Day 11 - Mon 26th May

Monument Valley to Flagstaff

“Flagstaff, Arizona and don’t forget Winona”

We rose early the next day (6 am) cos I wanted to take pictures of the sun rise over the valley, Kev was not pleased. Job done back to sleep ‘til 10 am. Boley woke me up at 6 to take pictures of the sun rising over the valley. I was not too pleased. Back to sleep ‘til 10 am.

We visited the original Goulding Lodge. The Gouldings, Harry and Mike (Harry’s wife!) started a trading post here in 1923. In 1929 they built the lodge, which is now a museum. It’s really interesting, full of Goulding and Indian artefacts and one room dedicated to the films that have been made at Monument Valley. Lots of pics of John Wayne and John Ford.

We took loads of photos and eventually left the valley about 11:30.

It was much further than we realised to The Grand Canyon. We stopped at Tuba City for food and fuel and sped on. We passed a sign for The Navajo National Monument so we thought we'd take a look. 18 miles later we reached it. I thought that it would be a monument, but it is a canyon with ancient Navajo dwellings in it. As we didn't have much time and as it was cold, due to the altitude, we had a quick look and left. 

We reached The Grand Canyon about 4:30. Paid our $25 and stopped at most of the viewing points along the south rim.

Arnie made some new friends in the gift shop.

Mmmmm nice Canyon, Arnie. You're looking the wrong way!

We took loads of pics (again) and left at about 6pm. I had arranged to meet up with an old school pal from Nottingham, Pete Lusczack and his wife Lynda, in Flagstaff.

Pete has lived in Phoenix, Arizona for the past 15 years. He met Lynda, who is from New York, in York. I’ve only seen him

once since leaving school. I thought that it would be nice to meet up in Flagstaff as it is so near to him (only 140 miles).

We arrived in Flagstaff at 7:30 pm. I was a little concerned as it was late and we hadn’t been able to contact Pete & Lynda for the past 2 days due to no mobile phone network out in them there hills.

We checked into the Monte Vista Hotel, a R66 institution, and were told that it was 6:30 not 7:30. We had gained an hour two days ago, but never realised it.

The Monte Vista Hotel is quiet famous. It is very old and many film and rock stars have stayed there. The hotel names the rooms after whoever has slept in that room.

We had the Humphrey Bogart room. It was nice and dark with a poster of Bogey on the wall. It had two double beds and Boley kept saying “Why did Humphrey Bogart have 2 beds?”

We met Pete & Lynda (Hi!) in the hotel bar at 7:30 pm, had a drink and went to a local Mexican restaurant for a meal. Afterwards we went to The Beaver Street Brewery Bar, at my request, won the quiz, caught up on old times and had a thoroughly great time.

As Flagstaff is at 7,000 feet, it was really cold outside. We said goodbye to Pete & Lynda back at our hotel and me n Boley had a few more beers at the hotel bar. The bar was meant to stay open until 2 am but closed at 1 am. Shame!

A quick thanks to Pete & Lynda for driving 280 miles to meet up with us for a beer (or four).

See you in Nottingham or Yorkshire in July.

Mileage: 2287

Quiz Score:

Brits (including Lynda): 11387

Others: Not as many as the Brits