Malleys' 2002 Moab Trip
June 22	Joyce let us use her car and make a little trip to Utah.  We left Prescott around noon and headed north. Gail drove us eastward along Interstate 40.  We had lunch at a rest stop just outside of Winslow, AZ.  We soon found ourselves in the middle of the smoke from the Rodeo fire, so at Holbrook, AZ we filled the car and went north. It didn't take long to find sun and clear air.  Got to Canyon de Chelly visitors center just as they were closing (at 6PM) - we thought it was 5PM but Navajo land is on daylight savings, unlike the rest of Arizona.  Set up our tent in Cottonwood Campground and headed out along the South Rim stopping at outlooks including White House (see photos and story of our hike).  Got back to the tent at 9PM and went to sleep to the smell of horses and the sound of a country band playing at the Thunderbird Lodge.  Well, I did - I think Gail didn't until they stopped.
June 23	Up at 9AM, packed up and hit the North Rim of Canyon de Chelly, doing the Ledge, Mummy and House Under Rock lookouts.  At each one could be found Navajo selling rock, petrified wood (with jasper) and jewelry.  We stopped for lunch at Sand Island on the San Juan River outside of Bluff, Utah. There are plenty of bird sightings noted, a campground and petroglyphs all waiting for a return visit. It is also a launching point for floating down the river, and we watched a team setup large pantoons.  Got to Mt. Peale Inn & Spa about 5PM.
June 24	Up at 9AM, to join David and Karen and his father Carl and mother Ruth for breakfast. David a school system administrator in St Louis with 20,000 good kids and 1,000 trouble makers (and his parents are from Idaho (originally Indiana). David's son, Spencer, was married at the Inn the day before we arrived and they were staying in cabins (not yet open to the public), which is why we didn't see them last night. Spent the day at Arches National Park. We had a special anniversary dinner at the Sunset Grill. Back to Inn for coffee and cribbage, Gail 126 to my 118. Then it was her turn for a massage followed by the hot tub.
June 25	Breakfast with Cy and Max (high school art teacher) Lavine from Michigan.  We said goodbye to the dogs and went to Canyonlands NP. Discovered later that we had left our Simple soap and shampoo in the shower - after being warned by Lisa that they don't return left items.  From there it was a drive to the Arizona border passing by Mexican Hat, a 60' balanced rock.  We stopped at Monument Valley where many western movies and TV shows have been done.  We paid $10 entrance fee but decided to not spend the 90 minutes needed to do the valley drive and took photos from the lookout. We also had a look at nearby Gouldings, Utah and decided the open campground not so very interesting and decided to take our chances on the Grand Canyon.
June 26	Grand Canyon and home.