Day 7 of Cross-Country Trip from CO & UT
We got an early start to the day and headed to Mesa Verde National Park. When we arrived, the boys & I walked around the museum and to one of the cliff dwellings. They seemed to enjoy it. We then headed to Four Corners, USA - where Utah, Colorado, New Mexico & Arizona all meet. We all posed for pictures standing in all 4 states. It was pretty empty since it was off-season. Then we headed towards Moab, UT, with plans to stop at Canyonlands National Park if we had time.
As we traveled and stopped through the Navajo land, I quietly observed the people going about their daily lives. The Navajo are a beautiful people, and they are so pleasant and content - despite the challenging lives they lead. They live in such desolate areas, with little extras - but they are so giving. We ate breakfast at a town in Colorado and as we ate I listened and watched the people around me. There were at least 4 native tribes represented in the diner, as well as caucasian, African American, Hispanic and Asian. It was wonderful to watch everyone interacting and how at-ease everyone was with each other - and even with us outsiders. A Navajo toddler came over to look at Daniel & Patrick and made those little baby gurgles as he looked at me and giggled. He was so adorable. His father reminded me of a Lakota friend of mine - and I had a hard time keeping from staring at him - there was just something about his eyes. He was very pleasant and smiled and laughed as he watched his son watch the "white kids". It was a very neat experience.
We made it to Canyonlands around 3:30. We debated whether we wanted to drive the 30 miles into the park, and decided to go for it. I am SOOOO glad we did!! It was breathtaking. The canyons were beautiful. There were so many neat features and sites to see. We went to the visitor center and then walked around. We took our rental van down a dirt road to see Elephant Hill. It was getting dark as we started back to the main road. We saw a HUGE herd of elk and another of deer along the road. Then an eagle scared the begeebers out of me. It was dark and I had my high beams on. We were driving down this NARROW back road and suddenly this huge bird was flying directly in front of my headlight on the passenger side. I could barely keep my eyes on the road and brake because I was so shocked and amazed. At first I thought it was an owl but then both Don & I realized it really was an eagle. I'd never seen one flying in the dark! As I stopped the car he veered back over to the side of the road and sat on a post. Then he flew away. It was unreal.
We drove on to Moab and straight to Jay's Pasta. It was AWESOME! Being New Yorkers (well - I'm only sort of one) - we are VERY picky about Italian food & pizza. It just isn't the same outside of the Big Apple. Well - this guy Jay must be a transplanted New Yorker. The food was GREAT! Even Patrick ate every last bite of his ravioli! After dinner we headed to the hotel and I unloaded most of the car so we could do laundry and repack. We're here at this hotel for 2 nights - so now's a great time to catch up on the organizing a bit. I also hope to get some postcards mailed tomorrow!!
Well - time to get the last load of laundry folded and hit the sack. Tomorrow we plan to go to Arches and the northern end of Canyonlands (we only went to the southern end today). I'm hoping for another thought-provoking, amazing day!
Colorado and Utah National Parks:
As we traveled and stopped through the Navajo land, I quietly observed the people going about their daily lives. The Navajo are a beautiful people, and they are so pleasant and content - despite the challenging lives they lead. They live in such desolate areas, with little extras - but they are so giving. We ate breakfast at a town in Colorado and as we ate I listened and watched the people around me. There were at least 4 native tribes represented in the diner, as well as caucasian, African American, Hispanic and Asian. It was wonderful to watch everyone interacting and how at-ease everyone was with each other - and even with us outsiders. A Navajo toddler came over to look at Daniel & Patrick and made those little baby gurgles as he looked at me and giggled. He was so adorable. His father reminded me of a Lakota friend of mine - and I had a hard time keeping from staring at him - there was just something about his eyes. He was very pleasant and smiled and laughed as he watched his son watch the "white kids". It was a very neat experience.
We made it to Canyonlands around 3:30. We debated whether we wanted to drive the 30 miles into the park, and decided to go for it. I am SOOOO glad we did!! It was breathtaking. The canyons were beautiful. There were so many neat features and sites to see. We went to the visitor center and then walked around. We took our rental van down a dirt road to see Elephant Hill. It was getting dark as we started back to the main road. We saw a HUGE herd of elk and another of deer along the road. Then an eagle scared the begeebers out of me. It was dark and I had my high beams on. We were driving down this NARROW back road and suddenly this huge bird was flying directly in front of my headlight on the passenger side. I could barely keep my eyes on the road and brake because I was so shocked and amazed. At first I thought it was an owl but then both Don & I realized it really was an eagle. I'd never seen one flying in the dark! As I stopped the car he veered back over to the side of the road and sat on a post. Then he flew away. It was unreal.
We drove on to Moab and straight to Jay's Pasta. It was AWESOME! Being New Yorkers (well - I'm only sort of one) - we are VERY picky about Italian food & pizza. It just isn't the same outside of the Big Apple. Well - this guy Jay must be a transplanted New Yorker. The food was GREAT! Even Patrick ate every last bite of his ravioli! After dinner we headed to the hotel and I unloaded most of the car so we could do laundry and repack. We're here at this hotel for 2 nights - so now's a great time to catch up on the organizing a bit. I also hope to get some postcards mailed tomorrow!!
Well - time to get the last load of laundry folded and hit the sack. Tomorrow we plan to go to Arches and the northern end of Canyonlands (we only went to the southern end today). I'm hoping for another thought-provoking, amazing day!
Colorado and Utah National Parks:
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