Monument Valley (for all you movie fans, especially western fans)

Located in the heart of Navajo Nation in Southeastern Utah  near the Arizona border is the Monument Valley. Our interest for going here was of course the great monuments that are there but also the movies that have been filmed at or near that location. I have always been a western movie fan and wanted to some day see the real thing that I often saw in the background of some of the moves I watched. Especially John Wayne movies. We have included in this blog some of the most interesting sites we observed.
Although many other movies (21+) have been filmed in Monument Valley, tourist consider Monument Valley belonging to one Hollywood actor, John Wayne. In the Moab area (southern Utah) several dozen movies have been filmed.
We took the scenic road from Moab to Monument valley. It included about 3 miles of very steep and gravel road that had a lot of switchbacks. Good thing new cars can now drive themselves. LOL!!  I enjoyed the ride as well as the view but Sharon not so much!!!! The gravel switchback is called Moki Dugway. It winds 1200 feet from top to bottom on a 3 mile gravel road at an 11% grade but actually very safe most vehicles.

What the valley looked like that where we were headed. The road you see is the road  we would be taking to get to Mexican Hat Utah and then on to Monument Valley.

The gravel switchback road we were to capture to get to the valley so we could continue to Monument Valley

More of the switchback road.

 

Offered the Duke an Ozark handshake

Hey partner call me Duke, how about a photo shot together.

Where the Duke  stayed while doing the 5 movies he did in Monument valley (Stagecoach 1939, Fort Apache 1948, Rio Grande 1950, The Searchers 1956, She wore a yellow ribbon 1959,

 

Remember the movie Forest Gump  and long run. It was filmed down this stretch of road.

Have you ever seem this background in a western or other movies.

Canyonlands: Just a few miles from Moab National Arches Park

Canyonlands a few miles from the National Arches Park of Moab. Arches are formed mainly by wind and Canyons mainly by water. It is very interesting that these 2 parks are closely located and both are beautiful but in very different ways. Canyonland preserves are a wilderness of rocks at the Colorado plateau. It's primary architect is water and gravity. It has 2 big rivers that run through it named Colorado and Green rivers. They come together  about mid way of the Canyonlands park.

We spend the bigger part of 2 days in the park at different locations. The first day was a place called Island in the Sky. The 2nd day we spend in the southern part called Needles. Two different types of rocks and formations is very different

Note The unique formation called Old Wooden shoe

Up close view of Old Wooden shoe (rock formation)

Note white the different colors of rock. The white rock is harder than the red rock (sand rock) and does not erode as fast as the Sand Rock. Makes for some very unique formations.

Some pictographs inside the needles Park

Old Corral just inside of Needles Canyon. We crossed many open range and cattle guards while going to and in the park.s.

 

Needle looking rock formations 

 

Moab Utah Home of the Arches

Arches National Park was established as a monument in 1929 and gained national park status in 1971. The park preserves over 2500 natural arches of all shapes and sizes, as well as a variety of balanced rocks, fins and pinnacles. It is a 76000 acres of park that has good paved roads with many pull off and parking lots at different places. The park during the summer is very busy during the midday. The park service usually has to turn traffic away for a few hours during midday. We always went in around sun up or after 3:00 PM. Best time to catch rocks and shadows from the sun. Some amazing picture opportunities.
The following pictures will give you some idea of some of the great natural features of the park and area. We were in OWW as we drove through and hiked some of the trails.

Landscape Arche

Courthouse rock

Balance Rock

One of the most photographed arches called the "Delicate Arch".

Windows Arches

Another one of the Window Arches

As the sun bounces off of the Courthouse Rock

Tucumcari 1986 Class reunion (and flash back for JD)

Tucumcari Mountain the first thing you see when getting close to town from either direction on Hi 1-40

New High School (at least new in the last few years) In the same locating where I taught but newer building

On the 6th of August I had the honor to speak at the class reunion of the Tucumcari Rattlers in Tucumcari New Mexico. I was Director of Guidance and Track Coach for the 4 years these students were in High School (1982--1986). It was such an honor to be ask to come back to their 30 years reunion and give a small talk to them and to see all those in attendance.

I have included a few picture of not only the reunion but a few pictures around the town. When I lived there in Tucumcari the town had a population between 9000 and 10000. It now has had some major decline in population but still has a lot of pride as noted by the great school facilities it has. Also since the old highway 66 went through the heart of town it has some great vintage building, hotels etc. I have included some old pictures of some old great hotels as well as neon signs along Tucumcari Blvd where old Highway 66 run as well as some murals around town that tells the story of the history of the town and area.

JD while giving his presentation

JD with a couple colleagues while he was at Tucumcari 

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Casual view of class of 1986

Set down photo of the Rattler class of 1986

More of the New High School at Tucumcari

High School Auditorium 

 

First Baptist Church where I was Baptized

Where I lived when I was in Tucumcari on 2nd street across from Library

A great vintage hotel on the Tucumcari Blvd ( a great place to stay)

One of many Murals in and around the town depicting the historical events 

When I lived in Tucumcari I would go out of town to this certain spot and every time see Antelope. 30 years later we went out to the same area and it was still there. LOL

Another favorite spot I use to go to for a little R&R