Monument Valley and a Mexican Hat

I was forced to make a long drive through the Navajo Nation all in one stint due my required daily Internet connection for work. I knew that I would have none through the Navajo Nation and the first 60-70 miles of South-Eastern Utah. It would not be until near Blanding, UT that I would reconnect with the ‘world’.

I have driven through Navajo Nation this past summer, and recall the long, hot drive and was looking forward to getting through it as quickly as possible. This time I took an alternate route North, and straight into Utah, instead of going to ‘4 corners’. And what a pleasure this route was. Monument Valley, just inside Utah, allowed me to drive among the huge sand stone monolithic mesas. Sentinel Mesa, Eagle Mesa, Big Indian, Brighams Tomb and Sitting Hen all towered a thousand feet above the roadway and tempted me to stop to snap a few photos.

Not long after, well past the time I wish I could have stopped driving, I finally caught just enough of an Internet signal outside of Mexican Hat, Utah (I know, right?). And would you believe it, I stopped and stayed the night *at* the Mexican Hat Rock which happened to be right outside my side doors as I slept the night away…

… actually I got two hours of sleep, woke for four, then another two hours of sleep before leaving to get into the Moab area by late morning. I could feel my sinus’ clearing up through out the day and hopefully I will finally get a full night’s sleep tonight. I pulled into a great little Hostel here in Moab where I showered and parked the van to vamp for a few nights ($7 per night, whoopie!). This evening, even though I was not all that hungry, I decided to prepare myself a celebratory Mexican meal; beans, rice, and tortillas… and beer (I’m weak).