Sick Bed Decision

Road Trip Day Seven

We had decided I would go on the tour if Wifey was feeling no worse. GC could have the option of staying with Mummy and colouring/playing Nintendo quietly or coming with Daddy to see some rocks. If Wifey was worse or GC had relapsed I was going to abandon the tour idea and spend the morning finding a local doc' instead.

I had to be up at 06.30 hrs if I was to make the guided tour. It started at 09.00 hrs but that was local 'Mountain' time and was an hour ahead of us. Wifey was feeling better for the rest but had no energy. GC was doing OK and wanted to come with Daddy. The trip for two was on! I had arranged to have a late checkout from the hotel room for er' in bed and we would all meet in the lobby at 13.00 hrs when the tour was complete.

GC and I were in the RV by 08.00 hrs and drove the few minutes to the tour office and booked ourselves on. We then sorted out breakfast and warm clothing. It was going to be an open back truck and despite a clear blue sky it was still cold. No doubt parts of the canyon would be colder still. I also packed some Freddie Frogs for GC and made a sandwich.

On the truck we claimed two seats and made use of the free blankets to keep as warm as possible. I wanted GC to enjoy, rather than endure, the tour and I really didn't want a winging 6 yr old on my hands for 4 hours. I'm sure the other 10 passengers didn't either!

Leaving the tarmac, we were soon driving through a shallow river and being bounced around. GC was amazed we were driving through water and seemed to be enjoying herself. The canyon walls were only 10 metres high at this point but as we carried on over the next 14 miles they rose to over 220 metres and were wind sculped in various fantastic shapes.

The whole canyon area has a long human history. There are a number of Puebloan Indian buildings built into the cliff face many hundred of years old. Later the Hopi and then Navajo Indians occupied the canyon -  the Navajo still living in parts of it despite being persecuted, evicted and massacred by white men since the Spanish arrived in America. It is a fascinating place.

Our Canyon de Chelly tour truck

Can we find some more rocks Daddy?

The tour proceeded well. The temperature climbed as the Sun rose higher. I snuggled GC up next to me under the blanket as the truck bounced around as much to stop her hitting her head on the rails as to keep her warm. She was quiet but seemed interested in the surroundings and evey now and then would point something out to me. When we got off the truck she was off running and playing like a shot - looking for stones and throwing them in the water, marvelling at the high cliffs, and challenging and beating me at 3 games of noughts and crosses in the sand!

We met Wifey back at the hotel after the tour. She was feeling better but was glad of the mornings rest. No doctor needed but we did collect some more medications from the local store before driving up into Utah to our next stop at the small town of Bluff. The drive was even more impressive than yesterday but GC still did not see much of it as she flaked out as soon as she sat down.

Found a nice RV Park and then we all had a little explore before walking up the road to Twin Rocks Trading Post and Cafe for a drink. I fancied a beer but Wifey informed me Utah is a Mormon state and so doesn't do alcohol. I ordered a home made Raspberry Lemonade which was very nice before finding out the cafe actually had a selection of micro brewery ales! GC ended up with two drinks and had great fun sliding down banisters while we enjoyed the warm afternoon Sun. All in all a much better day than it could have been.

Twin Rocks Cafe

Sprite or Apple juice?