It was already around 85 degrees when we started gathering up our stuff and preparing to leave Lake Powell at 0800 this morning. The temperature climbed steadily as we ambled through our departure tasks and by 0930 we were on our way out of the Wahweap Campground. We went south on US-89 over the Colorado River next to the Glen Canyon Dam and into Page until we found the turnoff to AZ-98 which goes southeast about 50 miles to AZ-160. We turned east on 160 for about half an hour until we hit AZ-163 in Kayenta where we turned north toward Monument Valley. In 25 miles, we were approaching Goulding’s which is a big complex of visitor stuff like stores, laundries, a lodge, many hotel rooms, cabins, a gas station, a theater, a museum and an RV park. It is right in the heart of Monument Valley. The theater offers free interpretive and John Wayne movies every night. All the Duke’s movies shown in the theater were filmed here in Monument Valley.
The RV park is situated right between two enormous rock monoliths which make the camping sort of like being in a furnace but the scenery is pretty spiffy for those like me that find geology fascinating. Between the two monoliths is a view out to the main valley floor and the extraordinary rock formations there are visible from our camping spot. The space we got was not even close to being level so we had to do some cribbing to get the Barbarian Invader level. I was pretty slow on setup today maybe because I was affected by the high temperatures. The wi-fi here is amazingly fast and full hookups are available. There are no discounts except from the Good Sam Club which saved us 10%. Spaces are very close together. Goulding’s offers guided tours into the valley but there are no discounts on those, either, not even for ancients or service personnel. After setup, we climbed into the trailer for some air conditioned loafing and napping. My satellite antenna could not get a shot of the satellites from the gorge where we are camped but the campground has free cable TV that offers about 25 channel and shitty reception. Everyone on the tube looks like they are behind a screen of gauze.
It is pretty plain why John Ford shot a bunch of John Wayne movies here. The desert and rock scenery is dramatic and would be considered iconic of western lore. We probably could have selected a time when the temperatures weren’t so malevolent but we can easily take in the scenery from our air conditioned vehicle and from within our traveling home which we will begin tomorrow. The day after, my big sister, Julie, is supposed to be driving in by car from Pasadena, CA. She must like the place because it is a long way from her house to here.
During our little spin across the desert we got some photos and you can see some of them if you click here