Where The Earth Meets the Sky...sign at Monument Valley

Since I am so far behind in my Blogs, I've decided to just do a summary of my activities while in the area..and what I consider some neat highlights....this is part 1...




(c)2014Horst Kelly Photographer

 

As I mentioned in my previous post, I arrived in the Monument Valley area like a wet pup....just wanting a dry spot to "light in" and a sympatric ear...That Ranger was the"ear", and Sand Island was the "dry spot".....

(c)2014Horst Kelly Photographer

I have to say that  Mother Nature tests my wits at times...but she also has handed me some incredible adventures during this trip, if I chose to take them...and  the Monument Valley area was no exception.

(c)2014Horst Kelly Photograpger

I start off on Wednesday, 10 Sept at about 0600...its going to be a bright sunny day. I make a cup of coffee, grab my camping chair(the Observation Camping post) and sit at the edge of the San Juan River....the sound of the flowing current, wild geese on the opposite bank, the sun peaking over the Bluff, and me...just me in this whole piece of Paradise called Sand island....what a way to began another adventure.

I decide I would go ahead and do the obligatory self tour of Monument Valley and take a drive on UT 95 towards a portion of Glen Canyon...since the weather was rainy the day I had come through ....I travel the 40  or so miles from the CG to the entrance, pay the 20 bucks and proceed to the visitors center.  Its only 0830, but the guided tour Jeeps are already off and running....I take about two hours to complete the loop, stopping numerous times to get the elusive "perfect shot".... I may not of had any success in getting that shot, but I met several great folks and compared notes...ok, they gave me some awesome advise.....

(c)2014Horst Kelly Photographer

After the tour I roam around a bit, go back to the CG and what do I see parked next door...a 13 or so foot Burro.....the folks are sitting outside so I wander over and introduce myself...I would imagine they are in their middle/late 60's...just young pups, reside in Prescott, Az and travel whenever the mood strikes....she is an avid hiker...he says.."I just follow her"..it keeps the peace.. :) ...whatever works....They also have 2 large German Shepard dogs that travel with them.  It was a nice chat...I decide to do Valley of the Gods...which takes me back to the Goosenecks area....

(c)2014Horst Kelly Photographer

Its late afternoon and the sun is in a good position....I will say the "loop road" is primitive...its the first time this trip that I had to engage 4-wheel drive.  I'm sure part of that was do to the recent rain....as one has to travel through over some washes, which where really trenches...

(c)2014Horst Kelly Photographer

I thoroughly got myself lost in the moment of what I was experiencing....putting my self back not only in the 1800's when the Native Americans where the stewards of this land, but also back to 1000AD and what those early Americans had to endure...and before long I was there with them, in their element....I have to stop drinking that cheap wine....

(c)2014Horst Kelly Photographer

My next adventure was one of  those special moments....by chance I had read about a place that has a  Ruin on The Colorado Plateau off of UT 95...The unique facet of this ruin on a cliff overhang is that when the sun  reflects off the floor of cliff to the ceiling it creates an effect that looks as if the roof has flames shooting out of it in a 3-D fashion....this event is suppose to occur "late morning"...I won't bore you with logistic of getting, parking and hiking (about a mile) to the location..it does require some climbing...I got there about 45 minutes before I thought the photo op would occur.  They where two couples and a young Air Force officer...no one came.....the 2 couples left  after 90 or so minutes, saying they wanted to hike to the other ruins in the area...will another 45 minutes and the shadow on the floor started reseeding to a point I thought would present the photo op...I took some shots and it didn't look like anything unusual...waited another 15 minutes and the Young Air Force Troop and I left...when I downloaded the photo..here is what I got....I am happy with the result, especially since I have not done any "dark room" stuff.....its moments like this that make these trips so much more than any expectations I dreamed of.....


(c)2014Horst Kelly Photograpger

Now for my second surprise...once a year a phenomenon occurs with the "Mittens",,,,the first mitten casts its shadow directly on to the middle mitten.... It was by pure chance that I learned of this....so I went out to Monument Valley Visitor Center area, found a good spot and waited until the shadow started moving towards the other Mitten...below is the result....This  event happens only on 2 consecutive days each year....and by poor luck I happened to be there...What a super way to end a day!!

(c)2014Horst Kelly Photographer



 

With that I will close this post...I will have another post with more photo's from the Monument Valley Area.....Shortly....Hagoonee(Happy Trails in Navajo)...Horst sends