Wed – Sat, Sept 11-14, 2024

I feel compelled to finish sharing THIS trip before Joe and I start our next trip this coming week.  Geez …. what a year of travel this has been!

We left Monument Valley on Wednesday morning and only had a couple hour drive to Page, Arizona.  On the way, I called our next hotel for the next two nights, and gratefully, we were able to check in early!

The tents are spacious and clean with running water, a shower, and a real toilet.  The bed was VERY comfortable, evidenced by my man fast asleep!

We had reservations that afternoon to tour Antelope Canyon, which I have wanted to do forever.  One cannot go on their own, but must book a tour through the Navajo Nation.

It’s quite a bumpy and hot ride down the arroyo from where we caught the tour in town.

Joe and I each shot a ZILLION photos of the canyon, and of course, a photographer always wishes they took more.  But here is just a sample ….

It was a hot day for sure, so we spent the balance of the day’s light at Lone Rock Beach on Lake Powell. 

Joe and I have both been stuck on a beach before and we debated  whether we should drive down to the water’s edge.   We  looked at each other and said, “what the hell, let’s go down”.  We had a lovely couple of hours with our chairs and our beer, and we even went in the water.  Some of Dennis’s ashes are now there.   But then it was time to leave, and uh, oh.  We got stuck.  I was so nervous about missing our  2nd night in the tent that I didn’t even take any pictures of us being stuck!  Eventually, some nice young men gave us a hand, and we were able to escape.  Of course, we offered them beer money, but they wouldn’t take it.  It proved once again that the majority of the people in the world are truly gracious and helpful.

We had been on the road for a week, and we were ready to head south towards Tucson.  We got another early check-in at The Tavern Hotel in Cottonwood (lovely hotel I highly recommend), and then took a short drive to Jerome.  Jerome, an old mining town, is very similar to Bisbee, which is close to where Joe lives.  We walked around a little bit, had a bite to eat at The Haunted Hamburger, and headed back to Cottonwood.  I will admit I was getting a little tired!   Joe and I did do a little stroll through historic Cottonwood, and to his delight, all of the shops were closed!  We slept very well that night.

On the morning of our departure, we walked to breakfast, and what we thought would be a simple  Bloody Mary and some food ….

We walked into a few shops after breakfast, and Joe was a very good sport (shopping is not his favorite activity).  But we both knew we needed to get some steps in before we sat in the car for the trek home.

Gratefully, it was an easy and uneventful drive back to my place.  Of course, we stopped to split our traditional Blizzard from Dairy Queen by Picacho Peak.

After being on the road for 8 days and traveling 1342 miles, we were thrilled to be home by 2 pm!

As always, THERES NO PLACE LIKE HOME. 

The hand of Fatima, the hamsa.  The symbol of protection, power, and strength.

---