- On the highway through Monument Valley
- On the gravel road through the Valley of Gods
- Bathing in the pool
- Watching the sunset in Monument Valley
Somehow I always sleep better in the roof tent. After a short breakfast we start in a north-westerly direction. In the small town of Many Farms - that's actually the name of the place - we turn off on the direct route to Kayenta. The path already leads through a landscape similar to that known from Monument Valley. The anticipation increases with every kilometer. The first rock formations, seen dozens of times in pictures, can already be seen on the horizon. We pay the $20 entrance fee and visit the Navajo Tribal Park Visitors Center. Yes, Monument Valley is also on the Indian reservation and is administered by them. Unfortunately, this also means that personal access is severely restricted. Only those who hire a Navajo as a guide get a deeper look into the valley. There are tours by jeep, on horseback or hiking tours. Since the sky is currently quite cloudy, we decide to book the tour for tomorrow. We afford a sunrise and sunset tour for the combined price of $175. Not exactly the cheapest experience, but after all, you don't come here every day. In nearby Gouldings, we move into a campground for the next two nights.
After a quick lunch stop in the shade, we drive to Gooseneck State Park via Mexican Hat. Here you can also look down into the deep gorge of the meandering river. We continue with the drive through the lesser known but very interesting Valley of Gods. The road through the valley is unpaved and has a few potholes, but is just about passable without four-wheel drive. For this we are rewarded with spectacular rock formations, which are not inferior to those of Monument Valley. After a little over 30 kilometers we turn back onto the highway. Back at the campground we cool off in the pool and then take a dip in the late afternoon sun. After a shower and Chili con Carle we drive back to the View Hotel. We enjoy the last rays of sunshine of the day on this magical landscape and capture the mood with some souvenir photos. Then we go to bed early again, because tomorrow we have an early start.
