the basics. Thursday morning and I�m up and ready to go, crossing into Colorado. Partner is slower. At home, I sleep late and he�s the early riser. Traveling, I want to be up and on the way (camping, I�m up at dawn or before, if the birds are loud enough). For me, the trip was mostly over. I just wanted to get home by Saturday. But for Partner it�s just beginning, I think. I�ve always liked Arizona, but he likes Colorado. He had all these places he wanted to see, and I just wanted to drive through, snap a few pictures, and get home.
Funny how things change
Colorado is just
Awesome.
We saw the Royal Gorge. We saw rivers. We saw old mines. We saw pine trees, rocks, snow and just beautiful, beautiful mountains. I drove up through one of the passes in the Continental Divide � Monarch Pass I believe � and when we got to the top, Partner had me stop so he could get out and grab some snow for his martini. He�d brought a special stainless steel martini glass for the trip and after my driving (or maybe just the trip up) he needed a drink.
I pulled a pectoral muscle falling off a rock trying to take a picture of the Arkansas River. At least it was the last main day of our vacation! I�m still recuperating, but at least can move now.
Then it�s the rush into Kansas, after getting lost trying to find our highway in Colorado Springs. Eastern Colorado and Kansas are probably the most boring (outside of Nebraska) that I�ve ever driven. Even the sign promising the world�s largest prairie dog didn�t faze me.
We�d tried to get an early start, to drive 10 hours and get home in time to pick D-Dog and the Floofy One up at the kennel before they closed at 5pm. So Partner, Mr. �I�ll just leave the room key here�, at 6am locks OUR keys in the room with the room key. *sigh* We spent a good half hour banging on the manager�s door, getting him out of the shower, to get another room key so we can get going.
Then, about 70 miles into Kansas from Colorado: there it is � the sign. �7 miles to the biggest prairie dog in the world!� Apparently it�s an 800 lb. plaster or masonry statue and petting zoo in Oakley, KS. The Vietnam Moving Wall was there too, but it only got second billing. This says something about our culture but I�m not sure what yet, nor am I thinking I�ll like what I do find in that little juxtaposition.
Finally, with 45 minutes to spare, we picked up our pups and went home.
All in all it was an awesome trip and we have some nice souvenirs.
And memories.
And a lot of thinking to do.
Mitakuye Oyasin.
Walk in Balance
