Days
15 and 16
Moab to Mexican Hat and Monument Valley
I
said farewell to Moab early on day 15 and headed south towards Mexican Hat calling
at Blanding for the Dinosaur Museum , Valley of the Gods, the Goosenecks and finally
Monument Valley. Day 16 was spent in Monument Valley staying 2 nights in Mexican
Hat. 260 miles and 320 digital pictures in the 2 days. I had visited Monument
Valley in 1983 and it had become much more commercial since then.
Early
morning sun was appearing above La Sal mountains as I left Moab and bursting through
the clouds.
The
'Goosenecks' is about 30 miles north of Monument Valley and not very far from
Mexican Hat. The San Juan River has a spectacular series of bends that is virtually
impossible to capture in one shot hence the panorama above - three digital images
combined in Photoshop.
The
Dinosaur Museum in Blanding is not huge but is a private collection and well worth
a visit if you are near.
The
Valley of the Gods area is OK if you have the time but is not a patch on Monument
Valley though there are some impressive monoliths scattered around the area.
Probably
one of the most recognized silhouette shapes Monument Valley has long been a favorite
for film makers and photographers the world over. Above left is the approach road
from Mexican Hat and above right is the view from the visitor centre. Left Mitten,
Right Mitten and Merrick Butte from left to right.
Left
Mitten in the centre with Big Indian in the distance.
Totem
Pole and Yei Bi Chai
A
couple of views of the Three Sisters as the sun goes down.
Another
view from the visitors centre and of Yei Bi Chai in the morning
A
panorama from the road to Mexican Hat in the early morning
A
panorama from a position below the visitors centre
All
images are copyright Richard Tucker
