Today we set out early for Page, Arizona across US-160.
Just east of Cortez, CO, Debbie spotted a large mesa
and recalled that while we’d previously toured Mesa Verde, it was in 2010 prior to her picking up a National Parks Passport book in which she’s been since collecting date stamps for each of park we visit (she also has a book for State Capitols). So we made a quick detour so she could have her book stamped while I took the opportunity to take a couple of photos from the Visitor’s Center.
Our next stop was planned,
where the state lines of Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Utah all meet.
We’d tried to stop there in 2010 but the site was under reconstruction at the time. However, the results are impressive and include monuments for each of the four states explaining how “their” boundaries were established
as well as flags of the four states and the Indian tribes which have historically inhabited the territory/reservation on which the site now sits
and, of course, the spot where silly tourists love to have their pictures taken
Debbie and I together with Debi and Dave Normington and Quincy
Continuing west across the Navajo Reservation, the landscape, while still desolate,
slowly became increasingly attractive and eventually downright beautiful!
This landscape also provided a spectacular backdrop for our lunch break.
After passing through Kayenta, the largest city on the reservation, the scenery changed but was no less inviting.
Punctuated by an occasional decaying home
and several sheep ranches.
Finally we got our first glimpse of Lake Powell.
After a gas stop, we crossed the bridge over the Glenn Canyon Dam,
we drove north along the west side of the lake.
Before reaching our campground our site provided an incredible view of Lake Powell and red sandstone uplifts, particularly in the late afternoon sun.
View through the windshield of our coach