Saturday, April 30, 2011

From the Farm to the Page

What a day!  We started out in Farmington, New Mexico.  Our first city to visit was Shiprock, NM where they have a rock that is supposed to look like a ship.  Our consensus is that it looks more like a face looking up towards the sky.  We could see the mountains in Southwestern Colorado from here!  Then we went to 4 Corners.  This is where the corners of Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona meet (it is not accurate, but what the heck!)  It was fun taking pictures there despite the geographical inaccuracies!  We then drove through Colorado to Utah.  Bluff, Utah was beautiful!  We drove through the Valley of the Gods on our way to Mexican Hat and Monument Valley.  I have never seen such spectacular formations!  My pictures do not do them justice but I hope you enjoy them.  Our last stop was Page, AZ which is where the dam is forming Lake Powell.  Today was fantastic! 

This is Shiprock.  I think the namers made a mistake!!

Shiprock from another vantage point

Mountains in CO, but we are in NM!!

Four Corners

Wayne with a limb in each state (for Jenny!!)

We are suspended above four states!!

John and Shirley

Me too!


Driving from CO to Utah



Now entering Utah!!

Such unusual formations driving toward Monument Valley

Entering Bluff, UT


Bluff, Utah

Yesterday was running with the bull.  Today it was sheep!!



Bluff, Utah

Bluff, Utah

This looks like a skull!
Valley of the Gods



I love the painted look to the mountains of Monument Valley


Mexican Hat


I liked "pig rock" also!

The San Juan River

Formations in Monument Valley





This looks like a penquin

Can you see the face in the rock?


Bridge over Lake Powell

Lake Powell was about 90 feet low.  They desperately need water!

Wish we could send our rain to the Southwest!!

Friday, April 29, 2011

Bandelier National Monument

We visisted Bandelier today.  It was formed from volcano ash and is in the Cerro Grande Valley.  It contains some unique cliff dwellings and petroglyphs that are a lot of fun to explore.  After we left Bandelier, we passed through Jemez Springs.  On our way to Farmington, we found the Ponderosa Winery which, of course, we had to try.  It was a fun day.

This is Camel Rock on Hwy 285 just outside Santa Fe

Bandelier

cliff dwelling

canyon

Harpers and us at the cliff dwelling

We nicknamed this Jayhawk Rock

This one looked like an animal with its mouth open

The Kiva

an alternate look at the canyon

cliff dwelling

Unusual door

petroglyph between the holes

This petroglyph reminded me of a swimmer

petroglyph above a hole

The cactus have not bloomed yet

petroglyph in the middle

view of the monument from the nature trail

another view from the nature trail

funky tree

Jemez State Monument

The peaks look like they have eyes


The Jemez Stage Stop where we had lunch

This was in the restaurant

So was this

Running of the cow on the highway

The Ponderosa Winery

winery

Wayne, Harpers and the dog, Ugly Old Ralph

just cool