Montrose, CO to Chinle, AZ (Two Night Stay in Chinle)

We departed lovely Couchsurfing hosts and headed south.

A wildflower collection Greta made.

We arrived, behind schedule -- due to road work -- at Mesa Verde National Park.

Seemingly, the stop at Four Corners -- where Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico meet-- was obligatory.  We were driving right by.  Despite hearing from a CSing host that the marker designating the spot is 32 feet off -- further supported by a NPS Ranger at Mesa Verde saying that the marker is off by a mile, we went.  Paid $15.00.  Only Rob and Greta went to the marker.  The boys were too busy with the vendor stands to focus on the "attraction" and Jenna was too miffed to force them into a staged photo.  

After this "Is there going to be a gift shop?" stop, I was ready to leave one in each of the four states.

We traveled right into the middle of the Navajo Nation.  Until I can really get my thoughts around the contrasting holiness of Canyon de Chelly with the observable abject poverty, I will refrain from comment.

The campground near Spider Rock in the Canyon was nice.  We rented tents and lit a fire in the pit.  After the children went to sleep, Rob and I saw the stars of our childhoods.  I stared at the Milky Way for quite sometime recalling what life was like before so much ambient light on the Eastern Seaboard.

 

Greta woke me up to watch the sunrise with her.  

We broke down the tents and hired a Navajo guide to take us into the Canyon de Chelly.  As this is Navajo land, non-Navajo tourists must have a Navajo escort.  We decided to go on horseback, rather than on foot or by jeep.

Palmer Lake, CO to Montrose, CO

Colorado is a big state.

We said good-bye to a great family.  Thanks Burtons!

 Hung out at Royal Gorge.

 Goofed around in the car.

 Spotted bighorn sheep . . .

Enjoyed Salida, Colorado.

Went to Main in Motion in Montrose, Colorado.

Hanging out with our CSing Hosts Rob and Robyn.

FAIR WARNING:  We may or may not have access to the internet over the next two days.  We are heading to Mesa Verde, Four Corners, Navajo Territory, into the Canyon de Chelly on horseback, Petrified Nat'l Forest, Meteor Crater, and Winslow, AZ before arriving to Flagstaff. 

If there is no contact do not worry, unless you are prone to worrying, and then picture us riddled in snakebites in a pit completely dehydrated.

Pikes Peak and Garden of the Gods

Our first No-Driving Day.

Eric and his 8-year-old son, Jake, took us to Pikes Peak. Only minor motion sickness on the drive up.

Happy to to be up top.  

Eric is holding a bag of the most delicious doughnuts.  Apparently, 14,000 feet elevation enhances both appetite and food appreciation.

 Ravens playing in the up currents.

Back down to 7,000 feet and The Garden of the Gods.

 The Kissing Camels.

 Colorado's State Bird:  The Lark Bunting.

Tomorrow, off to Royal Gorge and overnight with a Couchsurfing hosts in Montrose, Colorado.

Salina, KS to Palmer Lake, CO

The day started early in Salina with doughnuts made right in town.  Despite how delicious these were, the coffee was sadly very midwestern.

 Rambling through the 450 miles with some shared tunes in the van.

The perennial favorite activity at rest stops:  Tree tag.  On your marks get set . . .

                        GO!

Two parents happy about the fact that their children will still play tree tag.

We stopped in Burlington, Colorado at the Kit Carson County Carousel.  It is 107 years old and fully restored to its 1905 state.

On the way up to our friends' house in Palmer Lake, we spotted this lovely munching grass in someone's front yard.

Finally, with friends.  Stacey and Rob right outside the family's front door.  What a view!

Then, inside their modern-styled house.  This is the type of house that Rob and I would love to build someday, in the mountains.

Tomorrow, off to Garden of the Gods, Pike's Peak, and rock climbing.