June 25 2006

Departed Kayenta AZ @ 8:00 AM for Monument Valley and the Four Corners and our desination for the day, Durango CO. Once again beautiful scenery, pleasant riding conditions and the comfort zone improved as we proceeded to the northwest.

The sight of spectacular scenery and the unkempt homesites of the Navajo gives one a sense of conflict. It also gives credence to Dee Brown's tome "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" and our dismal treatment of the American Indian. The drive through this beautiful area is free but the Navajo Nation charges $5 at the visitor center and $3 at the Four Corners. After leaving this area we stopped at Goosenecks S.P. which affords a great view of the San Juan River. The river meanders through the canyon for 5 miles covering 1 linear mile. Stopped at the Four Corners Monument, put our feet in to four states at once, had our pictures taken and pushed on stopping for lunch at Blondies' in Cortez (very good) and on to Durango arriving @ 4:00 PM. Checked in to the Best Western and rode over to the Diamond Belle Saloon for cocktails. Didn't stay there though, bartender was inept and could not handle the crowd so after waiting 15 minutes and no drink we left. Found a neat place called Joel's Pub, nice atmosphere and friendly bartender. Hi Carol! Durango was OK but a little too yuppified however.

June 24 2006

We left Williams @7:00 AM and arrived at Grand Canyon N.P. @ 8:30AM.

We toured the park for about 5 hours. What can you say? The views were spectacular and the colors changed by the hour. Pictures do not do the Canyon justice. We exited the park via the east entrance through the Painted Desert enroute to Tuba City where we stopped for lunch. Once again the the temps became very hot in the low desert. We sighted some wild horses atop Black Mesa on HWY 160 near Kayenta where we would stop for the night. The scenery today ranged from 'moonscape' to red hues in the desert to rolling tree clotted hills reminiscent of Black Hills of South Dakota. Each day in this part of the country is spectacular in it's own way.

June 23 2006

We left Laughlin @ 7:00am stopped for breakfast at the Black Bear Cafe (excellent) in Bullhead City and proceede south on AZ Route 95 to Route 66 at Topock and east to Oatman a neat old west mining town with wild burros roaming the street. The route to and east of Oatman is very scenic and loaded with many switchbacks and hairpin turns. It is truly amazing to me that this is the same road that the 'Okies' and the fictional Joad family used to migrate west during the Great Depression.We passed through such towns as Hackberry ( a dump!)Truxton where we stopped at the Frontier Motel and Restaurant an old preserved Route 66 icon, on to Peach Springs and Seligman where we stopped for a beer at the Black Cat Saloon another biker bar. They all seem the same.We arrived in Williams and checked in at the Days Inn and rode down to Rod's Steak House for dinner which was excellent. In the morning we will visit the Grand Canyon.