Our First Days in Bluff, Utah

 April 20 - 22, 2023

Bluff, Utah

Despite our tighter quarters, it's wonderful to be back on the road, exploring the natural beauty of Utah, feeling blessed to have this opportunity. The kitchen is snug and I can't access the washer and dryer, but otherwise living is pretty much the same without the big slide.

The beautiful red rock bluffs are just out our window.

We've been in this area a couple times and have always missed visiting the Four Corners Monument. Time to remedy that! The drive isn't as dramatic as other routes here, but the wide open spaces and clear skies make for an enjoyable 110 mile round trip.

Built and maintained by the Navajo and Ute Nations, the monument is easy to access and well worth the $8/each admission fee. Solid vendor spaces line the space - about 2/3 are full today. 

I lost the pic I took of my feet in the four states, but this woman did it right :-)

Each state has one of these stone podiums with information on the territory at the time of statehood. Beautiful and wind-proof!

We drive in each of the four states to get here, and while they all look similar, Arizona is the greenest!

Utah cliffs and cattle.

Colorado looking un-Coloradoy.

The snow-capped La Sal Mountains in the distance.

We grab late lunch at the Twin Rocks Restaurant back in Bluff.

If we had arrived two weeks later there would be a new laundry room here at the RV park, but their new construction is not yet completed. The laundromat in Bluff is a large building, and when I walk in I'm impressed at what appears to be 50 washers and 20 dryers. Reality is that none of the top loading washers work, and only five of the front loaders work - each with a different cost from $2-$5 per load. Nothing to do but use what's there. The clothes do get clean, the dryer does eventually get everything mostly dry. First world problems......

It drops below 26 degrees our first two nights, Spring coming a little slower "up here". While it's breezy during the day, the lack of high winds under sunny skies make for wonderful day trips.

Friday we check out Natural Bridges National Monument - taking a look at Hwy 95 which we'll take to Torrey on Wednesday. This is the first national monument (1908) in Utah, and is surrounded by one of the newest (2016), Bears Ears National Monument. The park has three natural bridges (not surprising) accessible by trails leading from overlooks along the nine mile interior loop road. The road, parking areas and paved overlook trails are well maintained. It starts out cold enough for coats but by the end of our visit we're in shirt-sleeves. 

Hwy 95 offers spectacular views.

Sipapu Bridge

White Canyon meanders over 50 miles. 

I was impressed by this formidable beast on the slick rock above the trail!

The park is full of beautiful formations in addition to the bridges.

Kachina Bridge is challenging to capture from the overlook, and is the smallest of the three.

Owachomo Bridge no longer spans an "erosion valley", also known as a body of water (a requirement for a bridge versus an arch), but it did when it was formed so it gets to keep its status!

La Sal Mountains in the distance. Again.

The namesake buttes that give the surrounding area its name.

I have seen Moki Dugway in several blog posts over the years, but I have completely forgotten to add it to my list of things to see here. So it's a wonderful fluke that at the last minute I decide to take a different route back to Bluff. This route takes us to the incredible steep, narrow, dirt road with the most amazing views! Lots of wows and OMGs and other explanations as we attempt to absorb the colors and textures and monuments below us, and then around us as we descend.

The monuments in Valley of the Gods.

The road drops 1200 feet in 3 miles of 11% grade. A large gorilla guards it here.

To wrap up a great day we stop at Sand Island to check out the petroglyph panel. We're surprised to see a lot of vehicles in the boat launch parking area along the San Juan River. Looks like personal and guided rafting. Too cold for me!

Hundreds of glyphs have been dated between 300 and 3000 years old. Now protected by a chain link fence there are signs of vandalism from before it was installed.

These are in a shaded overhang about 200 feet up the wall.

 

We're here another four days with more beautiful places to explore so I'll save those for the next post.

M & M get the giggles with their folks.

All Along the Watchtower

April 18 - 19, 2023

Cameron, Arizona   

We have perfect sleeping weather Monday night - 45 degrees with a light, windows-open-all-night breeze. The expected wind is kicking up before 8 AM, and after showers and a light breakfast we're pulling in the slides against the 25 mph dust. Well, we attempt to pull them all in. The full-size slide binds and stops even after a few attempts to reset it. We both suspect the horrible condition of our miles on I-40 messed with the tracks. It's pulled in enough to lock down the topper so we head out for our day at the canyon. We are NOT missing it again!

This really is a great spot to stay for visiting the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. A stunningly beautiful thirty-minute drive along the Little Colorado River takes us to the east gate, just 500 yards from our initial destination of Desert View. On the drive we're unable to stop at the lookouts run by the Nation as they're closed - probably due to the high winds (don't want tourists getting blown off the edge!). Can't complain when the views from the highway are so amazing.

 

Little Colorado River Canyon

Pretty rock formations.

The river carved deep canyons throughout the valley.

Waiting for just three other vehicles at the gate is a good sign. The good continues with a close parking space at Desert View. At 59 degrees the 20 mph winds make for a chilly walk around. The incredible canyon views, and finally getting to see Mary Colter's Watchtower, are well worth the briskness of the morning. 

Our first glimpse of the canyon.

There it is! Mary's vision realized.

Up close to the canyon with dirt blowing in the distance.

Windows on the first floor frame the beauty outside.

Framed black mirrors move back and forth to change the view - they're very cool!

With sustained winds of 30 mph back at the rig we're in no hurry to return home. Instead we take advantage of less crowds and clear skies (the canyon itself is hazy from the blowing dust). I'm able to walk all of the overlooks - it's wonderful to see this natural wonder from so many angles, to capture multiple perspectives. 

Our only wildlife sighting - nearly the size of Tessa!

We find the crowds at the huge, full parking lots of the Visitor Center. This we pass without hesitation! Happily we find plenty of open parking at the market and deli just down the road. A couple of surprisingly fresh salads make for a nice mid-day break at our turn-around point. 

The wind gets stronger "up here" as the day progresses, but I'm hopeful they're subsiding back at home. As soon as we're out of the junipers and pinion pines it's clear this isn't the case :-( Even with all the dust we can see the expanse of the Painted Desert in the distance. Northern Arizona is a treasure.

Although we finally see the Watchtower and this corner of the canyon, Cameron still doesn't like us.

Winds rock the rig with gusts up to 48 mph throughout the night. Maneuvering is tricky with all the slides (almost) pulled in. It's still windy in the morning but seems to be slowing down and the forecast on our route looks good. We cross our fingers and try pulling in the big slide all the way. No. We try moving it out. No. It's clearly gotten tweaked, I'm sure from the huge bounces on I-40. Not our first damage from a crappy interstate (I-10 Louisiana!). Bill is able to apply enough pressure on the outside to get it within 2 inches of "all the way in". Good enough, we're on the road by 9:30.

North through Tuba City and Kayenta, then a new route for us into Bluff, Utah on Hwy 191. This is not a "gotta-pee" friendly area! The last 30 miles are brutal with 25 mph side winds and rough pavement. The views are wonderful, albeit dusty.

Cadillac Ranch RV Park is a small, no frills location with 30 amp FHU (they also have 50 but they're full). Kerrie has been in touch this morning and greets us when we arrive. I seem to remember I got one of the last sites in Bluff when I made the reservation in January. 

We're here for a week with the large slide pulled in. Alas, I refuse to let it ruin our travels - not even going to a laundromat! We have lots of fun things planned :-)

Still room to cook :-)

Reese and Penelope take their parents on a flight to see family.

Elliott and Ezra take their parents to the poppy fields in SoCal.