Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Arizona

After leaving Winslow, I drove up to Canyon de Chelly National Monument in northern Arizona. The canyon lies within the Navajo reservation and the campsite there is free although there is talk of fees being added in the future. My humble campsite sits underneath the barren Cottonwood trees.
This little lizard is only about 2 inches long at the most and was showing off his muscles for me!
"To touch the soul of another human being is to walk on holy ground." Stephen Covey
Very old petroglyphs carved into the rock you see below. These etchings of two riders hunting deer were done by Navajo natives.
One morning I joined a Ranger led group down into Tunnel Canyon. The Canyon is home to many Navajo who currently live in the canyon without running water or electricity. The canyon is sacred to the Navajo and the only way to see it is with a Native guide or a Ranger. The one exception is the trail down to the White House ruins.
Part of our group crossing the stream that flows at the bottom of the canyon. Most of our hike was done in our bare feet through ice cold water and warm red sand.
That would be me, delighted to have joined this Ranger led hike into the canyon. I met the nicest people on the hike and felt honored to have "touched their souls."
Ancient ruins from the Ancestral Puebloans are found throughout the canyon. When the Navajo arrived in the canyon, they did not touch the ruins as it is against their culture.
Mama and baby, roaming free in the canyon. Most of the Native Americans in this area do not fence in their horses or livestock. I got used to seeing horses walking up and down the street, herds of sheep and goats grazing on the roadside but it did shock me when a Navajo cowboy came charging down the street on his horse while herding his cattle in and out of the oncoming cars. Very different.
There are beautiful farms throughout the canyon, each with a traditional six sided hogan next to the house.
I met this Navajo man at the campsite and spent the evening listening to him tell very interesting stories. It was strange as his name is Gilbert Jumbo and mine is Susan Little! He told me everything from Navajo culture, healing ceremonies and the Native American church to his life on the reservation as an artist and teacher. Thank you Gilbert! I will miss you.
One morning I hiked down the trail to the White House Ruins; this is the view from the top of the trail! Now don't you want to go there?

The White House ruins were built by the Ancestral Puebloans, also known as the Anasazi. The first time I saw the ruins 7 years ago, I burst into tears. It was hard to comprehend my feelings as I stood in the same place where the Ancient Ones had lived and died. This time the impact was just as powerful, only in a different way. It was as if I was connected to them in some way.

The trail over to the ruins follows a muddy stream lined with Cottonwoods. The trees are just starting to bud and look silver gray against the orange cliffs. The NPS is in the process of removing all the non-native vegetation from the canyon which would include the Tamarisk and the Russian Olive, both invasive trees that tend to take over the environment. There are burned stumps all over the place, but soon it will be even better than before.

"Be still and the earth will speak to you." Navajo proverb

Spider Rock is a sandstone spire that rises 800 feet from the canyon floor. Navajo legend teaches that Spider Woman lives on top of the spire and that it was she who taught the Navajo how to weave.

I met Creg at the overlook for Spider Rock, where he stood for hours on end selling his hand carved petroglyph rocks. I bought the one he is holding, a carving of a healing hand.

Pretty little woodpecker in my campground!

On my way up to the canyon, I stopped in Bluff for coffee. I couldn't resist stopping at the Cloudwatcher Gallery and spent over an hour talking with the artist, JR Lancaster.

JR is a passionate artist who definitely thinks outside the box! I loved his work; very unique, eclectic and amazing. If you are ever in Bluff, Utah, stop in to his Cloudwatcher Gallery and see his incredible work.

Twin Rocks in Bluff, Arizona

Good night one and all!

From Walnut Canyon to Winslow, Arizona

On my way up to Canyon de Chelly, I stopped in Walnut Canyon and took a hike down into the canyon to view old Native American ruins.
View from the inside out, a phenomenal way to try to understand what it was like to live back then. The canyon below the ruins used to flood with water, but now Flagstaff siphons all the water for their own use.I stopped in Winslow and stumbled upon an old train that had been restored. There is something so special about trains, something nostalgic and romantic. I immediately started taking pictures and noticed a couple of men walking towards me. Both were smoking and looked hung over. Must admit, I was a little spooked as the place was kind of isolated. To break the silence, I greeted them and we started talking. These are the Yaazi's, Rupert and Eric, who turned out to be very nice Native Americans from Winslow; a little rough around the edges, but nice. Eric kept singing me songs and Rupert kept asking me for money, but I am way smarter than I look and didn't give him any.
No comment.
This is what this town is famous for, lives and dies for and about the only source of income for it. One line from an old Eagles song has been forever immortalized into their culture. I thought the trains and the Yaazi's were way more fun. After I stood on the corner with all the other tourists, I packed up and moved on.

Flagstaff, AZ....the good, the bad and the ugly.

Today is the first day of my southwest journey and what better way to spend it then stopping for lunch at Macy's in Flagstaff. I love this place! Cute, vegetarian cafe that serves killer coffee, vegan chili and fresh salads; and yes they even have cowboys in Flagstaff!
Just look at all those caramel apples; all kinds, flavors and toppings!

I stood on the tracks, thinking of trains and journeys and life.

The Church of the Nativity is the first catholic church established in Flagstaff. They celebrated their first Mass on Christmas, 1888. The church name was later changed to "Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary." The present structure was completed and dedicated in 1950 and is complete with stained glass windows, gargoyles and a choir loft.

The altar in the front of the church; unbelievably awesome.I just happened to arrive during a Chamber Choir concert that truly sounded like angels singing in the sanctuary.

The choir loft glowing with light and color.

The ugly side of Flagstaff; a dirty back alley.

An old hotel with a coffee/martini bar, free WiFi and stays open till 2 am in the morning...different.

Sunrise at Joshua Tree National Park, CA

Last weekend, my friend Janet and I drove up to Joshua Tree National Park and camped in the Hidden Valley Campground located in the western half of the Park. The elevations in this section are above 3000 feet and provide a perfect habitat for the wild looking Joshua Trees. Huge boulders sculpted by the elements make for awesome rock climbing. We woke up to a gorgeous sunrise and ran around with the birds and the rabbits, marveling at the radiant pink, salmon, purple and yellow streaks filling the sky.
Sweet little songbirds sang their morning songs.
The campground was still asleep and I wanted to run around and holler at people to wake up and see the sun rise; thankfully I let the grungy rock climbers sleep and simply enjoyed the morning.
Quirky Joshua Trees, which are actually a species of yucca, cast amazing shadows against the sunrise.
I felt so fortunate to be a part of this spectacular morning; vivid color, clarity and stillness.
As the sun rose, it cast a back light to the mountains in the west and made them look like they were on fire.

Me and Janet, my sweet Bluegrass friend! We spent our time in Joshua Tree National Park hiking through the desert, climbing on the boulders, discovering hidden treasures, playing our guitars and roasting cinnamon rolls over the campfire...such fun.

"The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace." Psalm 29:11

Whitewater Preserve, California

Whitewater Preserve is a 2851 acre preserve that provides access to the San Gorgonio Wilderness, the Whitewater River and the Pacific Crest Trail. I was astounded to find this perfect sanctuary, just off Interstate 10 near Palm Springs.
Entrance to the Preserve is free and includes free tent camping for 3 days and trail use. Wildflowers were beginning to thrive, even in late winter.
The Whitewater River, a perfect place to sit and eat lunch surrounded by water, mountains, trees, sand and rocks. Doesn't get much better than this.
One of the trout in the catch and release trout pond; great for kids learning how to fish.
That would be me, loving life in the sun, wind, mountains and desert! Happy trails to you!